Music on Mondays — Twist those calories away!
Many decades ago when I was but a youth in seventh grade, our junior high school had a “sock hop.” The theme for the sock hop was golden oldies.
I was reminded of that yesterday when my daily history email brought news of Ernest Evans’ song “The Twist” making it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on January 13, 1962…………. for the second time! It’s the only song in history to make two separate runs to the top of the charts!
What? You don’t remember Ernest Evans? He was born in Spring Gulley, South Carolina, on October 3, 1941. Does that help? No? Maybe you know him by his more popular name: Chubby Checker.
“The Twist” revolutionized popular culture by giving couples the freedom to break apart on the dance floor. Personally, I think that freedom has been taken too far………..
“The Twist” first hit #1 on September 19, 1960, remaining on the charts for 18 weeks. In November 1961, it re-entered the charts again for a record-breaking 21 weeks, hitting #1 again on January 13, 1962. Not only is “The Twist” the only single to hit the top of the charts on two separate runs, but it also is the only single to appear in the #1 spot in two different years!
So if your “I’m going to the gym” New Year’s Resolution is falling by the wayside already, well, get up and do The Twist with me! Let’s twist those calories away!
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Posted on January 14, 2013, in Music on Mondays and tagged the twist by chubby checker. Bookmark the permalink. 35 Comments.
And throw out our backs while doing it! LOL
I love it Russel!
Twisting with Chubby. Oh yeah.
Fabulous post
CerI
His real name was EARNEST? Now that is something that I didn’t know…will have to file that away in the brain for a future Jeopardy question
I remember the twist from the 60′s. I was already an adult when that record was realeased.
Love the post, Russell. And I love Chubby Checker and the twist. Thanks for the inspiration.
I remember those school dances and the twist. I must be old.
CBS morning show last Sunday had a segment about Chubby and the Twist. The President ( I think Nixon?) really hated that dance and thought it was the downfall of civilization or something. Funny to see the interview
Hi I thought I pop into your campsite ………and found a perfect post. I love the twist even if it is a tiny bit older than me. But for those calories, perfect….. I’d love to join you twisting the night away!
Great. Now that song is stuck in my head.
So I’ll expect YouTube videos later of you twisting the day away……….lol
Now twisting is a form of exercise, but it’s much more fun dancing the twist, which is still played at weddings and other large parties.
Oh, and those sweet, innocent faces of the teenagers in the audience.
OK Russel Ray, I’m tired. I clicked on the little go sign on Chubby’s face, and the next thing I knew I was dancing. I may have a problem. I’m more out of shape than I thought. Must be all those 50/50 burgers! Next bone to pick: I had to fill in my email and password 3X before I could even click LIKE! I thought we were friends!!!!!!!!!!!! The next thing you know you will have one of those naked x-ray machines that makes sure I’m not carrying a weapon before I write a comment!!!!!!!!! And I’m not going through one of those naked machines until I do the twist a bunch more times!!!!!!!
and a hahahaha
I don’t think I have a requirement that one fill in one’s email. I wonder if my theme creaters have altered it not to my liking. Hmmm.
Here it is tchistorygal@gmail.com ********* Now you can fill it in for me, and next time I come over, the door will be unlocked!!! And I won’t be afraid the the machine is waiting around the next click!!!1
Marsha 
The upgraded theme had an option for commenters to enter name and email address. The default was to force commenters to do that. It’s no longer the default, so you shouldn’t see that requirement again, at least not until the next theme upgrade………lol
Whew!!! Relief. You just get right on it! A get things done person. That’s one of the things I like about you!!! WOW!!! You know I’ve got some history projects…..
Well, it looks like my theme creators have upgraded the theme with a requirement to do name and email address. Let’s see if I can find an option to do away with that.
My fingers are crossed!! Baited breath here…. still twisting, twisting. Whew. Better finish up writing more comments and come back!!!
ML
Yeah! They included an option. The default was to force commenters to enter name and email address. Not a requirement anymore.
I thought it was interesting that my average daily comments dropped after the last upgrade.
Interesting. Aren’t you glad I’m such a whiner???? And I whie for free!!!
I can quit twisting now, and unbait my breath and loosen my crossed fingers. Whew! Am I relieved!!! See you soon!! Lots of love to you and J. 
ML
I don’t mind friends who whine. It’s the whining enemies that I detest……….lol
Whining enemies…. hmmm … I’m afraid whining friends could quickly become whining enemies. Who wants to be with a constant whiner???? My grandmother was such a complainer that my brother and I used to imitate her whiny voice. Once my dad called, and I accidentally, automatically answered in her whiny “hellooooo.” My brother was standing right there, and we couldn’t contain our laughter. Dad was not pleased. Even my mom’s Dad did the imitation, as did all our friends. It was quite catchy. I’ll have to record it for you. You might want to put it on your fancy cell phone!!! hahahaha
I once won a Twist competition at a disco. Those were the days lol.
The Beatles were more my era but this particular song is immortal and never gets old. Think I’ll wait till dinner goes down though before I join you on the dance floor.
Wearing out shoe leather.:-)
Loved it!
Round and around… I had this album! So fun – thanks for the chuckle!
Sock hops; now there are two words we rarely hear together. It was where the boys were on one side of the gym and the girls on the other and the music played whether we danced or not. Thanks for the memories.
Exactly. At my first sock hop, my first year in junior high, the seventh grade boys and girls sat around watching the eighth and ninth grade boys and girls dance. Of course, it took the first two hours or so before any dancing happened.
Those were some of the greatest days for teenagers, music and dance. And the twist, well, it’s implanted in my DNA. Terrific post.
One of the nice things about living in NYC is the Lincoln Center Out Of Doors concerts in the summer. A few years ago, Chubby Checker gave a (free) concert, and all of us in the audience had the chance to get pointers on how to properly do the Twist from the man himself!
xoM
How cool!