The bert berns story tells the musical story of a toolittleknown composer behind twist and shout. King, garnett mimms, the exciters, and the isley brothers, who scored with twist and shout, a song to which cowriter berns brought the afro. The bert berns story twist and shout volume 1 19601964 discogs. That was recorded by the top notes in 1961 and the arrangement is quite different to the isleys version which is much better, in my opinion. Bert berns the producer is the phil spector youve never heard of. Selvin has used the bert berns story to weave a magnificent book about the. In 1965, he formed bang records along with ahmet ertegun, nesuhi ertegun and jerry wexler. One of the writers of twist and shout, bert russell, was incensed at the shabby job spector had belched up and took the song to the isley brothers, who, while having had enjoyed some success, had not put up a hit record since shout, three years previously in late 1959. But the man who wrote or cowrote classics like twist and shout, piece of my. Bertrand russell berns november 8, 1929 december 30, 1967, also known as bert russell and occasionally russell byrd, was an american songwriter and record producer of the 1960s.
Over a prolific seven years, the songwriter and producer bert berns was responsible for classics like piece of my heart, under the boardwalk and twist and shout, while also. Many people think the beatles wrote their early hit, twist and shout. Bert berns, the mysterious man behind twist and shout rnz. Bert berns and the dirty business of rhythm and blues by joel selvin, a book.
Nov 07, 2016 cohn met berns in a decaying west hampstead caff in mid1965, on one of the trips berns made to london to produce them and lulu for decca. Bertrand russell berns was born in the bronx to russian jewish immigrants in 1929. Was bert berns the greatest white producer of black soul. Bert berns the bert berns story twist and shout volume. Bert berns is ostensibly the subject, and the book does follow the arc of his career as a songwriter twist and shout, here comes the night, producer the drifters, solomon burke, isley brothers, and head of the record label bang, whose biggest artist was neil diamond.
Ok, just finished the book on bert berns here comes the night and it was. Home bert berns libguides at rock and roll hall of. Apr 10, 2020 at the time twist and shout was a twentythreeyearold beatles recording. Brett berns and bob sarles speak on their film bang.
Twist and shout the bert berns story volume 1 19601964. The bert berns story doc headed to apple music variety bang. The bert berns story examines the life and legacy of pop songwriter bert berns. The heart and soul of bert berns 2003 a cd compiled by doug morris and universal music encompassing some of berns best work.
In 1965, bert berns formed his own record labels, bang records and shout. Berns is regarded as a musical visionary and this 26 track set compiles the best of his studio productions from 196064. Includes the easy piano version of bert berns twist and shout. After bert died of heart failure, his wife ilene successfully. Bert berns is ostensibly the subject, and the book does follow the arc of his career as a songwriter twist and shout, here comes the night, producer the.
Narrated by van zandt, the film includes testimonials from morrison, burke. In 1961, songwriters bert berns and phil medley scavenged pieces from. Veteran music journalist selvin focuses on a figure little. American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. Twist and shout wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Twist and shout phil medley bert russell berns a total of twentyfive cover songs were recorded and released by the beatles during their emi career.
The complicated man behind twist and shout a new documentary examines the short life and shady business practices of the songwriterproducer behind hits like tell. Home bert berns libguides at rock and roll hall of fame. That was twist and shout, written by phil medley and berns under the name bert. Twist and shout everybody needs somebody to love, cry baby, hang on sloopy, baby let me take you home, ill take good care of you, here comes the night. Narrated by van zandt, the film includes testimonials from morrison, burke, paul mccartney, keith richards, cissy houston and. Twist and shout was cowritten by phil medley and bert berns. The song twist and shout, originally titled shake it up, baby, was written by phil medley and bert russell and performed by top notes in 1961. The bert berns story, which streams on apple music starting tuesday. It was originally recorded by the top notes, but it became a chart hit as a single by the isley brothers in 1962. Bert russell also known as bert berns was a pretty big studio songwriter and producer who also gave birth to other. Bert russell also known as bert berns was a pretty big studio songwriter and producer who also gave birth to other 60s hits such as hang on sloopy the mccoys and piece of my heart erma franklin. Oct 24, 2017 the bert berns story relates the life an work of the relatively unknown but hugely influential songwriter and producer, whose hits include twist and shout, hang on sloopy, brown.
The complicated man behind twist and shout a new documentary examines the short life and shady business practices of. The bert berns story the documentary about twist and shout songwriter, producer and label pioneer bert berns and the music industrys early entanglements with. Each of them including maggie mae had previously been included in their repertoire, chosen because of their love for these songs. Bert berns the bert berns story twist and shout volume 1. A year after these releases, twist and shout was an anthem, and bert berns had become the staff producer at atlantic, where he worked with a range of artists that we feature, including the drifters, ben e king, mel torme, little esther phillips and the vibrations. You may have never heard of bert berns, but you know the enduring songs hes written and produced. Twist and shout is a song written by phil medley and bert russell.
Oct 23, 2017 the bert berns story, which streams on apple music starting tuesday. Baby let me take you home the mustangs keetch records. The mob, the music, and the most famous dance club of. Twist and shout 19601964 various artists on allmusic 2008 like other compilations on.
Music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by garry sherman, music direction and additional vocal arrangements by lon hoyt. Twist and shout by the beatles vancouver pop music. Bert berns born 8 november 1929, the bronx, new york city, new york, usa died 30 december 1967, new york city, new york, usa was an american songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. Berns song writing credits include twist and shout, piece of my heart. Here comes the night, by joel selvin the new york times. It was originally recorded by the top notes and then covered by the isley brothers.
After the beatles covered twist and shout and the rolling stones recorded. Twist and shout best cover versions of music monday con. The bert berns story relates the life an work of the relatively unknown but hugely influential songwriter and producer, whose hits include twist and shout, hang on sloopy, brown. As a teenager, his heart was permanently damaged by rheumatic fever and he was never going to make old bones. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. It was covered by the beatles with john lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album please please me. Produced by bert berns, over half the material was written or cowritten by russell the same russell who cowrote twist and shout, which was a pseudonym for berns himself. Twist and shout is a 1961 song written by phil medley and bert berns, later credited as bert russell. Songs written by bert berns livros na amazon brasil.
Bernss most famous song must be twist and shout, a tune so patently. Twist and shout my favorite music, comic arts, and books. Its appearance in ferris buellers day off gave it exposure to a whole new generation. Ironically, given the groups cover of twist and shout, berns could see that the beatles were sounding the deathknell for brill building pop. By the time he died in 1967 at the age of 38 he had written. Wexler assigned twist and shout to a cocky wunderkind producer.
Twist and shout 19601964 various artists on allmusic 2008 like other compilations on the ace label devoted. Aug 29, 2014 many people think the beatles wrote their early hit, twist and shout. The song has been covered by several artists, including the beatles on their first a. No doubting that bert berns was involved with some great music. Books by series coming soon new releases this months biggest new books. Berns turned to the mambo rhythms and mariachi chords again and again when writing his own songs and producing other artists recordings of themnotably twist and shout for the isley brothers and my girl sloopy with the vibrations. When the beatles recorded a worldwide hit with twist and shout in 1963, berns fortunes were made. It was originally recorded by the top notes, but it.
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