Louie Louie (song)
"Louie Louie" is a song originally written by Richard Berry in the 1950s, drawing inspiration from the calypso track "El Loco Cha Cha" by Rene Touzet. The lyrics tell the story of a Jamaican sailor who expresses his longing for his island lover to Louie, a bartender who serves him drinks. Although it was first recorded and released in 1956, the song gained significant popularity in 1963 when the Kingsmen released their version, which became a rock-and-roll classic. This rendition's unintelligible lyrics, a result of subpar recording techniques, sparked rumors of obscenity, leading to heightened interest and controversy. The song's notoriety was further amplified by an FBI investigation and a radio ban in Indiana, which only fueled its popularity among teenagers. "Louie Louie" has since become an enduring cultural icon, often associated with the spirit of rebellion and youthful exuberance in American rock music history.
Louie Louie (song)
Identification Popular dance song first recorded by Richard Berry and the Pharaohs
Date Recorded in 1956; released in 1957
“Louie Louie” was released to modest success in 1957 but later became a rock-and-roll classic because of its allegedly obscene lyrics.
The inspiration and beat for “Louie Louie” come from “El Loco Cha Cha,” a song by Rene Touzet. Richard Berry created lyrics that told the tale of a homesick Jamaican sailor pining for his island lover. He pours out his troubles to Louie, the bartender, as the latter pours him drinks.
The original 45-single was recorded by Flip Records in 1956 and released in 1957. “Louie Louie” was the B-side to Berry’s cover of “You Are My Sunshine.” The catchy song with the calypso beat was a modest success in the Los Angeles area, where it was recorded. Berry sold publishing rights to the song for $750.
Impact
Although the song debuted during the 1950’s, it found its greatest success several years later when, in 1963, Jack Ely and the Kingsmen recorded the version that made it a rock-and-roll standard. A rival version by Paul Revere and the Raiders vied for dominance on the Billboard chart, but the Kingsmen eventually triumphed. Contributing to the popularity of the Kingsmen’s version were its unintelligible lyrics, an unintentional by-product of inferior recording techniques. As a result, rumors started that the words were obscene, leading to a spike in sales by eager teenagers, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation, and a ban on radio airplay of the song by the state of Indiana, which only further ensured its success.
Bibliography
Marsh, Dave. Louie Louie. New York: Hyperion, 1993. Chronicles the song’s time frame and gives a definitive history.
Propes, Steve, and Galen Gart. L.A. R&B Vocal Groups: 1945 to 1965. Winter Haven, Fla.: Big Nickel, 2003. Richly detailed account of the environment that inspired “Louie Louie’s” creation.