the meat and the motion

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 9:02 PM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Glover also wrote "Work With Me, Annie," thereby making "work" yet
> another cover-word for the F-word, not to mention "workbench" for bed,
> and "workroom/-shop" for bedroom. I don't know whether there's any
> connection between this song and "working-girl" for prostitute, but I
> seriously doubt it.
>
> But his magnum opus was "The Twist," of which he also made the
> original recording, later covered by "Chubby Checker," as everyone old
> enough knows. Whether he also invented the dance, I don't know fo'
> sho'. Glover followed Chubby around, challenging him to a twist
> contest. Naturally, Chubby - or his manager, perhaps - was to swift to
> go for the okey-doke.
>
> Another one of his songs, "Finger-Poppin' Time," was covered by the
> kings of bluegrass, The Stanley Brothers, who wrote and originally
> recorded the legendary "Mountain Dew." "Serious* cross-cultural
> influence on Glover's part. The Stanleys liked the song well enough to
> cut two versions. R&B a la bluegrass!

Does Hank Ballard not get songwriting credit for "Work With Me,
Annie," "The Twist," or "Finger-Poppin' Time"? FWIW, Wikipedia gives
Glover credit for several Ballard songs (e.g., "Annie Had a Baby,"
"Henry's Got Flat Feet (Can't Dance No More)," "Teardrops on Your
Letter"), but not the three hits you mention.


--Ben Zimmer

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