"Tossin' and Turnin'" is a song written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, and originally recorded by Bobby Lewis. The record reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 on July 10, 1961, and R&B chart,[1] and has since become a standard on oldies compilations. It was named Billboard's number-one single for 1961, after spending seven consecutive weeks at the top. It was featured on the soundtrack for the 1978 film Animal House.
On the original hit single version, the track begins with Lewis singing "I couldn't sleep at all last night," and it appears this way on most oldies compilations. However, on some releases the song has a prelude, where Lewis sings "Baby...Baby...you did something to me," followed by a musical cue into the first verse. Lewis usually includes this prelude when he performs the song live.
In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked the song as the 27th biggest song of all time that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the chart.[1] It is one of only six songs from the 1960s to spend at least seven weeks in the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.
Cover versions[edit][]
- The Kingsmen on their 1966 album Up And Away
- Folk singer Steve Goodman
- In 1972, the Supremes covered it on their The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
- Kiss drummer Peter Criss (on his 1978 solo album entitled Peter Criss)
- Polka star Jimmy Sturr
- British singer Lulu
- Joan Jett on her 1983 studio album entitled Album