Special Sub-Topic: Come On Everybody, Let's Do The Twist Click Here To Play: Come On Everybody, Let's Do The Twist

Who was the first artist to enter the US pop chart with "The Twist"?

Hank Ballad and The Midnighters. Hank Ballad and The Midnighters had a number 87 hit on the US pop chart with "Teardrops On Your Letter" in 1959. It failed to chart in the UK. The B-side of this single was "The Twist". The single was re-released in 1960 and entered the US pop chart on 18 July with "The Twist" as the A-side. It reached number 28 but failed to chart in the UK. Chubby Checker entered the US pop chart with "The Twist" on 1 August 1960. The story goes that when Hank Ballad heard "The Twist" on the radio, he thought it was his version and that he was having a big hit. Unfortunately for him it was the Chubby Checker version and it went on to top the US pop chart twice, once for one week in 1960 and again for two weeks in 1961. On the UK chart it reached number 44 in 1960, number 14 in 1962 and number five in 1975. Santo & Johnny had a number 49 hit on the US pop chart with a twist version of "Jingle Bells" called "Twistin' Bells" in 1960. It never charted in the UK. Danny & The Juniors had a number 27 hit on the US pop chart with "Twistin' U.S.A." in 1960. It never charted in the UK.

What was Chubby Checker's follow up twist record to "The Twist" on the US pop chart? Do these words help? "Who's that flyin' up there? Is it a bird? Nooooooooo! Is it a plane? Nooooooooo! Is it the twister? Yeaaaaaahh!"

Let's Twist Again. Chubby Checker had a number eight hit on the US pop chart with his second twist record "Let's Twist Again" in 1961. It reached number two on the UK chart in 1961, number 46 in 1962 and number five in 1975. "Let's Twist Again" entered the chart on 19 June 1961. On its second chart run "The Twist" entered the chart on 13 November 1961. It was number one for two weeks in 1962. "Twistin' U.S.A.", the B-side of "The Twist" on its second chart run, entered the chart on 11 December 1961. It reached number 68. "Twist It Up" entered the chart on 20 July 1963; it reached number 25.

It seemed that everybody was doing the twist at the time. Who was "Twistin' The Night Away"?

Sam Cooke. Sam Cooke had a number nine hit on the US pop chart with "Twistin' The Night Away" in 1962. It reached number six on the UK chart the same year. James Brown was doing the "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A." and reached number 82 on the US pop chart in 1962. It did not chart in the UK. The Isley Brothers were "Twistin' With Linda" and reached number 54 on the US pop chart in 1962. It did not chart in the UK. Little Eva was doing "The Loco-Motion" and had a number one hit for one week on the US pop chart in 1962. It reached number two on the UK chart in 1962 and number 11 in 1972.

Who had a very tasty US number one hit with "Peppermint Twist - Part 1"?

Joey Dee & The Starlighters. Joey Dee & The Starlighters had a number one hit for three weeks on the US pop chart with "Peppermint Twist - Part 1" in 1962. It ground to a halt at number 33 on the UK chart the same year. Danny Peppermint and The Jumping Jacks had a number 54 hit on the US pop chart with "The Peppermint Twist" in 1961. It reached number 26 on the UK chart in 1962. Danny (Daniel Lamego) received an electric shock from a microphone on stage but recovered in hospital. The momentum was lost and the record and his career stalled. It was a different song to the one by Joey Dee and The Starlighters "Peppermint Twist - Part 1". Duane Eddy's version of the Joey Dee and The Starlighters record was an album track on the album "Twistin' and Twangin'". It did not chart on the US album chart but reached number eight on the UK album chart in 1962. Billy Joe & The Checkmates had a number ten hit on the US pop chart with "Percolator (Twist)" in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

Did this guy sing "Twist Twist Senora" at quarter to three when school is out in New Orleans?

Gary (U.S.) Bonds. Gary (U.S.) Bonds had a number nine hit on the US pop chart with "Twist Twist Senora" in 1962. It never charted in the UK. He remained popular after the initial '60s hits and renewed his chart career in the US & UK charts in the '80s. Jackie Wilson had a number 34 hit on the US pop chart with "The Greatest Hurt" in 1962. It did not chart in the UK. Clyde McPhatter had a number seven hit on the US pop chart with "Lover Please" in 1962. It failed to chart in the UK. Gene McDaniels had a number ten hit on the US pop chart with "Chip Chip" in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

Who is missing from this Marvelettes song title "Twistin' ______"?

Postman. The Marvelettes seem to have a thing about postmen. Their second postman hit "Twistin' Postman" gave them a number 34 hit on the US pop chart in 1962. It did not chart in the UK. Who said this was an attempt to cash in on their US number one "Please Mr. Postman"? The first US pop chart number one on a Motown record label. Not Me.

After "The Twist" had hit the top of the US pop chart for the second time, Chubby Checker had yet another twistin' hit. Who was the lady that joined him to sing "Slow Twistin'"?

Dee Dee Sharp. Chubby Checker with Dee Dee Sharp had a number three hit on the US pop chart with "Slow Twistin'" in 1962. It reached number 23 on the UK chart the same year. Mary Wells, Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell all sang duets with Marvin Gaye.

Even the British got in on the act. Which British female singer had a twist hit with "Ya Ya Twist" in the UK?

Petula Clark. Petula Clark had a number 14 hit on the UK chart with "Ya Ya Twist" (In French) in 1962. It never charted in the US. This was when her long career stretching back to the '40s was flagging and before "Downtown" revived it. Have a look on YouTube and see the most cringe-making video. Helen Shapiro had a number two hit on the UK chart with "Tell Me What He Said" in 1962. It did not chart in the US. This was her fourth UK top five hit and she was not yet 16 years old. Shirley Bassey had a number five hit on the UK chart with "What Now My Love" in 1962. It did not chart in the US. Susan Maughan had a number three hit on the UK chart with "Bobby's Girl" in 1962. It did not chart in the US. It was a cover version of the Marcie Blane hit which reached number three on the US pop chart in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

Another British singer also jumped on the twist bandwagon with "Don't Stop Twist". Which British male singer had a UK hit with this twister?

Frankie Vaughan. Liverpudlian Frankie Vaughan OBE had a number 22 hit on the UK chart with "Don't Stop Twist" in 1962. It did not chart in the US. Frankie Vaughan was a top UK variety show and TV entertainer and singer in the '50s but still hit the UK chart with a few pop songs. He had a UK number one hit for three weeks with "Tower Of Strength" in 1961. It was a cover of the Gene McDaniels 1961 US number five hit. Matt Monro had a number ten hit on the UK chart with "Softly As I Leave You" in 1962. It did not chart in the US. Kenny Lynch had a number ten hit on the UK chart with a cover version of The Drifters "Up On The Roof" in 1962. It did not chart in the US. Ronnie Carrol had a number three hit on the UK chart with a cover of Bobby Vinton's "Roses Are Red" in 1962. It did not chart in the US. He is the ex-husband of singer/actress Millicent Martin who played Daphne Moon's mother Gertrude Moon in the US sit-com "Frasier". In 2008 the 74 year old Ronnie Carrol stood for the UK parliament in the Haltemprice and Howden (Humberside) by-election. He fought the election as a member of the "Make Politicians History" party and received 29 votes out of 23,911.

And last but not least the old timers had to get in on the act. Who had a minor hit with "Ev'rybody's Twistin'"?

Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra had a number 75 hit on the US pop chart with "Ev'rybody's Twistin'" in 1962. It reached number 22 on the UK chart the same year. Tony Bennett had a number 19 hit on the US pop chart with "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" in 1962. It reached number 25 on the UK chart in 1965. Mel Torme had a number 36 hit on the US pop chart with "Comin' Home Baby" in 1962. It reached number 13 on the UK chart in 1963. Andy Williams had a number 38 hit on the US pop chart with "Stranger On The Shore" in 1962. It reached number 30 on the UK chart the same year.