Itchy Twitchy Feeling

Bobby Hendricks' "Itchy Twitchy Feeling" was a rock & roll anthem for those who got, like, real nervous, man, digging the crazy sounds of the '50s. The song also provided fodder for those who believed that rock music was a bad influence, since the song is about rock & roll provoking wild behavior and a loss of control in its listeners. Hendricks' former group, the Swallows, covered "Itchy Twitchy Feeling" just as soon as Hendricks' version began to make noise, but Hendricks won out and his recording became a Top Five R&B hit that also crossed over to the pop Top 40. He managed one additional chart entry in 1960, the minor hit "Psycho," which is well-remembered among fans of novelty music. Featuring a dialogue between a psychiatrist and his patient, "Psycho" depicts a babbling young man driven insane by romantic misfortune (and the babbling portions of the song likely inspired Shirley Ellis' 1965 hit "The Name Game"). Itchy Twitchy Feeling is a 19-track anthology of Hendricks' Sue Records sides that includes the title track and two versions of "Psycho." Hendricks' other efforts include "Cast Your Vote," a call for rockin' governance similar to the Treniers' earlier song "We Need a Rock and Roll President"; orchestrated pop ballads such as "If I Just Had Your Love" (which appears in two takes); and the straight-up rock & roll of "Molly Be Goode," a sequel of sorts to "Good Golly Miss Molly." "Itchy Twitchy Feeling" and "Psycho" are the main attractions, but curious listeners will find more to enjoy among Hendricks' various other recordings. ~ Greg Adams