Chubby Checker's psychedelic twist

May 12, 2013 3:56 PM

Chubby Checker, dubbed "King of the Twist" due to his hit song "The Twist" and assorted twist-related singles, went to Holland in 1971 and got psychedelic. He released a limited Europe-only album called Chequered! that included soul/psych track Goodbye Victoria ("Goodbye, Victoria. Everybody's going to the moon…"). The possibly drug-related departure may have been an attempt to reach stardom sans the novelty of "The Twist." The album was produced by known scam artist Ed Chalpin and recently remastered and reissued.
posted by dayintoday (36 comments total)

Wonder who the band members were. Especially the drummer. Definitely wasn't afraid of fills, whoever he was. Love the organ on If the Sun Stopped Shining.

And Gypsy, damn, that's wild! Chubby's vocal intro, man, they shoulda given him a whole track of that. A good five minutes or so. But, good god, that is one powerhouse of a rock and roll explosion.

Might this be Mitch Mitchell on drums? I kinda thought *maybe*, on Goodbye Victoria, but also kinda... nah. But after hearing Gypsy... hmm. Maybe Mitch. Or someone cut from Mitchell cloth, if not the boy hisself.

Stoned in the Bathroom is hilarious.

Many thanks for the post, dayintoday, and to item for fleshing it out with the best tracks!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:39 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]

It took me decades to realize that "Chubby Checker," was a variation on "Fats Domino." I find that embrassing.
posted by jonmc at 5:02 PM on May 12, 2013 [18 favorites]

jonmc: "It took me decades to realize that "Chubby Checker," was a variation on "Fats Domino." I find that embrassing."

I...uh...huh...
posted by Bugbread at 5:09 PM on May 12, 2013 [12 favorites]

Yeah, I know...
posted by jonmc at 5:10 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

I hadn't thought of that either!
posted by JHarris at 5:12 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

Not particularly related, but I quite like the "Lose Your Inhibitions Twist" as seen in Ring-A-Ding Rhythm. Not a bad way to extend what was essentially a novelty song franchise.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:13 PM on May 12, 2013

Yeah jonmc's just blown my mind. I had not made the connection either.
posted by Jimbob at 5:13 PM on May 12, 2013

I guess the variations are endless. Maybe a anarcho-punk singer named Obese Monoploly or a tarantella crooner named Zaftig Parcheesi...it's a deep vein to be mined....
posted by jonmc at 5:17 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]

I see no one is familiar with my alter ego Corpulent Battleship.
posted by evisceratordeath at 5:20 PM on May 12, 2013 [5 favorites]

"I played bass for Obese Monopoly!"
"I went to school with Zaftig Parcheesi!"

How about a lady nightclub singer named Voluptuous Risk?
posted by JHarris at 5:24 PM on May 12, 2013 [7 favorites]

or that great prog rock crew Adipose Stratego....
posted by jonmc at 5:26 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]

I'm imagining some kraut-rock from Fett Go.
posted by Jimbob at 5:28 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]

and that hiphopper Lardassed CandyLand.
posted by jonmc at 5:29 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'm making quiet little happy noises at all these.
posted by JHarris at 5:29 PM on May 12, 2013

Those members of Rubenesque Go sure make great viral videos!
posted by xingcat at 5:31 PM on May 12, 2013 [5 favorites]

Early Bronx rap pioneer MC Fatty Connect Four
posted by DecemberBoy at 5:38 PM on May 12, 2013 [3 favorites]

German rapper named something incomprehensible, but translates into English roughly as Elevator-Wrecker Entdecker.
posted by JHarris at 5:40 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]

Gargantuan Carcassonne, a prog band.
posted by parki at 5:42 PM on May 12, 2013 [4 favorites]

Lols for dinner, I tell you what.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 5:43 PM on May 12, 2013

Early Bronx rap pioneer MC Fatty Connect Four

and his DJ Blubbery Othello.
posted by jonmc at 5:44 PM on May 12, 2013

Hefty Bananagrams.

Fatty Cataan.

Tubby Ticket To Ride.
posted by migurski at 6:35 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

Aside from Ed Chalpin's involvement in some dodgy Jimi Hendrix reissues, he was also responsible for Sam Chalpin, My Father the Pop Singer, where he basically dragged his bewildered dad into a recording studio and had him record pop songs Mrs. Miller style.
posted by jonp72 at 6:56 PM on May 12, 2013

Husky Risk.
posted by cortex at 6:58 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]

Well, the Chalpin connection helps explain why Gypsy sounds so much like something Hendrix would have put out.

Some good tunes, actually.
posted by J.W. at 7:16 PM on May 12, 2013

Yeah, I saw Huge Boggle and the Operation at the Fillmore West. Brought my own cubes along.
posted by Spatch at 8:36 PM on May 12, 2013 [4 favorites]

If you're digging records, note that this release was not only issued as Chequered!, but also Slow Twistin', Chubby Checker, and New Revelation, depending on when and where it was released.

And for flapjax, none of the Discogs listings include additional musicians.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:32 PM on May 12, 2013

Mansized Munchkin
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:08 PM on May 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

Mid '90s Techno DJ Flabby Scrabble
posted by furiousthought at 10:14 PM on May 12, 2013 [2 favorites]

chubby was awesome. he also did a wonderful version of misirlou. one of the few you find that have lyrics.
posted by oog at 10:37 PM on May 12, 2013

Th name game thing is fun and all, but holy hell, I kinda can't *believe* that there aren't at least, like one or two other people who've shown up here to say OMG THAT GYPSY TRACK IS JUST FUCKIN UNBELIEVABLE!

Cause honestly, that shit is pretty astounding.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:41 PM on May 12, 2013

I don't understand how a thread could get through this many fat jokes without linking to the 100%-this-really-actually-happened team up between Chubby Checker and The Fat Boys.

...okay so they don't end in a game but come on.
posted by darksasami at 12:11 AM on May 13, 2013 [2 favorites]

Porky Abalone.
posted by Decani at 12:37 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

I kinda can't *believe* that there aren't at least, like one or two other people who've shown up here to say OMG THAT GYPSY TRACK IS JUST FUCKIN UNBELIEVABLE!

Enthusiastically seconded. Great track.
posted by evisceratordeath at 6:15 AM on May 13, 2013

Huh. See, I had always thought he got the name from a habit of surreptitiously observing the contents of men's trousers.

no I didn't
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:45 AM on May 13, 2013

I just listened to a few tracks of this. Didn't anyone notice how flat he's singing a lot of the time? He's just below the pitch, especially on longer tones. So annoying.

Talk about wierd albums: back in 1961, Chubby did a duo album with 60s teen idol Bobby Rydell, which actually has a few decent tracks, even including some pop standards like "Walking My Baby Back Home", etc. I'm just sayin'.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:37 AM on May 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

This is an awesome album, in part for how weird it is, and in part because it's actually good. And Gypsy is pretty intense.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:59 AM on May 14, 2013