R&B

Having trouble sleeping? Join Bobby Lewis with his golden oldie “Tossin’ and Turnin.’” The song,  which was written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, went to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Chart in 1961. “Tossin’ and Turnin'” was named Billboard’s number-one single for 1961 after spending 23 weeks on the chart and seven consecutive weeks at the top . It sold more than one million copies and was awarded an RIAA gold record. The 1978 film Animal House featured the song on its soundtrack. Lewis had other songs that were successful on the charts (for example, “One Track Mind” was a top-ten hit), but “Tossin’ and Turnin’” became his signature song.

The hit single version begins with Lewis singing: “I couldn’t sleep at all last night.”  There are some releases where Lewis sings: “Baby…Baby…you did something to me,” which is then followed up with a musical cue into the first verse. In many live performances, Lewis usually includes this prelude. Lewis has toured and performed for many decades.

Here are the lyrics for “Tossin’ and Turnin'” by Bobby Lewis:

” Baby…Baby…you did something to me
I couldn’t sleep at all last night
Got to thinkin’ of you
Baby things weren’t right
Well I was tossin’ and turnin’
Turnin’ and tossin’
a-tossin’ and turnin’ all night

I kicked the blankets on the floor
Turned my pillow upside down
I never never did before
’cause I was tossin’ and turnin’
Turnin’ and tossin’
a-tossin’ and turnin’ all night

Jumped out of bed
Turned on the light
I pulled down the shade
Went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade
Turned off the light
I jumped back into bed
It was the middle of the night

The clock downstairs was strikin’ four
Couldn’t get you off my mind
I heard the milkman at the door
’cause I was tossin’ and turnin’
Turnin’ and tossin’
a-tossin’ and turnin’ all night

Jumped out of bed
Turned on the light
I pulled down the shade
Went to the kitchen for a bite
Rolled up the shade
Turned off the light I jumped back into bed
It was the middle of the night

The clock downstairs was strikin’ four
I couldn’t get you off my mind
I heard the milkman at the door
’cause I was tossin’ and turnin’
Turnin’ and tossin’
a-tossin’ and turnin’ all, yay, yay, yay
I was a-tossin’ and turnin’

[Fade]”

For the version with the prelude:

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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