Beech Tree News Network

In 1964, a group named The Vibrations had a song called “My Girl Sloopy”.  One year later, The McCoys had a #1 hit with the song.  They changed the title to “Hang On Sloopy”.  The Vibrations’ original reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when it was originally released in 1964, marking its peak chart success: however, the most well-known version, the previously mentioned “Hang On Sloopy” by the McCoys, went onto reach #1 on the charts.  The song was written by Wes Farrell and Bert Berns.  I’ve heard both versions and prefer the McCoys. As always with the majority of my classic song facts, I learned this from Little Steven’s Underground Garage.

Here's another one from the files of the Underground Garage: do you know the most recorded rock & roll song of all time?  While I couldn’t verify online, it’s said that “Louie Louie” is the most recorded rock & roll song of all time.  Not being satisfied with that little bit of information, I of course did some digging.  The song was written by Richard Berry in 1965, recorded in ’56 and released in ’57.  It’s 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 Rene Touzet and is an example of Afro-Cuban influence on American popular music.  

The” extraordinary roller-coaster tale of obscurity, scandal, success and immorality” and “remarkable historical impact” of “Louie Louie” have been recognized by organizations and publications worldwide including the Rock& Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, National Public Radio, VH!, Rolling Stone Magazine, National Endowment of the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America.  There is a celebration of International Louie Louie Day every year on April 11.  There was an annual Louie Louie parade in Philadelphia from 1985-89.  There was LouieFest in Tacoma from 20003-’12. There’s the ongoing annual Louie Louie street party in Peoria.  There was an unsuccessful attempt in 1985 to make it the state song of Washington.  “Washington, My Home” is the official state song.  

How many times has “Louie Louie” been recorded? Published estimates range from over 1,600 to more than 2,000 with even more still being released and performed.  It’s been released or performed by a wide range of artists from reggae to hard rock, from jazz to psychedelic, hip hop to easy listening.  Peter Doggett labeled it “almost impossible to play badly”.  Paul Revere(musician, not the historical figure) summarized it as “three chords and the most mundane beat possible.  Any idiot could learn it, and they all did”.  

One of my favorite versions of “Louie Louie” is the 1972 reggae cover by Toots & the Maytals.  Metal group Motorhead, Bruce Springsteen, Allman Brothers, John Lennon, Barry White are just a handful of the many artists to cover this classic.  That’s it for my tale of two enduring ‘60’s classics.  See you back here next week!