"[44], The Kingsmen version in particular has been cited as the "rosetta stone" of garage rock,[36] the defining "ur-text" of punk rock,[45][46] and "the original grunge classic". Last updated: May 13 2021. Stories - Brother Louie (1973) - YouTube [78] The song quickly became "something of a Rorschach test for dirty minds"[332] who "thought they could detect obscene suggestions in the lyric". A 1973 live version was released on The Detroit Tapes (2009). The Story Behind Louie Louie | Great Oldies [338] Scepter/Wand Records commented, "Not in anyone's wildest imagination are the lyrics as presented on the Wand recording suggestive, let alone obscene. 35 on the Billboard and Cashbox charts, respectively (the highest charting U.S. version after the Kingsmen). [289], The first release by the Three Amigos (Dylan Amlot, Milroy Nadarajah, and Marc Williams) was their cover of "Louie Louie". Louie's phone number is 555-0123. 10 Great Versions Of Louie Louie Following the death of Kingsmen vocalist Jack Ely, whose vocal turned Richard Berry's song into a rock'n'roll phenomenon, MOJO presents our favourite versions. The "remarkable historical impact"[3] of "Louie Louie" has been recognized by organizations and publications worldwide for its influence on the history of rock and roll. In compliance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements, some of these records are no longer in the physical possession of the FBI, eliminating the FBI's capability to re-review and/or re-process this material. [254][255], Bryan Carroll of AllMusic gave the single four out of five stars, saying, "Of the more than 1,500 commitments of Richard Berry's 'Louie Louie' to wax Black Flag's volatile take on the song is incomparable. [97] The first album, The Kingsmen In Person, peaked at No. 76 in Record World, No. I smell the rose in her hair. The single also included an early version of "Damaged I", which would be re-recorded with Rollins for the band's debut album, Damaged, later that year. Although musically not a true cover version, "Brother Louie", Errol Brown and Tony Wilson's song about an interracial romance, was termed by Dave Marsh as "one of the truest heirs Richard Berry's 'Louie Louie' ever had" based on its theme of separated lovers and its minor key reprise of the chorus. [410][411]. [392], April 10, 1998 The Kingsmen won a historic legal case against Gusto Records/GML, regaining ownership and royalty rights to all their recordings. Aye-yi-yi, I said. (Trivia: 'Louie' is written, directed, edited and produced by comedian Louis C.K.) "Louie Louie" was the creation of Richard Berry, a Los Angeles sideman, session player, and singer-songwriter. Chorus: "Louie, Louie, oh no. Am Dm Louie, Louie, Louie, Loo-eye. [276] Notable live performances in 1988 included Club MTV and the MTV Video Music Awards. Entered chart September 30, 1978, for four weeks. Hint: It's Not Who You Think", Taking Punk to the Masses: From Nowhere to Nevermind, "RIP: The Last of Richard Berry's Pharaohs", "RIP: Dorothy Berry, high school sweetheart + first wife of Richard", "Louie Louie why the influential garage classic was investigated by the FBI", "Richard Berry: Los Angeles Native Turned Tacoma Icon", "Little Bill & the Bluenotes (2008) LOUIE of the Week", "Mr. Jimbo Metastasizing, or, You Can't Aways Death What You Want: Griel Marcus on the Doors", "The History of "Louie Louie" - Part 3: Answer Songs, Sequels, and Tributes", "Proto-punk: 10 records that paved the way for '76", "Lewis, Dave (19381998): Father of Northwest Rock", "The 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time", "Everybody sing! [364] In 2011, KFJC celebrated International Louie Louie Day with a reprise of its 1983 event, featuring multiple "Louie Louie" versions, new music by Richard Berry and appearances by musicians, DJs, and celebrities with "Louie Louie" connections. "Louie Louie (Where Did She Roam)", 1996, "Louie Louie Music", 2012, Armitage Shanks (, "I Wanna Louie Louie (All Night Long)", 2020, Charles Albright (, 1999: Mutha Funkin, "Say It Again" (12" single, UK release), This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 17:09. Louie Anderson, Emmy-winning comedian, dead at 68 - New York Post [113], On 9 November 1998, after a protracted lawsuit that lasted five years and cost $1.3 million, the Kingsmen were awarded ownership of all their recordings released on Wand Records from Gusto Records, including "Louie Louie". [12], Others noted that it "served as a bridge to the R&B of the past and the rap scene of the future",[13] that "it came to symbolize the garage rock genre, where the typical performance was often aggressive and usually amateurish",[14] and that "all you need to make a great rock 'n' roll record are the chords to 'Louie Louie' and a bad attitude. [2] Phil Dennys arranged the string section. Other major examples of the song's legacy include the celebration of International Louie Louie Day every year on April 11; the annual Louie Louie Parade in Philadelphia from 1985 to 1989; the LouieFest in Tacoma from 2003 to 2012; the ongoing annual Louie Louie Street Party in Peoria; and the unsuccessful attempt in 1985 to make it the state song of Washington. [218][219] The first occurrence was at a Buzzcocks concert at the Band on the Wall venue on May 2, 1977,[220] which he described: I think the Buzzcocks left the stage and the microphone was there and a little voice must have been calling, 'This is your moment, Jon.' The guitar break is triggered by a shout, "Okay, let's give it to 'em right now! Belushi may have insisted on singing "Louie Louie" because he associated it with losing his virginity, but, according to director John Landis, it was included in the screenplay by soundtrack producer Kenny Vance long before Belushi was involved with the project because " it would be the song the Deltas would sing". The Kingsmen version was used in television commercials for Spaced Invaders (1990), but did not appear in the movie. 97 in Billboard[99][100] and cracking the Top 40 in the Washington market. Trojan's compilation of Jamaica Independence Festival songs from 1966-1975 one piece of text really jumped out at me: 1974's 'Play De Music' by Tinga Stewart - a monster hit and the very last one of the archetypal Festival Songs, celebrating the The FBI started a 31-month investigation into the matter and concluded they were "unable to interpret any of the wording in the record. [387], April 6, 1963 The Kingsmen recorded the version that made "Louie Louie" famous. Metallic KO (1976) featured a provocative version with impromptu obscene lyrics from the last performance of Iggy and the Stooges in 1974 at the Michigan Palace in Detroit where, according to Lester Bangs, "you can actually hear hurled beer bottles breaking on guitar strings". "Louie Louie" was Motrhead's first single for Bronze Records in 1978, following their initial release on Chiswick Records in 1977. Other notable 1960s instrumental versions included the Ventures and Ian Whitcomb in 1965, Ace Cannon and Sandy Nelson in 1966, Floyd Cramer and Pete Fountain in 1967, and Willie Mitchell in 1969.[138]. Before punk it was like you had to have a double degree in music. [27] The Pharaohs were Godoy Colbert (first tenor), Stanley Henderson (second tenor, subbing for Robert Harris), and Noel Collins (baritone). "Louie Louie" is a rhythm and blues song written and composed by American musician Richard Berry in 1955, recorded in 1956, and released in 1957. It's the reason the universe will never be fully comprehensible. Louie hates hot dogs, golf, fishing, and surprises. thecourtsmen 33 subscribers Subscribe 86 Share Save 58K views 14 years ago Jack Ely ofcourse. Dave Marsh asserts that "Louie Louie" "far outsold" the No. Multiple versions played during the closing credits: Richard Berry, the Rice University Marching Owl Band, the Sandpipers, Les Dantz and his Orchestra,[288] the Kingsmen, and Young MCs "Louie Louie House Mix" (a remix of the Kingsmen version with samples from Richard Berry and the Rice University MOB). See answer (1) Best Answer. Working with local radio station WCOL, a letter was sent to Wand Records requesting a copy of the lyrics. I never think I'll make it home. Entered ""Bubbling Under" chart April 9, 1966, for one week. And Ray copied a lot of his vocal style from that guy [Jack Ely]. And it's that faintly ridiculous air that makes the Kingsmen's record the classic that it is, especially since it's followed by a guitar solo that's just as wacky. However, it was he who sang "Louie Louie". Multiple live versions were released on Nuggets (recorded 1980, released 1999), Where The Faces Shine - Volume 2 (recorded 1982, released 2008), The Legendary Breaking Point Tour (recorded 1983, released 1993), Kiss My Blood (1991, VHS), Beside You (1993), and Roadkill Rising (1994). [291], Shortly after the Kingsmen's version charted in late 1963, the first international covers appeared. It was a liberation for someone like me who was totally unmusical but wanted to have a go.[222]. Am Dm He took her home to meet his mama and papa, Em Dm Am Man, he had a terrible fight. Lyrically, the first person perspective of the song was influenced by "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)", which is sung from the perspective of a customer talking to a bartender ("Louie" was the name of Berry's bartender). "[335] Richard Berry told Esquire Magazine in 1988 that the Kingsmen had sung the song exactly as written[22] and often deflected questions about the lyrics by saying, "If I told you the words, you wouldn't believe me anyway. The earliest known high school band albums with a song version were the Evanston Township High School's Hi-Lights 1965 and the Franklin High School Choir, Orchestra, and Stage Band's 1966 Bel Cantos Concert. [366], Various versions of "Louie Louie" have appeared in the films listed below.[367]. Who sang "Louie Louie"? [370], In 2015 Microsoft Messenger introduced the Zya Ditty app which allowed users to create short text-to-autotune music videos using a library of pre-licensed songs including "Louie Louie" and others. I'm gonna make it home Louie-o Lou-ay Oh, baby We gotta . He has said that "Born in the U.S.A." was "the most misunderstood song since 'Louie Louie'",[230] and one critic characterized The River as "Less Kierkegaard, lots more Kingsmen". As the group was going by the Wailers version, which has a brief restatement of the riff twice over before the lead vocalist comes back in, it would be expected that Ely would do the same. Richard Berry - Louie Louie Lyrics | Genius Lyrics "[336] In response, Max Feirtag of publisher Limax Music offered $1,000 to "anyone finding anything suggestive in the lyrics",[337] and Broadcasting magazine published the actual lyrics as provided by Limax. )[93] "Louie Louie" did reach No. 30 and No. Ely's controversial song was a monster hit. [290], The group's logo paid tribute to the logo of the Kingsmen. [32], Other versions appeared on Casino Club Presents Richard Berry (1966), Great Rhythm and Blues Oldies Volume 12 (1977), The Best of Louie, Louie (1983), and In Session: Great Rhythm & Blues (2002). Latin American jazz/rock innovator Carlos Santana compared Tito Puente's 1962 "Oye Como Va" to "Louie Louie" saying, " how close the feel was to 'Louie Louie' and some Latin jazz tunes" [163] and " this is a song like 'Louie Louie' or 'Guantanamera'. Nothing bad, it was good Louie had the best girl he could Louie Lyrics - Theme Song Lyrics - Lyrics On Demand 1 (although Marsh asserts that it "far outsold" the other records, but was denied Billboard's top spot due to lack of "proper decorum". "[32] In the Love That Louie CD booklet, Alec Palao wrote,[36]. 1 hit "Guantanamera", the Sandpipers, with producer Tommy LiPuma and arranger Nick DeCaro, "cleverly revived"[153] the same soft rock, smooth ballad, Spanish language approach with a "quiet, yet majestic",[36] "sweet interpretation"[154] of "Louie Louie", reaching No. Louie nearly caused a scene, Wishing it was a dream. The FBI's FOIA Library contains many files of public interest and historical value. [135], Surf music icons the Beach Boys released their version on the 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2 with lead vocals shared by Carl Wilson and Mike Love. [138][213][214] Her cover version has been described as tapping "directly into the primal, urchin-like spirit of rock's renaissance".[215]. He re-recorded "Louie Louie" in 1976 and again in 1980, and these versions appear on multiple 60s hit compilations credited to "Jack Ely (formerly of the Kingsmen)" or "re-recordings by the original artists". A D Em D A D Em D Louie Louie, oh baby, we gotta go. That distinction apparently belonged to Mike Mitchell. Who sang Louie Louie song? [371] In 2017 ByteDance acquired Musical.ly and merged it with TikTok to deliver app functionality for creating short lip-sync and music videos. In the liner notes to Baba Boom! Released in July 1999, the "Original Mix" version reached No. 26 in 1964, and to date remains the last "Louie Louie" version to appear on the US or UK charts. Dave Marsh in 1993 called their version "the last great "Louie Louie" to date".[275]. This is my personal list of classic or remarkable versions of the many [i]Louie Louie[/i] covers, arranged chronologically. The FBI Investigated the Song 'Louie Louie' for Two Years Meanwhile, the Raiders version, with far stronger promotion, was becoming a hit in California and was also listed as "bubbling under" one week after the Kingsmen debuted on the chart. [326] The "state rock song" was played following "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch at all Seattle Mariners home games from 1990 up until the 2022 season.[383]. The Sonics released their "blistering makeover definitive punk arrangement"[36] as a 1965 single (Etiquette ET-23) and on the 1966 album Boom. Now louie louie had his time Seemed . Who sang the original Louie Louie? What are the REAL lyrics to "Louie Louie"? - The Straight Dope Entered "Bubbling Under" chart November 9, 1963, for three weeks. [136] Their rendition also appeared on The Best of Louie Louie, Volume 2. Sail that ship about, all alone. Am Dm Knowing what's wrong from what's right. Are the Lyrics to 'Louie, Louie' Obscene? | Snopes.com 's, 1967), Mario Allison (De Fiesta, 1967), and Rey Davila (On His Own, 1971). [86] The Independent in Britain noted that it reinforced "a growing suspicion that enthusiasm was more important to rock 'n' roll than technical competence or literal meaning. [Chorus] A D Em D A D Em D Louie Louie, oh baby, we gotta go. [205], A BBC reviewer said, "The goofy garage anthem becomes both fiery sermon and dance-til-you-drop marathon. The error "imbued the Kingsmen recording with a touching humility and humanity"[36] and is now so well known that multiple versions by other groups duplicate it. "Louie Louie" remains the "unofficial state rock song". The Children's Hospital of Illinois is the most recent charitable beneficiary. When the Monkees sang ''I thought love was more or less a giving thing,'' in their 1966 song, ''I`m a Believer,'' my personal version had love as ''moral lessons and given things.'' And it was. A duo of "jazz rock fusioneers",[261] bassist Stanley Clarke and keyboardist George Duke, included a "killer version"[262] "funk cover"[263] on The Clarke/Duke Project, a 1981 album of eight original compositions and one cover. Me catch the ship across the sea. Am Dm Louie, Louie, Louie, Loo-ee. Another live 1978 version was released on Lock Up Your Daughters (1990) and a 1978 alternate studio track appeared Over the Top: The Rarities (2000). The Kingsmen's studio version was recorded in one partial and one full take. [98], Due to the lyrics controversy and supported by the band's heavy touring schedule, the single continued to sell throughout 1965 and briefly reappeared on the charts in 1966, reaching No. Wiki User. The John Belushi version is on the soundtrack album. The Seattle Times annually bestows its Louie Awards upon "those who - through conscious act, rotten luck or slip of the tongue - stretch the limits of imagination or tolerance or taste in the Great Northwest."[413]. [59] The arrangement, devised by Roberts with the band, was "the first-ever garage version of 'Louie Louie'"[59] and included his "one of the true great moments of rock"[36] ad-lib "Let's give it to 'em, RIGHT NOW!!" Hey! [118], Support for International Louie Louie Day and other "Louie Louie"related observances is provided by the Louie Louie Advocacy and Music Appreciation Society (LLAMAS). The song was originally written and recorded in. [149], Biographer Johnny Rogan noted no "Louie Louie" influence, writing that Davies adapted an earlier piano riff to the jazz blues style of Mose Allison, and that he was further influenced by seeing Chuck Berry and Gerry Mulligan in Jazz on a Summer's Day, a 1958 film about the Newport Jazz Festival. Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. Early video games with chiptune versions of "Louie Louie" included California Games and Donkey Konga. I sailed the ship all alone. [274], The Fat Boys with producers Latin Rascals brought "Louie Louie" up to date in 1988 with a hip hop version which reached No. [61] The track was included on the 1963 album The Wailers & Co, the 1964 compilation album Tall Cool One, the 1998 reissue of the 1962 album The Fabulous Wailers Live at the Castle, and multiple later compilations. Who sang Louie Louie Louie Louieeee Louie Louie Louie Lou-ahhhh It appeared on a 1967 French release (Formidable Rhythm And Blues (Vol. Cadena would go on to sing on the Six Pack EP before switching to rhythm guitar and being replaced on vocals by Henry Rollins. But it's actually a cover of a song. The year 1988 also saw multiple rap and hip hop releases with "Louie Louie" sampling (see Use in sampling section below). [121] Guitar Player magazine noted, "Raw, lightning-fast, and loud, the solo's unbridled energy helped make the song a No. Ain't no difference if you're black or white. Super Hits Of The '70s: Have A - Brother Louie Lyrics - LetsSingIt Born in Portland, Jack started out as a jazz pianist but switched to guitar after seeing Elvis Presley perform on television. [320] CD Review characterized his version as "oddly appropriate".[323]. [62], Roberts was killed in an automobile accident in 1967, but his "legacy would reverberate down through the ages". Iggy Pop American Caesar 1993 Virgin Records America, Inc. Commemorations of International Louie Louie Day have included newspaper articles,[398] magazine stories,[399][400] and radio programs with discussions of the song's history and playlists of multiple "Louie Louie" versions. [268] Not all reaction was positive, however, as CD Review dismissed it as "blasphemy" and "disco-fied". 10 Great Versions Of Louie Louie | Mojo His resolution also called for the creation of a new "Louie Louie County". Louie Louie Louie Louis Louie Louie Louie Loueye Louie Louie Louie Louis Louie Louie you're gonna cry. "Louie Louie" singer Jack ___ Crossword Clue Answers, Crossword Solver [333], In January 1964, Indiana governor Matthew E. Welsh, acting on multiple complaint letters, determined the lyrics to be pornographic because his "ears tingled" when he listened to the record. Denials of chicanery by Kingsmen and Ely did not stop the controversy. 68 on the UK Singles Chart.[225]. "[122], Paul Revere & the Raiders also recorded a "cleaner, more accomplished"[36] version of "Louie Louie", probably on April 11 or 13, 1963, in the same Portland studio as the Kingsmen. Me think of girl constantly. The 1983 compilation The Best of Louie, Louie featured a Russian version by Red Square,[33] and in 1997 an entire album of Spanish covers, The First Louie Louie Spanish Compilation, was released with versions by the Flaming Sideburns, the Navahodads, Los DelTonos, and eight others. [256] Demo versions of both tracks, recorded with Cadena, were included on the 1982 compilation album Everything Went Black. "Louie Louie": Why Is This Song So Awesome? - CultureSonar [147] Other sources stated that Davies wrote "You Really Got Me" while trying to work out the chords of "Louie Louie" at the suggestion of the group's manager, Larry Page. They also made it more "fierce and threatening"[162] by altering the traditional 1-4-5-4 chord pattern to the "darker, more sinister" 1-3b-4-3b.[36]. [273] White also performed it on Soul Train on September 19, 1981. But, he admitted, the . [334][335] He referred the matter to the FCC (which declined to act) and also requested that the Indiana Broadcasters Association advise their member stations to pull the record from their playlists. BROTHER LOUIE CHORDS by Hot Chocolate @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com [257], The front cover art shows the main verse of the lyrics to "Louie Louie" over a photograph by Edward Colver featuring Black Flag's third singer Dez Cadena. Although not commercially released, an example of the song's influence was the 2000 performance by the Dover High School Band joined on saxophone by Bill Clinton (who played in a jazz trio named the Kingsmen at Hot Springs High School, and at whose 1964 graduation dance the actual Kingsmen performed). The soundtrack album, released by Cypress Records on vinyl, CD and cassette, included the Kingsmen and Young MC versions. [89], Sales of the Kingsmen record were initially so low (reportedly 600) that the group considered disbanding. What is the meaning of the song Louie Louie? - Quora I'm gonna make it home Louie-o Lou-ay Oh, baby We . Music critic Dave Marsh wrote a 245-page book about the song, Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n Roll Song, Including the Full Details of Its Torture and Persecution at the Hands of the Kingsmen, J.Edgar Hoover's F.B.I, and a Cast of Millions.[369]. A D Em D A D Em D I said, Lou..ie Lou. "), Kareem Abdul Jabbar ("Its a dance song! Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie' lyrics dirty? Well, the FBI got involved. It's the essential equation of rock 'n' roll. April 11 (Richard Berry's birthday) is celebrated as International Louie Louie Day[384][385] and is listed by Chase's Calendar of Events, the National Special Events Registry,[386] and other sources.
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