Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - "The Twist" ORIGINAL VERSION (1959) video free download

Georgie Thumbs

Wow Chubby Checker just basically copied this note for note. I like this version better, it grooves more.

Lawrence Salacup

Rock n roll!

LynchedCoons

I first heard this song in Checker's version and I thought it was amazing. Then, I heard this (original) on pandora the other day and now the original is my favorite. The guitar makes it 1000 times better.

L Jara

There wasn't any copyright infringement back then, so many songs were 'Covered' by other bands!!

Phoenix Ochocinco

My God that voice

Morna

To Blue Duck, or anyone else that threatens me. You are reported. And will be. 

Screamingdk

Now this was the real rock and roll,just like Little Richard being the original of it all. MF elvis and Chuppie Check des nuts.

Morna

Now this is rock!

DZilla NoJoke

Oh shit, clear the floor, Hank Ballard be on dah louze. You know he schooled the Chubby Check. Wording too damn strong fo most and keeping it real. None other.

Morrisman Smith

WOW I like this version

Art Connor

You can hear the guitar in this version, which I don't think there even is one in Chubby's version. Thanks for positing this.

oscar robinson

I was 10 years young in 1959 and never knew Chubby 'stole' 'The Twist' from Hank Ballard! When me and other kids were twisting to Chubby Checker singing the Twist we never knew it was Hank Ballard's song and dance!

LeVaughn Dickerson

Chubby Checker copied 'The Twist' from Hank Ballard and the Midnighters beat for beat, note for note. Hanks version was overcome by the other side, a slow love song called 'Teardrops On My Pillow'. In 1959 everyone went hogwild over 'Teardrops' and the twist never got played. Then in 1960 Chubby did 'The Twist' and the rest is history. Not saying Ballard's version would have caught on like Chubby's did but I still like Hanks version better. Hank wrote it and hopefully he got writers credit and got paid.

8301969

Hank Ballard, said he took the melody of "What'cha Gonna' Do?" by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters for this song and swore he was waiting to get sued by Atlantic but he never was,

wesley andary

i didnt know they were the original ones to do this song, learn something everyday!

The Tone Poets

Hank Ballard...unsung hero of rock and roll. 

John C. Dvorak

Hank Ballard was always considered "too black" to get the credit for this song and others he recorded that were ripped off by others. Another example is Kansas City (here I come). A shame really.

sauquoit13456

On this day in 1958 {July 8th} Hank Ballard recorded the original version of "The Twist" at the Vee-Jay Records studios in Gary, Indiana...It was released as the B-side of "Teardrops On Your Letter", which entered Billboard's Top 100 chart on March 9th, 1959 for a three week stay, peaking at #87 on its last week on the chart...

Ramona Logan

I always thought Hank Ballard was a white guy for some reason.

Ayaba Awoyemi

My Parents and my Mom's sisters and brothers would party every weekend with the cousins from down the country and the neighbors. They had fried chicken dinners WHEN CHICKENS TASTED LIKE CHICKEN\, potato salad, fish dinners,(real fish from a fairly cleaner ocean than today) beer and a lot of this music, including James Brown, Etta James, Fats Domino, Muddy Waters,Lavern Baker, Big Joe Turner, Ivory Joe Hunter,Chuck Berry,Ike and Tina Turner, The Charells,The Platters,The Drifters. You name it, they had it and we, the children danced until we dropped.

Hank Ballard

Hank Ballard - Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go

Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker - Let's Twist Again (lyrics)