Classic Pop Icons

The Kingsmen’s smash hit “Louie Louie” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Louie Louie” was released on single in May 1963 on the Jerden label and then again in October 1963 on Wand Records.

The Kingsmen introduced “Louie Louie” into their live set in 1962 after hearing the recording by Rockin’ Robin Roberts on the juke box of the Pypo Club in Seaside, Oregon. The song was originally released by its composer Richard Berry in 1957, but it was the Roberts cover that inspired The Kingsmen’s classic recording. Key to the song’s success is the catchy “1-2-3, 1-2” rhythm pattern which Jack Ely apparently persisted with throughout the song after misremembering the Roberts version, which opens with the “1-2-3, 1-2” pattern before employing a “1-2-3-4, 1-2” pattern.

As big as “Louie Louie” became, its first release on the Jerden label wasn’t a success, selling approximately 600 copies. In August 1963, perhaps as a result of the disappointing sales, drummer Lynn Easton decided that he should become the singer and that Ely should replace him as the drummer. Ely disagreed and left the band, along with bassist Bob Nordby. This meant that by the time the song was a smash hit in December, the band was without the singer whose distinctive vocals were such a part of the song’s success. Ely’s response was to form his own band and release several similar tracks, including “Louie Louie 66,” “Love That Louie,” and “Louie Go Home,” but none came close to the success of “Louie Louie”.

The indecipherable nature of some of the “Louie Louie” lyrics gave the song notoriety as rumours circulated that it was in fact laced with profanities. The issue seems to have taken off in Indiana in early 1964 when a high school student sent Governor Matthew Welsh a supposedly accurate transcription of the lyrics, which led Welsh to request that the song be banned from all radio stations in the State. This prompted Max Feirtag of music publishers Limax Music to offer a reward of $1,000 to anyone finding anything suggestive in the lyrics of the recording by The Kingsmen. This move supports the assertion by Billboard reporter Gil Faggen (Feb 1, 1964) that “it seems likely that some shrewd press agentry may be playing an important role in this teapot tempest.” Ely has also since speculated that the record company fuelled the controversy. In any case, the FBI did take the issue seriously and conducted a formal investigation which included laboratory testing of the record at various speeds. The FBI didn’t conclusively establish what the correct lyrics were but determined that there was no evidence of obscenity. Click here for the 120-page FBI file on “Louie Louie”.

“Louie Louie” is at number 54 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“Louie Louie” – The Kingsmen

Authorship

“Louie Louie” was written and originally recorded by Richard Berry in the mid-’50s, but it would be three decades before he made a substantial sum from what became one of the most covered songs of all time. His change of fortunes occurred when drinks company California Cooler wanted to use the song for a commercial. Berry was advised to take action to reclaim rights to the song and the publishers made an out of court settlement which reportedly made the then welfare recipient a millionaire overnight.

Recording date/location

The Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” was recorded on April 6, 1963 at Northwestern, Inc., Motion Pictures and Recording in Portland, Oregon.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “Louie Louie”:

• Jack Ely – vocals
• Mike Mitchell – guitar
• Dan Gallucci – organ
• Bob Nordby – bass
• Lynn Easton -drums.

Chart performance

“Louie Louie” peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 8, 1963.

Other notable recordings

“Louie Louie – Richard Berry

Berry’s original is an altogether more sedate affair, with doo-wop vocal backing, clean instrumentation and a fairly understated vocal from Berry. Like the version from The Kingsmen, it opens with the “1-2-3, 1-2” rhythm pattern, but then moves into calypso territory.

“Louie Louie” – Paul Revere and The Raiders

Paul Revere and The Raiders recorded their version of the song within days of The Kingsmen’s version and at the same studio. It’s a well balanced recording, making good use of saxophone at the into and with a solid rock vocal from Revere, but it lacks the energy and rawness of The Kingsmen’s version.

There will be a new Song of the Week on January 21.

The Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” appears on many compilations, including “The Best of The Kingsmen”.

Title
Louie Louie – The Best of The Kingsmen (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now