Twist and Shout!

AMG Review of Twist and Shout!

Richie Unterberger
All Music Guide

Recorded live at an Atlanta club on December 28, 1966 (although it wasn't released until 1968), this shows Riley trying to adapt to the trends of the day with a set comprised mostly of '60s rock and soul covers: "Twist and Shout," "In the Midnight Hour," "Poor Side of Town," "Nowhere Man," and "Barefootin'." It's more vital than you might suppose, because Riley is in fine, committed voice, with a decent band. It's kind of reminiscent of those Johnny Rivers live Whiskey-a-Go-Go albums, except Riley is a considerably better singer and performer, with a fiery spirit not unlike Bobby Fuller (whose own live-in-L.A. album, incidentally, is not as good as this one is). Only a couple of Riley originals in the program (the "Secret Agent Man"-type "Speed Lovers" is cool), but this is a pretty enjoyable release, though not a very important one. It was, incidentally, first put out on the Mojo label in 1968, but the 1981 Cowboy Carl reissue is easier to find.