"Twistin' the Night Away" is a song written and recorded by Sam Cooke. It was recorded on 18 December 1961 and released as a single in 1962. It became very popular, charting in the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 (#9) and Billboard's R&B chart (#1). "Twistin' the Night Away" was successful overseas as well, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song was recorded with The Wrecking Crew as session musicians, including Rene Hall as band leader, Red Callender on bass, Earl Palmer on drums, Tommy Tedesco and Clifton White on guitars, Ed Beal on piano, John Kelson, John Ewing and Jewell Grant on saxophone and Stuart Williamson on trumpet.
Personnel Sam Cooke – vocals René Hall – guitar, arrangement, conducting Clifton White, Tommy Tedesco – guitar Red Callender – bass guitar Earl Palmer – drums Eddie Beal – piano Stuart Williamson – trumpet John Ewing – trombone Jewell Grant – baritone saxophone
Chart history
Weekly charts Chart (1962)PeakpositionNew Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)Flavour of New Zealand, 12 April 19626UK singles chart6U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - 9U.S. Billboard R&B Singles1U.S. Cashbox Top 1006
Year-end charts Chart (1962)RankUK55U.S. Billboard Hot 10023U.S. Cash Box30
Certifications
Rod Stewart version
In 1973, Rod Stewart released his version as the third single from Never a Dull Moment, his fourth album. This version achieved marginal success, peaking at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1987, he re-recorded the song for the soundtrack to the film Innerspace. When released as a single in the summer of 1987, this version hit #80 on the Hot 100.
Track listing "Twistin' The Night Away" - 3:15 "True Blue" - 3:29
1987 Re-recorded version (from the film, Innerspace) "Twistin' The Night Away" — Rod Stewart (4:10) "Let's Get Small" — Jerry Goldsmith (5:57)
Charts Original release Chart (1973)PeakpositionCanadian Singles Chart76US Billboard Hot 100[ Rod Stewart - Billboard Singles] Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-06-15.59US Cash Box Top 100 35
Reissue Chart (1987)PeakpositionCanadian Singles Chart54US Billboard Hot 10080
Divine version
Divine recorded "Twistin' The Night Away" and released it as the second single from his album Maid in England in 1985.
Track listing "Twistin' The Night Away (Dance Version)" — 6:53 "Twistin' The Night Away (Instrumental)" — 6:10 "A Divine Good Time" — 3:52
Charts Chart (1985)PeakpositionUK Singles Chart47
Other cover versions The song was also covered by the Motown group, the Marvelettes. Their version of the song appeared on the 1962 album, The Marvelettes Sing Smash Hits of 1962. The Glitter Band covered the song in 1974, on their debut album "Hey!". The song was recorded by Hutti Heita as a dark psytrance track in 2009. The Delltones released a version of ("Twistin' The Night Away") on their 1984 album ("Bop 'Till Ya Drop"), and the song was also released on their 40th anniversary compilation album ("The Big Four O") in 1998. The Blue Riddim Band recorded a cover for their 1981 album Restless Spirit.
Elsewhere in popular culture Cooke's version also appeared in the 1978 classic Animal House, the 1987 film Innerspace, the 2011 film The Green Hornet, and the 2025 film The Monkey. The Shins titled their third album Wincing the Night Away in an apparent reference to the song. The song appeared in a dance sequence in Umbrella Academy.
See also Twist songs List of number-one R&B singles of 1962 (U.S.)
References