# A question about Long Tall Sally **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624 "2020-05-12T03:36:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/1 "2020-05-12T03:36:23Z")
Do you think she was built pretty sweet or built for speed? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/2 "2020-05-12T04:09:30Z")
That’s not an either/or question. However, I would say Little Richard knew her better than the the Beatles, so I’ll say speed. Now [comfort vs speed,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GetQDchiibg) that’s an either/or questions. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/3 "2020-05-12T17:35:55Z")
Long Tall Sally is definitely “built for speed.” You’re So Vain is about Mick Jagger. (Hey Mick, wouldn’t it be fun if you sang backup?) And…Dottie dropped the ball on purpose.😃 ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/4 "2020-05-12T21:58:22Z")
Just thinking about it gives me the misery. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/5 "2020-05-12T22:28:39Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Just thinking about it gives me the misery. If Uncle John didn’t have the misery before, he sure will once Aunt Mary finds out. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/6 "2020-05-15T01:25:37Z")
I always thought it was “built sweet” but in this video he clearly says “built for speed”. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKaVsBinjEg) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/7 "2020-05-15T03:03:25Z")
That was a great performance, Lucas. I can’t believe how little fanfare his passing received. A true musical legend and one of the pioneers of Rock and Roll. I loved watching him perform. His interviews were great too. One interviewer commented that he toured with the Beatles, he politely corrected him that, “The Beatles toured with me.” Another time, another interviewer said something about Elvis the King of Rock and Roll, and Little Richard said, “Well, if Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll, I’m the Queen.” Here’s another one of my favorites. Keep A Knockin’… Someone in the comments section mentioned the opening drum roll sounding like Led Zeppelin's Rock and Roll. I never noticed that before. Sounds exactly the same to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/8 "2020-05-15T14:17:15Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > Someone in the comments section mentioned the opening drum roll sounding like Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll. I never noticed that before. Sounds exactly the same to me. Here’s a thread from almost 10 years ago you might find of interest: > **[More Zeppelin Rippin' Off?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=625891)** > > Inspired by a post in this thread, I’m wondering if Led Zeppelin ripped off this Little Richard intro for Rock and Roll? I agree he was truly a rock and roll pioneer. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/9 "2020-05-15T14:30:07Z")
duplicate post ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-long-tall-sally/853624/10 "2020-05-16T19:41:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > That’s not an either/or question. However, I would say Little Richard knew her better than the the Beatles, so I’ll say speed. > > Now [comfort vs speed,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GetQDchiibg) that’s an either/or questions. This was a “got it in one” response, but I’ll expand on the OP’s question a bit. According to Little Richard’s original version, Long Tall Sally was “built for speed” and “got” everything that Uncle John need. The Beatles — presumably not understanding Mr. Penniman’s enunciation — sang the verse as “Long Tall Sally’s built pretty sweet.” **Lucas Jackson** linked to a fun version by Little Richard. The Beatles’ studio version can’t match it, but here’s a better [live version](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kxT0DcRR9cQ), in which John, Ringo, and Paul all seem to be feeling it. In both videos the white people in the audience are goofy, but slightly less so in the Beatle’s video.