Chubby Checker / Bobby Rydell - Chubby Checker / Bobby Rydell (1961) Vinyl

Two of Cameo/Parkway's biggest stars teamed up to make Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker, a fun, self-referential romp through celebrity vocal impressions, twist songs, old pop standards, and the artists' own hits. The latter are woven into a long medley titled "Your Hits and Mine," in which Checker and Rydell sing bits of each other's signature songs. A number of cuts are practically musical skits, such as "Teach Me to Twist," in which Rydell consults Checker for dance instructions. A pair of Christmas songs and a New Year's tune lend a seasonal flavor that reflects the album's original release date in the month of December. The pairing of Checker and Rydell was commercially successful and the album became Rydell's highest charting. There is also something to be said for two of the top black and white teen idols sharing equal billing on a record in 1961, singing "Side by Side" together and hamming it up; the liner notes even describe the two as great friends and "normal, very nice, well-adjusted teenagers." The artists' names are cleverly arranged on the cover so that they intermingle and neither receives top billing. Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker is more than a good-time teen record, it's a statement for racial harmony.