![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.louielouie.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/richardBerry_original_LOUIE_pressings.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOf all the questionable aspects of the song LOUIE LOUIE, there was one particular topic that seemed especially bumptious.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
This time, we\u2019re talking about the comma. \u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
Was the song tiled \u201cLouie Louie\u201d or was it \u201cLouie, Louie\u201d?<\/p>\n
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.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
When the original pressing of the very first recording of this song by singer-songwriter Richard Berry was released, it was titled \u201cLouie Louie.\u201d\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
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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 \u201cLouie, Louie\u201d with the comma.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.louielouie.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cashBox_1957-04-06_LOUIE_ad_500x.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
One has the comma and the other doesn’t. Go figure…
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.louielouie.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cashBox_1957-04-06_review_1000x-928x1024.jpg\")
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Over the years, the song was recorded by thousands of musicians, and the title of the song fluctuated with and without the comma.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
In 1988, Bob Greene conducted an interview with Richard Berry for an article in Esquire magazine, which included a question about the comma.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.louielouie.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Richard-Berry-and-the-comma-658x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Bottom line<\/strong>: When Richard was initially asked about the comma, he mentioned he never really thought about it, and didn\u2019t seem to care about it one way or another, but when asked to make a decision, Richard decided there would be no comma.\u2028\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n \u2028<\/p>\n * It\u2019s worth noting that this song was initially released as the B-side of the record \u201cYou Are My Sunshine\u201d – a cover recording of the Jimmie Davis song)\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n ______
\nReference Links:\u2028\u2028
\nEsquire magazine (September 1988) – The Man Who Wrote Louie Louie by Bob Greene<\/a>\u2028<\/p>\n