10 Best Cover Songs In Classic Rock
3. Twist And Shout - The Beatles
It's gone down in rock history that the Beatles made their debut album Please Please Me in one magical day. After ducking into Abbey Road Studios to cut their first few singles, the band went through ten more songs that made it onto their first record, which ended with John Lennon's vocal showcase "Twist and Shout."
The tune had been a hit by the Isley Brothers a few years before, but the Fab Four's rendition had become a fan favorite in their hometown abode the Cavern Club. When it came time to cut the song, Lennon had been going through an entire day's worth of singing while nursing a head cold. After a bit of apprehension, Lennon took a few throat losanges before going back onto the studio floor and screaming his lungs out for the final version.
As opposed to rescheduling for another day, what you hear on the album is Lennon's throat-shredding performance of the tune, which has gone on to become one of the most infectious performances in rock history. Over the years, Lennon was always dismissive towards the Beatles' version of the tune because of his strained performance, but what Lennon may see as amateurish has been influencing rock and rollers for years now.