Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters

Amazon.com
Usually confined to the footnotes as the writer and originator of "The Twist," Ballard was in fact a key proto-rock & roller. His early-'50s hits like "Sexy Ways" and "Work with Me Annie" were not only so transparently libidinous that they made double-entendre into single- entendre, but were the very pinnacle of guitar-driven R&B. After several fallow years, Ballard returned in 1959 with "The Twist" followed by a string of wonderfully engaging R&B romps like "Finger Poppin' Time" and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go," and near-soul ballads like "Teardrops on Your Letter." He really only had one groove, but it was a very, very good one. --Colin Escott

Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters,Hank Ballard & the Midnighters,Rhino / Wea,50's Rock,Doo Wop,Pop,R&B,Rock,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,United States of America,V/a Compilations

Average customer rating:

1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Famer
Great r&b group, with lot'd of blues feeling, and swing!
Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go...
RAW PERKY RTHYM AND BLUES AT ITS BEST!
Essential for the R&B and oldies collector alike.

Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Doo Wop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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The Very Best of Hank Ballard and the Midnighters
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Very Best of Billy Ward & Dominoes
I Remember Chuck Willis/The King of the Stroll

ASIN: B000003358
Release Date: 1993-11-16

Tracks:

Get It
Work With Me Annie
Sexy Ways
Annie Had A Baby
Annie's Aunt Fannie
Henry's Got Flat Feet (Can't Dance No More)
It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)
Open Up The Back Door
Tore Up Over You
Teardrops On Your Letter
The Twist
Sugaree
Never Knew
Look At Little Sister
Finger Poppin' Time
Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go
Let's Go Again (Where We Went Last Night)
The Continental Walk
The Switch-A-Roo
Nothing But Good

Amazon.com

Usually confined to the footnotes as the writer and originator of "The Twist," Ballard was in fact a key proto-rock & roller. His early-'50s hits like "Sexy Ways" and "Work with Me Annie" were not only so transparently libidinous that they made double-entendre into single- entendre, but were the very pinnacle of guitar-driven R&B. After several fallow years, Ballard returned in 1959 with "The Twist" followed by a string of wonderfully engaging R&B romps like "Finger Poppin' Time" and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go," and near-soul ballads like "Teardrops on Your Letter." He really only had one groove, but it was a very, very good one. --Colin Escott

Customer Reviews:

1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.......2004-11-25

They say Dick Clark once referred to a song by this artist as "another nasty Hank Ballard song". Even so Clark had Ernie Evans do a cover version of Hank's song, "The Twist" two years after Hank did it. (Clark's then-wife had Evans change his name to Chubby Checker (as in Fat(s) Domino, get it?) The rest is history. Hank Ballard was born John Kendricks (related to Eddie of the Temptations? Both were from Detroit). His group, the Midnighters, started out without Hank as the Royals and a couple of years later Hank replaced another lead singer. The group had been first discovered by Johnny Otis, another famous name in rock and roll history. At one time the Royals had members Levi Stubbs (who would front The Four Tops for about 50 years) and the legendary Jackie Wilson. While much black music had clear but subtle references to sex, Hank's "Work With Me Annie" and "Annie Had a Baby" were more blatant and were rarely played on the radio They had a number of more conventional hits back to back in the early 60s but faded after that. I saw Hank Ballard at a New Year's Eve party as the main attraction about 1976; his wife I heard had helped him reinvigorate his career. You'll find all of his best on this package which I recommend. I still remember the thrill of first hearing that opening guitar riff on "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go". You'll enjoy this one. Hank Ballard passed away in 2003. He was 76.

Great r&b group, with lot'd of blues feeling, and swing!.......2004-05-21

This music falls between 50's R&B, jump blues, and r&r. In any case the stores usuually keep his music in the blues section, and that may be the best description of this appealign msuic. This music can be danced to in jitterbig style, and can be lindy hopped to as well.

Ballard has a sassy, and smooth voice, that is very appealing, band features sax, and it swings, jumps and rocks pretty hard. Appealing backup and group vocals are also featued, byt Hank is always the main vocie and star.

A very appeling group and if you liek earlier groups like Jouis Jordan & His Tymphani 5, or Wynonnie Harris, you're sure to love what foloowed in the 50's, with Hank & The Midnighters. Those wh ohave an appreciation for rockabilyl, wil lalso enjoy this cd, or thsoe whp like to like in the 50's tetro lifestyle, an exellent cd that featured Ballards humor and bigegst hits, and includes all the "Annie" songs which were in some ways parodies to the "Roll With Me Henry" song covered by Etta James.

GRAET CD!

Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go..........2003-09-01

Hank Ballard was one of the greats of the 50's R&B era. I saw him here in Denver, Colorado in 1985 at the Fairmont Hotel. I almost fainted when I saw him in the lobby - and when the show started, he was impeccably dressed in "all" white, right down to his socks! When you hear his music, you can't help but get up and do the "pony" or the twist" or do a slow drag to "Stay By My Side"...I was sad to hear of his death earlier this year. He is truly missed by me...

RAW PERKY RTHYM AND BLUES AT ITS BEST!.......2003-07-22

IF HANK BALLARD DID NOT MAKE YOU WANT TO GET UP AND DANCE IN THE 50'S THAN I DON'T KNOW WHO COULD BESIDES LITTTLE RICHARD,JACKE WILSON, BILL HALEY AND JERRY LEE LEWIS! WAIT TO YOU HEAR THE ORIGINAL TWIST AND "THERE'S A THRILL UP ON THE HILL..LET'S GO, LET'S, LET'S GO".HANK BALLARD WAS VERY DARING WITH HIS LYRICS AND HIS MUSIC IS JUST OUT OF THIS WORLD.I REALLY LOVE THIS TERRIFIC ALBUM AND IT STILL MAKES ME WANT TO GET UP AND DANCE.HANK HAD HIS OWN STYLE AND DISTINCTIVE VOICE.THIS IS RTHYM AND BLUES IN THE RAW!THERE'S NOTHING BORING ABOUT HANK BALLARD BELIEVE YOU ME! BUY THIS C.D. AND YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!

Essential for the R&B and oldies collector alike........2003-06-13

If you're thinking about getting a taste of some R&B vocal groups, this is an essential alblum. I can honestly listen to this one all the way through. I must admit I like the first half of the alblum a little better. Also, the very racy song 'Annie had a baby' is included here as well. There are plenty more hard rockers included as well. For the oldies buff, the ORIGINAL (and I think - better) "Twist" make this one worth picking up. The sound quality is really good too!

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