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Released in 1964

Long Tall Sally

Written by Richard Penniman / Little Richard • Enotris Johnson • Robert Blackwell

Last updated on March 13, 2016

Album This song officially appears on the Long Tall Sally EP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1964

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interviews

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.

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

See all official recordings containing “Long Tall Sally”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Long Tall Sally”

Videos

Concert Jul 19, 2013 in Seattle

Live performances

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

Latest concerts where “Long Tall Sally” has been played

See all concerts where “Long Tall Sally” has been played

Paul McCartney writing

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