NEW 📀 Louie Louie - The Kingsmen {DES Stereo} 1963

1963-64......#2 U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 U.S. Cash Box Top 100, #1 Canada
"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 is best known for the 1963 hit version by the Kingsmen and has become a standard in pop and rock. The song is based on the tune "El Loco Cha Cha" popularized by bandleader René Touzet and is an example of Afro-Cuban influence on American popular music.
"Louie Louie" tells, in simple verse–chorus form, the first-person story of a Jamaican sailor returning to the island to see his lover.
A significant error on the Kingsmen version occurs just after the lead guitar break. 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. Ely, however, missed his mark, coming in two bars too soon, before the restatement of the riff. He realized his mistake and stopped the verse short, but the band did not realize that he had done so. As a quick fix, drummer Lynn Easton covered the pause with a drum fill. The error "imbued the Kingsmen recording with a touching humility and humanity" and is now so well known that multiple versions by other groups duplicate it.
First released in May 1963, the single was initially issued by the small Jerden label, before being picked up by the larger Wand Records in October 1963. Herb Alpert and A&M Records passed on the distribution opportunity, deeming it "too long" and "out of tune".
Sales of the Kingsmen record were initially so low (reportedly 600) that the group considered disbanding. Things changed when Boston's biggest DJ, Arnie Ginsburg, was given the record by a pitchman. Amused by its slapdash sound, he played it on his program as "The Worst Record of the Week". Despite the slam, listener response was swift and positive.
By the end of October, it was listed in Billboard as a regional breakout and a "bubbling under" entry for the national chart. 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. For a few weeks, the two singles appeared destined to battle each other, but demand for the Kingsmen single, backed by national promotion from Wand, acquired momentum and by the end of 1963, Columbia Records had stopped promoting the Raiders version.
It entered the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for December 7, and peaked at No. 2 the following week, a spot which it held for six non-consecutive weeks; it would remain in the top 10 throughout December 1963 and January 1964 before dropping off in early February. In total, the Kingsmen's version spent 16 weeks on the Hot 100, selling a million copies by April 1964. "Dominique" by the Singing Nun and "There! I've Said It Again" by Bobby Vinton prevented the single from reaching No. 1 (although Marsh asserts that it "far outsold" the other records, but was denied Billboard's top spot due to lack of "proper decorum".) "Louie Louie" did reach No. 1 on the Cash Box and Music Vendor/Record World pop charts, as well as No. 1 on the Cash Box R&B chart. It was the last No. 1 on Cash Box before Beatlemania hit the United States with "I Want to Hold Your Hand". The Kingsmen version quickly became a standard at teen parties in the U.S. during the 1960s and, reaching No. 26 on the UK Singles Chart, was the preferred tune for a popular British dance called "The Shake". The first album, The Kingsmen In Person, peaked at No. 20 in 1964 and remained on the charts for over two years (131 weeks total) until 1966.
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. 65 in Cash Box, No. 76 in Record World, No. 97 in Billboard and cracking the Top 40 in the Washington market. Total sales estimates for the single range from 10 million to over 12 million with cover versions accounting for another 300 million. In July 2023, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the song silver for sales and streaming figures exceeding 200,000 units.

[smurfstoolsoldiesmusictimemach]

Welcome to Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine!
We provide classic video music clips from the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's and occasionally the 1980's. We are dedicated in improving your viewing and listening pleasure by editing, restoring and remastering vintage film clips. Enjoy!

[matthewtomaszewski]

My friend brought this song to music appreciation class in our Catholic school in 1964. About half way thru the nun pulled it off the turntable and broke it over her knee. It doesn’t get anymore rock and roll than that.

[zzzsydneyhom]

I've heard this song hundreds of times since 1963 and I'll be damned if I can't understand a word he sings beyond Louie Louie.
Never stopped me from liking it though...

[johngaither]

On trial for "Obscenity" in a state court the trial judge's ruling stated, "At any volume, speed or direction I find these lyrics totally incomprehensible!" End of trial.

[aglasserm]

ouie, Louie, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Fine little girl she waits for me
Me catch the ship for cross the sea
I sail the ship all alone
I never think me make it home
Louie, Louie, oh, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Three nights and days me sail the sea
Me think of girl constantly
On the ship I dream she there
I smell the rose in her hair
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Me see Jamaica moon above
It won't be long, me see my love
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I never leave again
Louie, Louie, oh, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
I say, me gotta go
I say, me gotta go

[kennethcampbell]

68 grad, 74 yrs old, still listening to this song, love dancing to it when chance presents itself

[Grendel]

I'm 73 and I can still play the solo. Some things never leave.

[ronaldrussell]

Sounds just as good now as it did in '63!

[ThomasButler-spro]

I am an old man now, 82, However, in 1963 I was a college student at the University of Rochester in Upstate New York. Back then you could drink when you were 18. This tune was a favorite at beer blasts held in the student union. Get drunk and dance your ass off...lol. Great stress reliever. Maybe I'll have it played at my funeral.

[ripperduck]

When I was in high school back in the 80s, they were still playing this thing. It was a great song then, it’s a great song now…

[janholman]

My friend's son is named Louis. He had several strokes and when we would go over to visit his mom, I would say hi to him, but he would never respond. Then one day I walked in and started singing Louis, Louis, he made an effort to smile as big as he was able to! Go Louie! ☺

[BBQDad]

At the ripe, old age of 71, I still love this song. It rocks out loud. We dug it all the way.
CLASS OF '69 STILL RULES!

[Skedawg]

Back when I was a school boy the lyrics were a great topic of discussion and debate. A true 60’s garage band classic.

[Dennis-brlm]

This is the first song every garage band learned back in the day.

[geoffreypiltz]

Almost completely unintelligible lyrics! Love it!

[Ariesmount]

It’s not for me to understand how that song got a band signed, but DAMN, there were some fine looking ladies there.

[timprescott]

Absolutely timeless. This song could be covered today by almost ANY band and just KILL!

[jdwfenton]

" Louie Louie " is a national treasure. If you were a teen in the 60's and didn't know this song, you must of been dead. Also, the FBI went nuts investigating this song for so-called " dirty " lyrics.

[davidallison]

I was there in '63 years old leather jacket on and rocking my socks off! Now 78 and this gem brings back wonderful memories of my teen years

[sharonb]

I'm 71 so of course danced to this song from the beginning. We had all the ( bad ) lyrics from the garage bands, loved this song. But had never seen the Kingsmen perform until right now. Never dreamed they were so COOL.