The Beatles
Long Tall Sally

THE REVIEW

We have just entered the year of our Lord 1964. The Beatles have just conquered the United States with the single "I Want To Hold Your Hand," and "Can't Buy Me Love" will certainly not disappoint expectations. The main project is still to make a film and write its songs ("A Hard Day's Night"). Amidst the general chaos, 4 tracks were extracted, of which three were covers, to make an EP (mini album): "Long Tall Sally."

"I Call Your Name" is a leftover from Lennon's compositions, so much so that it was entrusted to the artist Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas. Here John reclaims the song but fails to get much out of it. An interesting tidbit, listen closely when John pronounces the title and imagine he's speaking in Italian. "Slow Down," again sung by John, is a cover of Larry Williams. The original dates back to 1958. A rock and roll greatly weighed down in sound that fails to unleash electricity. The piece is mainly supported by the piano played by the group's producer, George Martin. "Matchbox" is a cover of Carl Perkins, recorded by the Beatles just as the original author was in the studio with them. On vocals, we find the awkward Ringo Starr who cannot do justice to this simple 1957 rockabilly piece.

We finally arrive at the title track (which is actually the first song of the EP), "Long Tall Sally." The Liverpool quartet borrows a song by Little Richard from 1956 and makes it a rock piece full of pure adrenaline. "Long Tall Sally" was recorded in one take, just like John's infamous "Twist And Shout." At the tinkling piano, we find the indispensable George Martin. Paul McCartney's vocal performance reaches its highest notes and exudes excitement in every single pore.  A classic of the early Beatles.