July
2002- part one
first
posted July 30, 2002
(all rights reserved)
(spot the typos, win a prize!!)
It's
been a hectic time at the LouieLouie.Net headquarters.
Production of the MEANING OF LOUIE documentary continues,
slowed somewhat by the financial funk that seems to
have cast a shadow on much of the U.S. economy. As this
project has been pretty much a DIY production, it's
been an interesting ride to say the least.
After
months of preparation, we are proud to unveil the official
website for our production company- Octalouie
LLC. At this site, potential clients, and investors,
as well as fans will get a chance to learn more about
our company at octalouie.com.
Video clips, photographs, written words, and a few audio
samples will provide an overview of what we do
The
internet never stops working as an endless source of
information (and misinformation) for this amazing song.
Thanks to many wonderful informants, I've learned (or
at least been reminded) about LOUIE LOUIE being a drink,
a sexual organ, a Las Vegas singer, a restaurant, a
subject of lawsuits, and of course, an excellent blueprint
for garage rock. Let's dig into the latest news about
this miraculous melody!
GODOY
COLBERT
 Godoy
Colbert is not a name that comes up very often in the
history of rhythm and blues music, but it should. Godoy
was an important part of LOUIE LOUIE history, as one
of the original members of the Pharaohs, the band that
backed up Richard Berry when he first recorded LOUIE
LOUIE back in 1957. Godoy Colbert, Robert Harris, and
Noel Collins had a little vocal group at Jefferson High
School in Los Angeles that was known as the Pharaohs.
Richard Berry, a recent graduate from Jefferson, found
out about this little group, and decided he wanted to
use them for his new recordings on the Flip record label.
LOUIE LOUIE was one of their early singles, and Godoy
provided the deep bass vocal harmonies on the song.
In fact, Godoy's voice is one of the first sounds you
hear on the song, as he sang the "duh duh duh - duh
duh" opening vocals.
Godoy
had a colorful career beyond LOUIE LOUIE. The Pharaohs
recorded music without Richard Berry, including some
tracks for the DelFi label. Godoy also sang for a variety
of other groups, including the Kuf-Linx, the Exits,
the Visitors, the Afro Blues Quintet, and Free Movement.
In 1996, for the first time in some
30 years, Richard Berry and the Pharaohs reunited on
stage for a special show put on by the Southern California
Doo Wop Society. It was at this event that I had a chance
to meet up with the Pharaohs and see Richard for the
very last time. A year later, Richard died of a heart
attack in 1997.
Godoy Colbert died of cancer on July
17th, 2002.
ARTHUR
LEE MAYE
 Arthur
Lee Maye was one of the few musical entertainers that
was able to successfully cross over in the world of
sports. As "Lee Maye," he played baseball for the Houston
Astros, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Braves, Washington
Senators, and the Chicago White Sox. As "Arthur Lee
Maye," he sang with the Crowns, the Carmels, the Five
Hearts, recording for Specialty, Cash, Dig, Lenox, Jetstream,
Pacemaker, ABC Paramount, Buddah, and the Modern/Flair/RPM/Crown-
Bihari Brothers empire which used the "Crowns" group
name for most of Maye's recordings.
Arthur
Lee Maye was one of Richard Berry's dearest friends,
and provided some memorable backup vocals on Richard's
classic "Get Out of the Car" single for the Modern label
in 1955. Richard was more than happy to return the favor
for his buddy, singing backup on many of Arthur Lee
Maye's singles, as well as providing some original compositions
including "Gloria," which was dedicated to their friend
Gloria Jones of the Dreamers.
Arthur
Lee Maye did receive some well-deserved recognition,
and recently saw some of his Flip recordings re-issued
legitimately on the Ace label. My friend Phil Milstein
of the American
Song Poetry Music Archives wrote a nice article
on Arthur Lee Maye for Roctober
magazine. There are also some very good websites on
Arthur Lee Maye, covering both his music and sports
careers.
Arthur
Lee Maye died of cancer, on July 17th, the same day
as Godoy Colbert.
http://www.group-harmony.com/lee_maye.htm
http://www.roctober.com/roctober/leemaye.html
http://www.roctober.com/roctober/roc30.html
http://www.astrosdaily.com/players/interviews/Maye_Lee.html
http://www.astrosdaily.com/players/Maye_Lee.html
http://members.tripod.com/SoulfulKindaMusic/almaye.htm
http://www.pubdim.net/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Maye_Lee.stm
LOVE
THAT LOUIE!
 A
few years ago, I helped Ace Records (UK) obtain the
Flip Records catalog. As I've been working on the rather
ambitious LOUIE LOUIE documentary for more than a few
years, I've done my best to keep track of the different
parties connected to LOUIE properties. To say that it's
been a challenge keeping track of all the various owners
would be a mild understatement. One company elusive
to my efforts to document, license, and negotiate was
the Flip Records/Limax Music company, which was the
organization that released the very first LOUIE LOUIE
record, as recorded by Richard Berry and the Pharaohs.
As fate would have it, the company dissolved when the
two partners, Max and Lillian Feirtag passed away, and
I kept up with the latest developments as I wanted to
use the master recordings in my documentary.
Ace
Records has a reputation for quality products and proper
compensation to the original recording artists. My friend
Alec Palao, who represents Ace in the USA, expressed
an interest in obtaining the rights to reissue the Flip
catalog. As the Feirtag estate sought a resolution,
a decision was made to sell the catalog outright, and
Ace was able to purchase the assets of the Flip/Limax
companies.
The
very first CD to utilize the original master recording
of LOUIE LOUIE is an impressive release titled simply,
"Love That Louie," which is scheduled to be released
in the USA in August 2002. Up until this point, every
CD that featured Richard Berry's 1957 recording, was
simply a bootleg dub mastered from vinyl records. On
this CD release, you'll be able to hear the song in
it's clearest possible form. The bass parts are particularly
strong in this remastered release.
The
compilation is an inspired collection of LOUIE LOUIE
recordings, songs that influenced LOUIE LOUIE, and songs
that were inspired by LOUIE LOUIE. Unlike previous LOUIE
LOUIE compilations, this collection clocks in at over
72 minutes with 24 tracks. With an information-packed
booklet loaded with informative liner notes, interviews,
photographs, and even a sample of sheet music with actual
lyrics (?!), this CD package provides a lot of bang
for the buck. I have to admit I'm very impressed with
this CD, even if I did provide some input to this project
with a little article on Richard Berry, some photographs,
and a good-sized wad of phone numbers. Yes, I am slightly
biased. Despite that, it's still an amazing collection.
Here's a listing of the tracks:
01)
Louie Louie - Richard Berry & The Pharoahs (1957)
02) El Loco Cha Cha - Rene Touzet (1956)
03) One For My Baby - Johnny Mercer with Paul Weston
& His Orchestra (1951)
04) Havana Moon - Chuck Berry (1956)
05) Louie Louie - RockinÕ Robin Roberts & The Wailers
(1961)
06) Louie Louie - Little Bill with the Adventurers
and the Shalimars (1961)
07) Louie Louie - The Kingsmen (1963)
08) Louie Louie - Paul Revere & The Raiders (1963)
09) Louie Louie - Don & The Goodtimes (1967)
10) Louie Louie - The Sonics (1965)
11) Louie Louie - The Beach Boys (1964)
12) Louie Louie - Otis Redding (1964)
13) Louie Louie - The Sandpipers (1966)
14) Louie Louie - The Swamp Rats (1967)
15) Louie Louie - Travis Wammack (1966)
16) Louie Louie - The Kinks (1964)
17) Louie Louie - Sounds Orchestral (1970)
18) Love That Louie - Jack E Lee & The Squires (1964)
19) Louise Louise - H.B. & The Checkmates (1964)
20) Long Green - The Kingsmen (1964)
21) Louie Louie Ô66 - Jack Ely & The Courtmen (1966)
22) Have Love Will Travel- Richard Berry & The Pharoahs
(1959)
23) Louie Go Home - Paul Revere & The Raiders (1964)
24) Louie Louie - Toots & The Maytals (1972)
 Ace
Records has done a remarkable job with the Flip catalog.
To date, they've used released two Flip Doo Wop compilations,
a Six Teens collections, and the first comprehensive
collection of music by The Dreamers, before they transformed
into the Blossoms, the group where Darlene Love first
made her first mark in music. Actually, when I listened
to this Dreamers collection, "They Sing Like Angels,"
it seemed more like a Richard Berry record, as over
half of the songs were originally released by Richard
Berry and the Dreamers, or a variation involving Richard
Berry. Eventually, Ace will do a comprehensive Richard
Berry compilation, as Ace owns his original recordings
with Flip, Modern, and John Dolphin's record label.
Until then, the first Ace collection of Richard's music-
"Get Out of the Car" is still in print, featuring some
of Richard's recordings for Modern Records, which included
Flair, and RPM subsidiaries.
http://www.acerecords.co.uk/
MORE
ON THE DREAMERS
 For
those of you that might be in Southern California on
Saturday August 3rd, you might want to travel to Long
Beach for a very special show put on by the Doo-Wop
Society of Southern California. The Dreamers/Blossoms
with special guest Jennell Hawkins will be performing
at a show that also includes The Bobbettes, and Shirley
Gunter & the Queens. Freddie Willis of the Calvanes
will be singing Richard Berry's parts with the Dreamers.
From a historical point of this view, this show marks
an appearance of Doo-Wop's three earliest "Girl Groups"
on one stage, and I have a feeling this event will never
again be repeated. For more information, please go to
the Doo-Wop Society webpage.
http://www.DooWopSociety.com
THE WAILERS CADILLAC TO MEXICO
 In
December 2001, the Wailers went out on a little surprise
promotional tour, showing up spontaneously in parts
of California to promote their new release "Cadillac
to Mexico." With a colorful Cadillac painted up like
their new CD cover, Kent Morrill and Buck Ormsby left
their Tacoma headquarters for a little winter road trip
that took them to radio stations and record stores.
From May to June of this year,
the Wailers embarked on a Northwest tour that took them
to Boston, Providence, Worchester, New York, and Hoboken.
This was their first Tour on the east coast since the
release of their first album "The Fabulous Wailers"
on Golden Crest Records in 1959. At the time, the 45
single of "Tall Cool One" had reached 30 on the 1959
Billboard chart, and the album was released in cash
in their success. There's certainly been no shortage
of material from the band, with their new CD on Rockn
Records, and some excellent reissues from Norton and
Ace Records. In addition to their musical performances,
they have also created a new organization that will
be known as "House of Rock and Roll," which will provide
a showcase for the great rock and roll architects. To
keep up with the Wailers, and all of their different
projects, you need to check out their websites:
http://www.thefabulouswailers.com/
http://www.houseofrocknroll.com/
UNCOVERED SONICS!
 Speaking
of great Northwest bands, Norton recently uncovered
some rare live recordings by the Sonics. Punk before
punk was punk, the Sonics had a raw approach to music
that still sends shivers down the spines of the easily
intimidated. Mellow rock it is not. As luck would have
it, this newly uncovered recording features a rendition
of "that song" from Lake City Teen Club, circa 1963,
providing Louie-tics all over the world yet another
reason to pester their friendly neighborhood record
store.
http://www.nortonrecords.com/
MIAMI STEVE VAN ZANDT & GARAGE
ROCK RADIO
 Steven
Van Zandt certainly knows his way around the garage.
As one of Bruce Springsteen's E Street bandmates, Miami
Steve has a true affinity for the soothing sounds that
us musicologists like to call "garage rock." When he's
not touring with the Boss, or acting in "The Sopranos,"
Steve is the host for a relatively new radio show known
as ÒHard Rock Cafe Presents Little StevenÕs Underground
Garage.Ó To quote the official press release:
"Van Zandt, longtime member of Bruce SpringsteenÕs
E Street Band and featured actor on the hit television
drama series, 'The Sopranos,' will host the radio
program. The weekly, two-hour broadcast is dedicated
to the standard-bearers of 1960's Garage Rock and
todayÕs top Garage bands. Dan Neer, host of 'Up Close,'
the longest running show in national rock radio syndication,
will serve as the showÕs producer. The show's suggested
airtime each week is on Sunday evenings at 10:00 pm
when it will air on most classic rock stations (time
and day may vary from market to market) in top markets
across the country."
An MTV.com article had a very
cool quote in an article on Steven's radio show:
ÒÕLouie LouieÕ is the first garage record,Ó says
Steven. ÒThe vocal style is very different. The arrangement,
the production, the controversial nature of the lyrics,
the crazy drum solo that comes during the guitar solo
for no reason ... itÕs just a classic.Ó
http://www.littlesteven.com/
http://www.littlestevensundergroundgarage.com/
RE-MASTERED PINK FINKS FROM
ROSS WILSON
 In
the last LOUIE REPORT, I wrote up a few words about
Ross Wilson, former leader of the Pink Finks in Australia.
At the ripe age of 16, Ross recorded "Louie Louie" in
1965, and released it on his own Mojo record label.
He's had a rather colorful career, spanning various
genres of garage rock, pychedelia, blues, doo-wop, jazz,
and even a bit of jump jive. It's been said that one
of his original compositions, an Australian chart-topper
"Eagle Rock," directly influenced Elton John to create
"Crocodile Rock." Last year in November, Ross released
a comprehensive overview of his career titled "Now Listen!
The Best Of Ross Wilson." This 2-CD set is an excellent
overview, and it features a re-mastered mix of his 1965
release, "Louie Louie."
http://www.rosswilson.com.au/
http://www.cdbaby.com/rosswilson
OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER
 Back
in the 1970's, an R+B group from Murray, Kentucky known
as "Our Brother's Keeper" put out a little 45 on the
legendary King label featuring their version of "Louie
Louie " and a flip side called "Harlem Clown." Some
thirty years later, they've returned to the scene of
the crime with a simplified name of "OBK" and yet another
rendition of Richard Berry's classic melody. This horn-driven
band has three original members, and they still sound
hot!
Grab their new CD, and add another
LOUIE to your collection. You can order the CD from
the label at Icehouse Records: www.icehouserecords.com,
or if you prefer the personal touch, you can contact
original guitar player/bandleader Dennis Poe {dennis_poe@hotmail.com}.
SHOCK THE LOUIE
Thanks to the wonderful spies
at the Yahoo Group-sponsored "LOUIE LOUIE PARTY," I've
discovered some excellent renditions of LOUIE LOUIE.
One version that really caught my fancy was "Shock the
Louie" by Paul M. Kienitz. In this version, Paul was
able to merge Richard Berry's classic melody with "Shock
the Monkey" by Peter Gabriel. Paul has some other worthy
items at his site, including a mention of Eric McFadden,
a musical talent that's been part of a lot of bands
in the San Francisco region. McFadden had an interesting
little band called Liar, but my personal fave is the
Faraway Brothers, which is a jazz-country-fusion band.
Imagine Miles Davis performed by the Rolling Stones
during the "Sticky Fingers"-Gram Parsons era, and you've
something that sounds a lot like the Faraway Brothers.
McFadden sometimes plays with George Clinton's Parliament,
a group that apprciates his versatility. I have no idea
if Mr. McFadden has done LOUIE yet, but he's a name
to watch for.
Anyways, check out Paul Kienitz'
SHOCK THE LOUIE and other interesting bits at...
http://gning.net/
JOHN ENTWISTLE
 When
John Entwistle of the Who recently died in a Las Vegas
hotel room, rock and rollers all over the world honored
this very influential bass player. John Entwistle is
not a name one would normally associate with the legend
of LOUIE LOUIE, but there is a connection, even if minimal.
Buck Munger, editor of TWO LOUIE magazine, shared some
insight about "the Ox" and the Who in a recent issue:
"In the early years Pete and John got their gear
from the Sunn amplifier Company in Tualatin. They
signed the five-year exclusive endorsement agreement
with Sunn because they loved the idea of amps designed
by the bass player of the Kingsmen-built in the home
of ÔLouie LouieÕ-and because it was way too expensive
to bring your own gear across the pond. The national
advertising Sunn promised to do didnÕt hurt either."
The article Buck wrote on his
friend is one of the most entertaining articles I've
seen written on this great bass player. Dave Marsh also
provided some funny insight on Entwistle in an article
for Starpolish.com bringing up John's comparison of
heavy metal to farts, paraphrasing the old adage "it
is better to give than receive."
http://www.twolouiesmagazine.com/
http://www.starpolish.com/news/article.asp?id=410
http://www.JohnEntwistle.com/
OTHER PASSINGS
Since
the last LOUIE REPORT in September, there have been
a series of deaths that have affected us at the LOUIE
headquarters. The producers of LouieLouie.Net would
like to acknowledge the passings of George Harrison,
Dee Dee Ramone, Alan Lomax, Roscoe Gordon, John Frankenheimer,
Ann Landers, Waylon Jennings, Rod Steiger, Ward Kimball,
Rosemary Clooney, Timothy White (Billboard editor),
Politically Incorrect (the TV show), Linda Lovelace,
Dave Von Ronk, Ruth Handler, Al Hendrix, John Buscema,
Peggy Lee, Otis Blackwell, and our friend Ben
Kashkooli. While none of these entities were directly
connected to the legend of the song LOUIE LOUIE (that
we know of), each had an impact on our consciousness.
Our condolences go out to all that have lost loved ones.
me gotta go now....
ERIC PREDOEHL,
producer/director of upcoming "THE MEANING OF LOUIE"
documentary
And
there's more to report...
Check out LETTERS TO LOUIE!
All images & words copyright 1999-2003 Eric Predoehl
/ OCTALOUIE, LLC, except as noted. All rights reserved.
The term "LOUIE LOUIE" is a registered trademark
of RMB, Inc, a company owned by The Kingsmen, the band recognized for turning
the song into the monster icon heard all over the world.
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