Twistin' the Night Away

This article is about the Sam Cooke song. For the album with the same name, see Twistin' the Night Away (album).

"Twistin' the Night Away"
Single by Sam Cooke
from the album Twistin' the Night Away
B-side	"You Send Me" "One More Time" (UK)
Released	January 9, 1962
Recorded	December 18, 1961 at RCA Hollywood
Genre	Rhythm and blues
Length	2:42
Label	RCA Victor 0566 (USA)
Writer(s)	Sam Cooke
Producer(s)	Hugo & Luigi, Engineer: Al Schmitt
Sam Cooke singles chronology
"Feel It" (1961) "Twistin' the Night Away" (1962) "Chain Gang" b/w "Cupid" (1962)

"Twistin' the Night Away" is a song written and recorded by Sam Cooke. It was released as a single in 1962 and 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.

The Shins titled their third album Wincing the Night Away in an apparent reference to the song.

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 song was covered by Hutti Heita as a dark psytrance track in 2009.

Cooke's version also appeared in the 1978 classic Animal House, the 1987 film Innerspace, and the 2011 film The Green Hornet.

The popular Boston-based soul band The Chicken Slacks take their name from a commonly misheard lyric in the song's second verse; Cooke is actually singing about a "chick in slacks."

Rod Stewart cover

"Twistin' the Night Away"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album Never a Dull Moment
B-side	"True Blue" / "Lady Day"
Released	August 1973 July 1987 (re-recorded version)
Recorded	1972 1987 (re-recorded version)
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	3:13 (album version) 4:10 (1987 re-recording)
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Sam Cooke
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"Angel" (1972) "Twistin' the Night Away" (1973) "Oh! No Not My Baby" (1973)

In 1973, Rod Stewart released his version as his 14th single from Never a Dull Moment, his 4th 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

1. "Twistin' The Night Away" - 3:15
2. "True Blue" - 3:29

1987 Re-recorded version (from the film, Innerspace)

1. "Twistin' The Night Away" — Rod Stewart (4:10)
2. "Let's Get Small" — Jerry Goldsmith (5:57)

Charts

Original release

Chart (1973)	Peak Position
Canadian Singles Chart	76
US Billboard Hot 100	59
US Cash Box Top 100	35

Reissue

Chart (1987)	Peak Position
Canadian Singles Chart	54
US Billboard Hot 100	80

Divine cover

"Twistin' The Night Away"
Single by Divine
from the album Maid in England
B-side	"A Divine Good Time"
Released	1985
Format	CD single, Maxi single
Genre	Hi-NRG, house
Label	Proto Records
Writer(s)	Sam Cooke
Divine singles chronology
"Walk Like A Man" (1985) "Twistin' The Night Away" (1985) "Hard Magic" (1985)

Divine covered "Twistin' The Night Away" and released it as the second single from his album Maid in England in 1985.

Track listing

1. "Twistin' The Night Away (Dance Version)" — 6:53
2. "Twistin' The Night Away (Instrumental)" — 6:10
3. "A Divine Good Time" — 3:52

Charts

Chart (1985)	Peak Position
UK Singles Chart	47

See also

• Twist songs
• List of number-one R&B singles of 1962 (U.S.)

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics