Watch | The Kinks Debut In 1964 Covering “Long Tall Sally” By Little Richard

Before becoming the punk icons that they are, The Kinks was welcomed to the rock n’ roll scene with a debut performance of “Long Tall Sally”, an original by Little Richard.

The late rocker, who died on May 9 at the age of 87,  became a thing of fascination for The Kinks as they were just starting. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Dave Davies said, “He pounded the shit out of the piano, and his voice was so stunning. I’d never heard anybody sing like that. It was so screechy and loud. He made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.”

Their performance of “Long Tall Sally” took place at the renowned Cavern Club in Liverpool, which you can watch below. “I wanted to do a heavier version of ‘Long Tall Sally’ because his version is really upbeat. It was OK, but I think his version is better,” Davies said of the cover.

Dave managed to meet Little Richard once, which was at L.A.’s Hyatt House sometime in the ’80s. “I met him in an elevator and I was too star-struck, and he just stared through me with his wonderful, glaring eyes. I just said, ‘Hello,’ and he said, ‘I know who you are.’ I said, ‘You’re a big idol of mine.’ I was like a little kid, hypnotized,” he recalled.

He further describes the impact of Little Richard, saying, “We all felt that when you heard Little Richard, you felt like you were going somewhere. You didn’t know where or even care, but you always sensed it would be somewhere wonderful. There’ll never be another.”