"Tossin' and Turnin" is a song written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, and originally recorded by Bobby Lewis. The record reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 pop on July 10, 1961, and R&B charts, [1].and has since become a standard on oldies compilations. It was also featured in the soundtrack for the 1978 film, Animal House. It was named Billboard's #1 single for 1961, after spending seven consecutive weeks at the top.
On the original hit single version, the track begins with Bobby 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 Bobby sings "Baby...Baby...you did something to me," followed by a musical cue into the first verse. Bobby usually includes this prelude when he performs the song live.
The song was covered by folk singer Steve Goodman, Kiss drummer Peter Criss (on his 1978 solo album entitled Peter Criss), and polka star Jimmy Sturr. The Ivy League's 1965 UK No. 3 hit was a different song entirely.
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