"And i still remember the endless discussions about the origin of "Mighty Quinn/Quinn the eskimo": Dylan? Manfred Mann? Or is it a traditional after all?"
"The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)" was written and recorded as the o.v. by Bob Dylan, [converted to Christianism in 1979 and in the same time changed "Robert Allan Zimmermann" to keep "Bob Dylan", it's no secret]. Manfred Mann [aka Michael Lubowitz] asked him to record this one [in Belgium the song was entitled "Mighty Quinn" and many others [Just Like A Woman, If You Gotta Go, Go Now, With God On Our Side...with bigger success for a few of them.]
I think everybody (?) knows the o.v. of The Twist by Chubby Checker imitating Ballard's voice (US #1 in 09/1960 & in 01/1962 as well (aka Ernest Evans) was originally cut for the 1st time in [late] 1958 by The Midnighters but unreleased then recorded by Frank Ballard and The Midnighters in [early Jan./Feb.]1958.
Hank Ballard - Chubby Checker: history of THE TWIST:
Jan.1959: After a long spell without hits, they switch
to King label (Federal's parent), with name amended to
H.B. & The Midnighters.
Mar.23, 1959: Teardrops On Your Letter is a(n) R&B chart smash (#4), and makes US pop chart #87. The B-side is Ballard composition The Twist, which Ballard claims is lifted from The Drifters'1953 Whatcha' Gonna Do? and given to him by The Nightingales, with Ballard making some minor changes.
Aug.15: Finger Poppin' Time, a Ballard song about a dance, is the long-awaited pop chart triumph, hitting US #7, one place above Checker's fast-climbing cover of The Twist, and ultimately selling over a million copies.
Sept.19: Checker's The Twist, with massive national TV promo behind it, tops US chart, as Ballard's version, selling well in Checker's wake, reaches US #28.
Feb.62: C.C. tops US chart again with The Twist during the dance's worldwide revival.
July 1959: Dick Clark on "American Bandstand" is bombarded with requests for The Twist, a H.B. & The M.' 18-month-old B-side, because of nationwide teen enthusiasm for the dance. He (Clark) suggests Philly act Danny (Rapp)& The Juniors cover it but they decline, so Clark phones Cameo and suggests the song for Checker, who records it with vocal group The Dreamlovers, in 35-min. session.
Dec.1958: Bobbie Clark notes his resemblance to a teenage Fats Domino (Fats = Chubby; Domino = Checker).
Source: ROCK - Movers & Shakers, US/UK, 1991 by Dafydd
Rees and Luke Crampton.
Nota: "18-month-old" = from July 1959 to Jan./Feb.1958
[]/()= written by myself.
Last edit: 2009-11-12 14:18:18 UTC
by Stephan Koenig