Once upon a time, if you went to a party, a wedding or were celebrating someone getting out on parole, you actually had to know certain dance steps, as opposed to today’s improvised moves that resemble a pagan fertility ritual. The years 1959-62 were filled with a plethora of dance “crazes” and it was promulgated by Chubby Checker, who got the ball rolling with the world famous “Twist.”
This wonderful 2 disc set of 60 rapid fire songs contains all of his A and B sides as well as cherry picked tunes from his seven albums, and it’s custom made for getting a party started. Checker was the master of creating “new” dance steps, using his songs to introduce them to the world. Obviously, things started rolling with “The Twist” and his followup “Let’s Twist Again” as well as the many variations of a theme like “Slow Twistin’”, “Mister Twister” “Peppermint Twist” and “Love Is Like a Twist.”
But it doesn’t stop there, as Checker also brought us the equally infectious “Pony Time” and the spray can-grabbing “The Fly” as well as doing renditions of “The Mashed Potatoes”, The Strand,” “The Slop” “The Stroll” and “Mary Ann Limbo” for just a few other carpet burners. Through it all, Checker is upbeat, energetic and glowing like a neon sign. If you don’t get up on your feet for this one, check for rigor mortis!