Beatles’ Influences and More in This Beatles Bite

How about another Beatles Bite?

The Beatles were heavily influenced by the music heard on the British radio coming from America. The soul version in the late 50s “Twist and Shout” had an amazing influence on each of them. Phil Spector’s LA group called the ‘Top Notes’ released the initial version, then the Isley Brothers made it a hit. The Beatles cover would be found on their first UK album “Please Please Me.”

“Twist and Shout” was the last of 11 songs laid down in a session with a young George Martin in February of 1963. John was suffering from a cold; the first take was the only take, as the screaming vocals would prevent John from having any more strength to sing more than once.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Rodney Dangerfield’s “Back to School,” and countless other movies have leveraged the song in their productions. To date, the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” would be the groups only million selling single, and only Beatle cover to break into the Top 10 – it finished second behind the Beatles other hit, “Can’t Buy Me Love” which was holding onto number one.

—
Photo credit: Neftali / Shutterstock.com