Twist and Shout has been named the greatest cover song in music history. The energetic song was covered by The Beatles, rock legends who sent it soaring up the charts.
In fact, the song has come to so define the legendary Beatles that many people forget it was ever a cover song at all. Still, The Beatles put their own stamp on the song. But it was actually a cover song of a cover song.
According to Classical Music, Twist and Shout became "one of The Beatles’ most identifiable sounds," and it was "a cover quite unlike the original. In fact, it wasn’t even a cover of the original." How big was the song? A monster hit.
"For their debut album, John (Lennon) recorded his vocal in one take at the end of a marathon recording session on February 11th 1963," The Beatles' website says.
In July 1963, Twist And Shout "became the title track of the band’s first EP to be released in the UK. According to the advert on the front of New Musical Express, it was 'The record you’ve been asking for,'" The Beatles' website adds. "A week after Twist And Shout was released it made the EP best-seller list and a week after that topped the same chart staying there for ten weeks."
Who Sang 'Twist and Shout' First?
From left, Paul McCartney (playing a Hofner 500/1 violin bass guitar) and George Harrison (playing a Gretsch 6119 Tennessean guitar with Bigsby vibrato) of English rock and pop group The Beatles perform together on stage during rehearsals for the ABC Television music television show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' at Alpha Television Studios in Aston, Birmingham. The band would go on to play three songs on the show, Eight Days A Week, Yes It Is and Ticket To Ride.
(Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
The song was "written by Phil Medley and Bert Burns (aka Bert Russell)," and it was originally recorded in 1961 by a band called The Top Notes, according to Classic a;Music.
However, The Isley Brothers' cover of that song a year later is the song that The Beatles ended up covering, John Lennon later revealed, Classical Music noted.
Listen to The Beatles' version here on YouTube, where it has had 100 million views.
"Is it just me or does John have the perfect amount of scratchiness in his voice," a fan weighed in on the comment thread. "If this doesn't cheer you up, nothing will," another fan wrote. A fan declared the song possibly Lennon's "best vocal performance."
A fan wrote on YouTube, "Can we appreciate both this version and The Beatles version without insulting either one of them?" Another person wrote, "The Isley Brothers' version is a true rock and roll classic, and the Beatles' take of it is the best cover in rock and roll. Can't beat that!" Added another fan, "Always have loved the Beatles version but this version has so much soul in it. Ya gotta love it."
The Top Notes' Version of 'Twist & Shout' Has Found New Life on YouTube
A fan wrote on YouTube, "Well let's always keep in mind that there wouldn't be a 'Beatles' version' had there not been this one, which provided the lyrics and then the Isley Brothers rendition which provided the now famous arrangement of the song that the Beatles get all the credit for."
Added another person, "They're both good just in different ways. The Isley's has more of a rnb soul feel/sound which is great; the Beatles' has more of a pop rock feel/sound whcih is awesome as well. Both rnb and pop-rock is good music."
According to Beatles Bible, the song "entered The Beatles’ live repertoire in 1962 – a live version from Hamburg’s Star-Club in December that year is available on bootleg recordings." Added Beatles Bible: "John Lennon gave the throat-shredding performance of his career."
Amazon Prime Day is coming up on June 23, but a horde of early Prime Day deals have arrived ahead of schedule, including this indoor Chefman griddle and a very solid Makita battery. Finding a nice discount is kind of like finding treasure, but some products don’t need a dedicated deal to offer great value, and this $35 storage solution absolutely proves it.
Materials: Steel with black powder coating for rust and corrosion protection
Notable Feature: Adjustable feet
Best Use Case: Squeezing in extra storage in the spaces you need it most.
This storage tower takes up a small 16-by-16 area on your floor. That’s a feature, not a drawback, as that makes the tower able to fit into (and provide storage in) the cramped spaces where you’ll need it most. This is great for utility rooms, closets, bathrooms, and busy workrooms alike. If you have an unused corner, this will provide a ton of storage area without taking up too much floor space.
Overall, the big deal here is how much value Amazon packs into a $35 storage unit. The thing is completely steel, other than its rust and corrosion-fighting black powder coating. It also holds up to 750 pounds of gear and has adjustable feet. It’s a hard value proposition to beat, and you can see why so many people are buying and recommending this tower.
How are shoppers using it? One shopper recounted their story: “Used this for my entry closet and made it into a ‘pantry’. Good quality, sturdy, & saves so much space.”
Another shopper noted that “the setup process was straightforward with clear instructions, and it didn’t take long to assemble.”
The United States Men's National Team will be back on the field this afternoon for a Group D game against Australia.
The team is still waiting for the official word on whether or not American star Christian Pulisic will be on the field after aggravating a calf injury he suffered last week.
U.S. head coach Mauiricio Pochettino said Pulisic is doing everything in his power to play and if he doesn't suit up this afternoon against Australia he'll be back for the final group stage game against Turkey.
"I think tonight, or the day before the game, we have a meeting with our medical area and we will assess the whole group, the players, and tomorrow we will communicate and see all the things that [we] can agree [on] tonight," Pochettino said. "He's evolving. He's much better from Friday. We'll see. I think at the moment, if we see he's not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game."
With Pulisic's name back in the headlines, so too are the rumors of his potential girlfriend.
Christian Pulisic Denied Sydney Sweeney Dating Rumors
The 27-year-old plays for AC Milan, an Italian team in the Serie A, and shortly before Christmas last year rumors from an Italian tabloid emerged suggesting the American soccer star was dating Anyone But You actress Sydney Sweeney.
Five days after the rumors began and took on a life of their own, Pulisic took to social media to put the story to bed.
“Please stop with the made up stories about my personal life,” the U.S. captain wrote on his Instagram Stories on Dec. 28. “Need to hold sources accountable it can affect people’s lives.”
Underneath another Instagram post alleging that he has been dating the actress, Pulisic wrote in the comments, “Fake news guys let’s stop with the silly rumor.”
The U.S. soccer star appears to be single, splitting from girlfriend Alexa Melton earlier this year.
Storage: Large triangular main compartment and two side pouches
Best Use Case: Taking tools and bits on the go.
This Milwaukee bag is made of an extra-durable ballistic nylon with thick stitching. That keeps the bag lighter and more flexible than hard plastic alternatives, making it a truly versatile item in your arsenal.
Though the bag is designed to hold about two tools (and some small accessories in the side pouches) when closed, you’ll see that it can actually do quite a bit more. As it turns out, you can also open up the bag’s triangular main compartment in a pinch, creating a large, open rectangular compartment, allowing you to carry it more like a crate.
This is a tool storage solution that’s destined to last a long time and carry your tools far.
Most shoppers tend to comment on how great the pricing is or start bragging about their tool collections in lists only vaguely related to the bag. One shopper, however, noted that it is a “good quality bag and just the right size to have in the car.” So, whether your power tool collection is vast or specialized, you can rest assured that this bag is going to take care of your tools and get the job done effectively.
The Milwaukee Heavy Duty Fuel Tool Bag is just $20 right now, but there's no guarantee they won't sell out before the Prime Day sale begins on June 23. Grab one before it gets to that point.
The United States' 250th birthday isn’t just a national milestone—it’s a reminder that the story of our nation has always, to some degree, included alcohol.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is leaning into that history with its new Spirit Forward campaign, which traces the role spirits have played in American culture, hospitality, and community.
“Long before America had a Constitution, it had distilleries and taverns, places where people gathered, exchanged ideas and found fellowship,” said Distilled Spirits Council President and CEO Chris Swonger. That early drinking culture wasn’t incidental; it helped shape the country’s identity.
The Revolution also marked a turning point in what Americans chose to drink. Cut off from Caribbean molasses by British blockades—and increasingly uninterested in propping up the rum trade of the empire they’d just rejected—Americans embraced whiskey as a homegrown alternative. It was a philosophical shift as much as a practical one: a new nation choosing a new drink. In that sense, the 250th anniversary is also the anniversary of American whiskey as a distinctly American idea.
To celebrate America’s big birthday and to honor this spirited history, spirits and wine brands across the country have released special expressions. These bottles aren’t just commemorative; they’re reminders of how liquor has shaped the country for 250 years.
Maker’s Mark Bourbon 250th Anniversary Bottle
Maker's Mark has just introduced a special red, white and blue special bottling of its bourbon.
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Maker’s Mark’s 250th Anniversary Bottle ($29) keeps its classic 90‑proof (45 proof) bourbon unchanged, but wraps it in a red‑white‑and‑blue wax treatment. Proceeds from this special edition goes to the non-profit Farmer Veteran Coalition, which supports veterans who are getting into farming and ranching. The organization is a natural fit for a distillery that’s spent years working with grain growers across Kentucky and using its Star Hill Farm as a testing ground for regenerative farming practices.
Korbel Brut California Champagne
A festive celebration is not complete without some sparkling wine, like Korbel Brut California Champagne .
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Korbel’s Brut California Champagne ($14) gets an America 250 makeover, with a commemorative label and a star‑covered neck wrap, which dress up this classic sparkling wine. It’s still the familiar Brut inside, but the packaging leans into the brand’s long‑standing “California Champagne” designation — a grandfathered exception that lets a few US producers keep using the term despite modern appellation rules.
Knob Creek America 250 Limited-Edition Bourbon
For the 250th anniversary of America's founding, Knob Creek is replacing its classic black wax with red, white and blue wax.
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Knob Creek’s America 250 Limited Edition ($37) keeps the classic 100‑proof (50% ABV) bourbon but swaps its signature black wax for a red, white or blue wax topper — the first time the brand has ever changed the color of the wax. Knob Creek is made by the James B. Beam Distilling Co., which is celebrating 230 years of making American Whiskey.
WhistlePig Rye, White & Blue Releases
Vermont based WhistlePig is selling a special piggybank for America's big birthday.
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WhistlePig’s Rye, White & Blue campaign features two America 250 bottles: the Rye, White & Blue PiggyBank ($250) and the Declaration Wheat Whiskey ($80). The PiggyBank is a patriotic spin on WhistlePig’s 10‑Year Straight Rye, bottled at 110 proof (55% ABV) and packaged in a chrome collectible pig-shaped decanter. Declaration Wheat Whiskey offers a lighter counterpoint at 86 proof (43% ABV), double‑aged in new American oak and topped with a cracked Liberty Bell. The releases tie into WhistlePig’s nationwide petition to recognize rye as America’s official whiskey — a nod to the grain’s role in early American distilling. “Rye isn’t just part of American whiskey history — it is American whiskey history,” said Alex Roberts, WhistlePig’s CEO in a press release.
Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon
Independent bottler Lost Lantern has just released its most ambitious whiskey yet, which is a blend of bourbons made in all 50 states.
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Independent bottler Lost Lantern’s United States of Bourbon project debuts with three expressions: a 100-proof blend ($80), a cask strength version ($100), and the limited 1776 Edition ($200). The 100 proof and cask strength releases both use the same 50‑state blend of straight bourbons made by craft distillers across the country. Each component of the blend was hand‑selected from distilleries personally visited by Lost Lantern’s founders, Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski. The 1776 Edition (60.7% ABV, 121.4 proof) is a 13‑state blend drawn from the original colonies and is limited to 1,776 bottles. It has notes of warm spice, orange zest and dark chocolate with a long, slightly bready finish. The 100-proof expression (50% ABV) is slowly proofed down for a warmer, more approachable profile, while the cask strength bottling (61.45% ABV) offers deeper spice and fruit flavors.
Horse Soldier Liberty Edition Bourbon
Horse Soldier Bourbon just released 1,776 bottles of a special Liberty Edition whiskey.
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Horse Soldier Liberty Edition ($800) is a 13‑year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon released for America’s 250th anniversary and limited to 1,776 bottles. Bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), it’s the brand’s oldest and rarest expressions to date and a portion of proceeds supporting the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation. The brand traces its roots to the US Army Special Forces teams deployed on horseback in Afghanistan after 9/11 — so-called Horse Soldiers. The bespoke French‑glass bottle nods to Lady Liberty’s origins, with an antiqued copper label and gold flame closure. “This release signals that our next chapter is defined by performance,” says Scott Neil, Horse Soldier’s president. “It honors where we’ve come from while marking a new azimuth in our journey.” The launch comes as the brand prepares to open Horse Soldier Farms, its new Somerset, Kentucky dsitillery on July 4.
Franzia & Woodbridge Limited‑Edition Wines
Franzia and Woodbridge have released special edition wines for the occasion.
Courtesy The Wine Group
Franzia and Woodbridge wines are both rolling out limited‑edition Americana packaging for summer. The brands are wrapping their best‑known wines in designs meant to evoke classic small‑town celebrations and backyard holidays. Franzia Crisp White ($21) arrives in a gingham‑and‑denim “Americana Edition” 5‑liter box with state‑fair ribbon details, that contains a semi‑sweet white with floral aromas and notes of pear, citrus, and melon—a good match for cookouts or batching into spritzes and sangria. Woodbridge’s Limited Reserve Heritage Collection ($11 for 1.5L) offers its cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay in fireworks‑inspired red, white, and blue labels. The cabernet features notes of dark cherry, blackberry, spice, and toasted oak, while the chardonnay brings hints of pear, peach, and tropical fruit. Fans can also enter the brand’s Great American BBQ Sweepstakes for a chance to win $10,000 toward a backyard makeover.
Four Branches Liberty ReserveBourbon
Four Branches Bourbon was founded by founded by veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
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Four Branches Bourbon’s Liberty Reserve ($120) is a 100‑proof (50% ABV) limited edition of 1,776 bottles honoring America’s 250th anniversary from the first spirits brand founded by veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. The release blends a 10‑year Kentucky Straight Bourbon with the brand’s inaugural six-year-old four‑grain bourbon and finishes it in toasted American white oak. “Liberty Reserve is our tribute to the values that have endured for 250 years: courage, sacrifice, unity and service,” says Rick Franco, co-founder of Four Branches. The brand’s Sip to Remember philosophy underpins its ongoing charity initiatives supporting veteran and first‑responder organizations.
Old Overholt Rye Whiskey America 250 Edition
Old Overholt is the longest continuously maintained American whiskey brand.
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Old Overholt’s America 250 Edition ($20) wraps the brand’s classic 4‑year, 86‑proof (43% ABV) Kentucky‑style rye in a festive and historically-inspired label celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The whiskey is non‑chill‑filtered and offers notes of deep rye spice, pepper, apple, vanilla and leather. As the longest continuously maintained American whiskey brand, founded in 1810, Old Overholt is leaning into its own legacy with a design meant to appeal to collectors and rye traditionalists alike. The release is available only in select markets: Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oregon.
Ole Smoky 250th Anniversary Releases
To celebrate America's big birthday Ole Smokey is introducing several special moonshines.
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Ole Smoky is marking America’s 250th with two limited offerings: a distillery‑only 250th Anniversary 100‑proof (50% ABV) Apple Pie moonshine, and a nationwide limited‑time Americana-inspired 3‑pack ($10) of 50ml minis featuring the brand’s best-selling flavors: Apple Pie, Blackberry, and Strawberry. The standard Apple Pie sits at 40 proof (20% ABV), so the 250th edition is a significantly higher‑octane take on their flagship flavor, available exclusively at Ole Smoky’s Tennessee distilleries.
If you’re not shopping Patagonia deals right now, you’re missing out. Over the past few days, we’ve spotted major deals on some of the brand’s best gear, like the coveted Houdini and Upstride jackets. But Patagonia basics are on sale, too, including this super cozy fleece hoodie over at REI.
Patagonia’s Micro D Hoody is on sale for $49, a 50% discount from its normal price of $99. That’s the best price we could find anywhere for this hoodie; it’s still full price at Patagonia and Backcountry. Don’t need a hood? The Micro D crewneck is also half off at REI right now in the same fun summery shade of blue.
Here’s the Micro D in a nutshell: Your favorite hoodie upgraded with an ultra-soft fabric. It’s made with a 100% recycled polyester fleece. It’s low-pile fleece, so it doesn’t look super fuzzy, but it delivers a supremely soft, plush texture both inside and out. Plus, Patagonia added an anti-pilling treatment to both sides, so this hoodie will stay looking its best for longer. Aside from the fabric, it’s a classic hoodie silhouette with a generous kangaroo front pocket and a cinchable hood (in the same fleece fabric) to keep your head warm and cozy.
This is one of those layers you’ll find yourself wearing all the time—WFH days, lounging on the couch, workout warmups, weekend coffee runs, you name it. And since the polyester fabric doesn’t absorb sweat like cotton, you can even throw this on for more intense activities, like an early morning hike.
REI doesn’t have reviews for the Micro D, but over at Patagonia, shoppers love it. Shoppers praised its “crazy soft” fleece fabric and said it’s very warm despite being “extremely lightweight.” Reviewers wore it indoors and out nearly year-round—it’s just that versatile. One shopper said it’s the “perfect weight for cool mornings,” so you’ll get plenty of use from it this summer and beyond.
There’s just one colorway of this Micro D Hoody available for 50% off, and that means the risk of it selling out is high—nab yours today before your size disappears.
