John Lennon‘s voice was practically fried the night they recorded "Twist and
Shout." He had a bad cold and producer George Martin knew they didn’t have
much time to nail down the vocal. Lennon gargled milk and took a cough drop
before stepping into the booth and delivered his throat-shredding take on the
Isley Brothers’ classic. "That song nearly killed me," Lennon said. "My voice
wasn’t the same for a long time after; every time I swallowed, it was like
sandpaper. I was always bitterly ashamed of it, because I could sing better
than that, but now it doesn’t bother me." (Rolling Stone)

"Twist and Shout" was the only million-selling Beatles single that was a cover
record, and the only Beatles cover single to reach the Top 10 on a national
record chart. The song failed to hit #1 because the Beatles had another song
occupying the top spot, "Can’t Buy Me Love".

The single Long Tall Sally by Little Richard 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. It is #55 on Rolling Stone‘s list of The 500
Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song became one of Little Richards’ best-known hits and has
become a rock and roll standard covered by hundreds of artists,
including the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Little Richard (Richard Wayne Penniman) turned 84 December 5.

CARLATA BRADLEY

1962   

1992

1949 Broadway opening on this day.

Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005)

TIM MAGUIRE

1943

TIM MAGUIRE

The “Fab Four” arrived in New York to begin their first U.S. tour in
1964.

Troyal Garth Brooks is 55 years old today. 

                             
                                         Released August 6, 1990.