Of all the questionable aspects of the song LOUIE LOUIE, there was one particular topic that seemed especially bumptious.
This time, we’re talking about the comma.
Was the song tiled “Louie Louie” or was it “Louie, Louie”?
This particular topic came up this week when my friend Clay pointed out that the upcoming marker for Richard Berry in Louisiana had the comma.
When the original pressing of the very first recording of this song by singer-songwriter Richard Berry was released, it was titled “Louie Louie.”
Yet, when it was unveiled to the pubic in the very first known advertisement for this record (Cash Box magazine, April 7, 1957), it was titled “Louie, Louie” with the comma.
In the very same issue of this Cash Box magazine, there was also a review of the record and a news section that mentioned that Richard Berry had recently been signed to Flip Records, with this record being his first release.
One has the comma and the other doesn’t. Go figure…
Over the years, the song was recorded by thousands of musicians, and the title of the song fluctuated with and without the comma.
In 1988, Bob Greene conducted an interview with Richard Berry for an article in Esquire magazine, which included a question about the comma.
Bottom line: When Richard was initially asked about the comma, he mentioned he never really thought about it, and didn’t seem to care about it one way or another, but when asked to make a decision, Richard decided there would be no comma.
* It’s worth noting that this song was initially released as the B-side of the record “You Are My Sunshine” – a cover recording of the Jimmie Davis song)
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Reference Links:
Esquire magazine (September 1988) – The Man Who Wrote Louie Louie by Bob Greene
Another example that always interests me was the Kingsmen single with no comma but the cover of their first album with a comma. Other early examples: Rockin’ Robin Roberts (no comma), Raiders (no comma), Beach Boys (comma), Little Bill (comma), Kinks (no comma). And the list goes on!