The first single to break the three minute barrier? (not Beatle related)

Was it Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones?

Quoted from The_End

Was it Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones?

Wow, that pulled 'em in. I believe it to be House of the Rising Sun by The Animals

I think it was Dylan--'Like A Rolling Stone-?

HOTRS came out in Sept '64, and clocked in at just over 4 minutes (so I'm probably wrong about the three minute thing.) Like A Rolling Stone was the longest single released at the time. (all according to the web)

THough I can't find the length, "Stay" by The Zodiacs is the shortest number one single (in the US). God bless Wikepedia.

Check this site out for some interesting singles trivia (amaze your friends - and bore the pants of others - at your next party.)
http://www.everyhit.com/record7.html
It reackons Harry Belafonte cracked four minutes in the fifties. Don't know if he qualifies as a pop/rock act though.
And SOS by ABBA is the only palindromic hit by a palindromic artist. Go figure.