''Twist Uptown'' is the first album by

The Crystals The Crystals are an American vocal group that originated in New York City. Considered one of the defining acts of the girl group era in the first half of the 1960s, their 1961–1964 chart hits – including " There's No Other (Like My Baby)", ...

, issued to capitalize upon their success with the

Cynthia Weil Cynthia Weil (born October 18, 1940) is an American songwriter who wrote many songs together with her husband Barry Mann. Life and career Weil was born in New York City, and was raised in a Conservative Jewish family. Her father was Morris Wei ...

and

Barry Mann Barry Mann (born Barry Imberman; February 9, 1939) is an American songwriter and musician, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil. He has written or co-written 53 hits in the UK and 98 in the US. Early li ...

composition " Uptown" which was a #13 US hit, and their first top forty hit "

There's No Other (Like My Baby) "There's No Other (Like My Baby)" is a song first recorded in 1961 by American girl group the Crystals. Written by Phil Spector and Leroy Bates. Also produced by Spector, the single was the first release on his newly-founded Philles Records label. ...

" (#20 US). ''Twist Uptown'' notably features the first released version of " On Broadway," a composition written by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. The song was later modified by

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller Lyricist Jerome Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller (born March 13, 1933) were American songwriting and record producing partners. They found success as the writers of such crossover hit songs as " Hound Dog" ( ...

and became a hit for

The Drifters The Drifters are several American doo-wop and R&B/Soul music, soul vocal groups. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, f ...

in 1963. Barbara Alston was The Crystals' main lead singer at the time, and the only songs from this album not to feature her on lead are "Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby" on which Patricia "Patsy" Wright sang lead; and " Gee Whiz" and "Frankenstein Twist" which featured

Dolores "LaLa" Brooks Dolores Brooks (born June 20, 1947) is the second lead singer of the girl group the Crystals. She is best known as the lead vocalist on the Crystals' hits "Then He Kissed Me" and "Da Doo Ron Ron". Biography Brooks was the second youngest of 11 c ...

. During this period, The Crystals appeared as a quintet but this album features the vocals of six Crystals; it contains tracks with original member Myrna Giraud as well as

who was Giraud's permanent replacement by its release. Recording sessions took place mainly at

Aldon Music Aldon Music was a New York-based music publishing company, founded by Don Kirshner and Al Nevins in 1958. Aldon is regarded as having played a significant role in shaping the Brill Building Sound in the late 1950s and 1960s. History Nevins was a ...

and Mirasound in late 1961 and early 1962. In 1963, the album was repackaged as ''

He's a Rebel "He's a Rebel" is a song written by Gene Pitney that was originally recorded by Vikki Carr and by the girl group the Blossoms. Produced by Phil Spector, the Blossoms' version was issued as a single credited to the Crystals, which topped the Bill ...

'' to benefit from their hit of the same name (although the song was really recorded by

The Blossoms The Blossoms are an American girl group that originated from California. During their height of success in the 1960s, the group's lineup most famously consisted of Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Jean King. Although the group had a recording ...

) and the two tracks that were omitted were "Please Hurt Me" and "Gee Whiz Look at his Eyes (Twist)."

Track listing

;Side One #" Uptown"- (Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil) - 02:33 #"Another Country-Another World"- (Spector/Pomus) - 03:06 #"Frankenstein Twist"- (Henry/McCorkle) - 03:01 #"Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby"- (Spector/Hunter) - 02:28 #"Please Hurt Me"- (King/Goffin) - 02:16 ;Side Two #"

"- (Spector/Bates) - 02:31 #" On Broadway"- (Weil/Mann/Leiber/Stoller) - 02:31 #"What a Nice Way to Turn Seventeen"- (Kolber/Keller) - 02:42 #"No One Ever Tells You"- (Spector/King/Goffin) - 02:21 #" Gee Whiz Look at His Eyes (Twist)"- (Thomas) - 02:47 #"I Love You Eddie"- (Spector/Hunter) - 01:58

Personnel

*Barbara Alston - Lead vocals (backing vocals on "Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby", "Gee Whiz", and "Frankenstein Twist") *Patricia "Patsy" Wright - Backing vocals (lead vocals on "Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby") *Myrna Giraud - Backing vocals * Dolores "Dee Dee" Kenniebrew - Backing vocals *

- Backing vocals (lead vocals on "Gee Whiz" and "Frankenstein Twist") *Mary Thomas - Backing vocals *

Phil Spector Harvey Phillip Spector (born Harvey Philip Spector; December 26, 1939January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter, best known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s, followed decades later by ...

- Producer

Singles history

"/"Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby"- (#20 US) *"Uptown"/"What A Nice Way to Turn Seventeen"- (#13 US)

Critical reception

Pig River Records
reviewed 'Twist Uptown' on its 50th anniversary giving the record 7.1/10 stating the album "epitomizes this contradiction of innocent purity with a borderline lack of imagination."

References

1962 albums Albums produced by Phil Spector The Crystals albums Philles Records albums Albums recorded at Gold Star Studios {{1960s-pop-album-stub