Hank Ballard and his band the Midnighters combined blues, gospel, doo wop, and early R&B into an earthy (and often risqué) 1950s blend that prefigured the rise of soul a decade later, and when he wrote a little novelty dance number called “The Twist,” a huge hit for Chubby Checker, Ballard crafted one of the biggest and most influential hits in the history of rock & roll. This two-disc set collects Ballard's classic early sides up to (and including) his own 1959 version of “The Twist," and also features “Every Beat of My Heart,” “Work with Me Annie” (plus several of its sequels), and “Don’t Change Your Pretty Ways,” along with other essential early Ballard recordings.