Album This song officially appears on the Long Tall Sally EP.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1964

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Song facts

From Wikipedia:

Long Tall Sally” is a rock and roll 12-bar blues song written by Robert “Bumps” Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, and Richard Penniman (known as “Little Richard“); recorded by Little Richard; and released in March 1956 on the Specialty Records label.

The flip side was “Slippin’ and Slidin’“. Both songs were subsequently released in the LP Here’s Little Richard (Specialty, March 1957). The single reached number one on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart, staying at the top for six of 19 weeks, while peaking at number six on the pop chart. It received the Cash Box Triple Crown Award in 1956. The song as sung by Little Richard is #55 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

It became one of the singer’s best-known hits and has become a rock and roll standard covered by hundreds of artists. […]

From Beatles Bible:

This McCartney-led romp through Little Richard’s rock ‘n’ roll classic was recorded in a single take during the sessions for A Hard Day’s Night. […] It is possible that the song was considered for inclusion in the film, possibly during the live finale, but was deemed to be surplus to requirements. […]

The song was originally released by Little Richard in March 1956, and was a staple of The Beatles’ live set from 1957 right up to their final show in San Francisco in 1966 – the most enduring of any of their songs. […]

In the UK it was first released as the lead song on the Long Tall Sally EP. The US heard it two months earlier, on The Beatles’ Second Album.

The Beatles included Long Tall Sally during Around The Beatles, a TV show for the ITV network filmed on 19 April 1964. The version can be found on Anthology 1.

An earlier radio version, recorded on 16 July 1963 and broadcast on 13 August, was included on Live At The BBC. The Beatles recorded six other versions of Long Tall Sally for BBC radio between 1 April 1963 and 17 July 1964.

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] stereo 10 Mar 1964.
    US: Capitol ST 2080 Second 1964.
    Germany: Teldec SHZT 516 Schlagen des Jahres [collection] 1964, Odeon SMO 83 991 (later 1C 062-04 207) Beatles Greatest 1965.
  • [b] mono 10 Mar 1964.
    US: Capitol T 2080 Second 1964.
    Canada: Capitol T 6063 Long Tall Sally 1964.
  • [c] mono 4 Jun 1964.
    UK: Parlophone GEP 8920 (EP) Long Tall Sally 1964, Parlophone PSLP 261 and PCM 1001 Rarities 1978-79.
    CD: EMI EP box set 1991.
  • [d] stereo 22 Jun 1964.
    Australia: Parlophone PCSO 7533 Greatest Hits 1 1966.
    UK: Parlophone PCSP 719 Rock and Roll Music 1976.
    US: Capitol SKBO-11537 Rock and Roll Music 1976.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 90043 2 Past Masters 1 1988.

Of the mono mixes, [c] has echo added, while [b] does not. In stereo, [a] has the vocal over to the right side while in [d] it is centered.

Last updated on March 13, 2016

Lyrics

I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John
He said he had the misery but he got a lot of fun
Oh baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

I saw Uncle John with Long Tall Sally
He saw Aunt Mary coming and he ducked back in the alley
Oh, baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

Well Long Tall Sally she's built for speed
She got everything that Uncle John needs
Oh baby, yeah now baby
Woo baby, some fun tonight

Well, we're gonna have some fun tonight
Have some fun tonight
Ooh, everything's all right
Have some fun tonight
Have some fun
Yeah, yeah, yeah

We're gonna have some fun tonight
Have some fun tonight
Everything's all right
Have some fun tonight
Yeah we'll have some fun
Some fun tonight

Officially appears on


The Beatles' Second Album (Stereo)

Official album • Released in 1964

2:06 • Studio versionA • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Mar 01, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Mar 10, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


The Beatles' Second Album (Mono)

Official album • Released in 1964

2:06 • Studio versionB • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Mar 01, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Mar 10, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Long Tall Sally

EP • Released in 1964

2:06 • Studio versionC • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Mar 01, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Jun 04, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Rock 'n' Roll Music

LP • Released in 1976

Studio version


The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl

Official live • Released in 1977

2:53 • LiveL1

George Martin :
Producer
Geoff Emerick :
Mastering, Remix engineer
Voyle Gilmore :
Producer
Wally Traugott :
Mastering

Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Aug 23, 1964

Session Mixing:
January 1977
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK



Past Masters Volume 1

Official album • Released in 1988

2:03 • Studio versionD • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Mar 01, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Jun 22, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


Live At The BBC

Official live • Released in 1994

1:53 • Radio showL3 • The second of four BBC versions of the Little Richard rocker – all broadcast before the song’s release on the Beatles EP called ‘Long Tall Sally’ in June 1964.

Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Aug 13, 1963


Anthology 1

Official album • Released in 1995

1:45 • OuttakeL4

Terry Johnson :
Recording engineer
Jack Good :
Producer

Session Recording:
Apr 19, 1964
Studio :
IBC Studios, London, UK


The Beatles' Second Album (2004 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2004

2:06 • Studio versionB2004 • Mono • 2004 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
Ted Jensen :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Mar 01, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Mar 10, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Bootlegs




James Paul McCartney

Unofficial live

2:14 • Live


Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962

Unofficial live

1:50 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.


Arles'72

Unofficial live • Released in 2001


Videos

Live performances

“Long Tall Sally” has been played in 232 concerts.

Latest concerts where Long Tall Sally has been played




Prince's Trust All-Star Rock Concert

Jun 20, 1986 • United Kingdom • London • Wembley Arena




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