Louie Louie

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Mick writes:

Here's fun - Louie Louie.

The history of this song is insane. So Rock'n'Roller Richard Berry heard an old Cuban song El Loco Cha Cha and decided to interpret it as a Chuck Berry rocker with lyrics inspired by Frank Sinatra. "Louie" was Richard's bartender and he wrote the song on tissue paper. Then he sold his rights to the music. Then he released it as a B Side and it became a hit. Then a little white rock'n'roll band up in Portland Oregon went in and recorded their rehearsal room version of it, on one mike hanging from the ceiling. Then it was a huge Rock hit. Then Richard Berry was living on welfare but a drinks company wanted to use the song, so Richard Berry got a lawyer and became a millionaire. Then the song went on to become the most recorded rock'n'roll song in history - over a thousand recordings. Then Mick Clarke recorded his version.

Meanwhile the little band up in Portland, The Kingsmen, were investigated by the FBI for their obscene lyrics in the song. A 100 page report concluded that although all three branches of the service had thoroughly investigated the record, including playing the 45 at 33, they were unable to find the hidden obscene lyrics.

In fact the singer apparently mangled the diction because he was getting used to new braces on his teeth as well as having to sing with his head sideways to get picked up by the aforementioned one microphone dangling from the ceiling.

So.. in 2022 in a small studio in darkest Surrey, the 1001st version of "Louie Louie" is created.

Whilst not copying the original (Kingsmen) version I have tried to emulate their spontaneous and somewhat chaotic feel. So every take on this recording is the first one..(OK, the lead guitar was second take, but kept as it was, unedited) and there's the absolute minimum of studio mucking about etc. The vocal was certainly straight off with no rehearsal, hence the occasional mangling of lyrics and authentic forgetting of words. The whole thing was recorded and mixed in a couple of afternoons.

I used my 1963 Danelectro - seemed right for the job. It would have been brand new when The Kingsmen recorded their "Louie Louie". In fact I like to imagine that my guitar was used on the session - it would certainly account for all the wear on the back of the neck.. all that sliding up and down between the three chords of the song. (Smile).

Anyway - lots of fun. A garage band classic.. the garage band classic. Long live rock'n'roll.