"Louie Louie" was written by Richard Berry in 1955 and originally recorded by his group The Pharaohs in 1957. The song was a flop and Berry sold his publishing and songwriting rights for $750. In 1963, The Kingsmen would spend $36 at a local studio and, in one take, turn it into a rock 'n roll classic. It is ranked #55 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time".
The Kingsmen's version was also the subject of a 31-month FBI investigation about the supposed obscenity of the lyrics. The song was analyzed at a variety of speeds and nearly everyone connected with the song was interrogated. The investigation ended without prosecution with FBI concluding that they were "unable to interpret any of the wording in the record."
The Kingsmen (1963)
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