Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n Roll Song; Including the Full Details of Its Torture and Persecution at the ... Introducing for the First Time Anywhere, the [Paperback]

Dave Marsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2004

A new edition of Dave Marsh's classic work on the three-chord song that rocked the world

"A tale as compelling as any John Grisham thriller."
-Rolling Stone

"Dave Marsh's Louie Louie is part rant, part rock criticism and part cultural analysis, with a good dose of Ripley's Believe It or Not! thrown in."
-The New York Times Book Review

"Marsh keeps the story of one trashy song interesting by revealing how 'three chords and a cloud of dust' contains within it the history and future of rock 'n' roll."
-Booklist

"What you don't know about 'Louie Louie' probably won't hurt you. But everything you need to know is in Marsh's book, including the lyrics-the real ones and the ones people thought they heard. If there is a better measure of your pop-cultural IQ, I don't know where to find it."
-USA Today

 

Since his days as the original editor of Creem, Dave Marsh has been revered as one of rock's greatest critics. During the 70s he was record editor at Rolling Stone, and in 1983 he founded Rock & Roll Confidential. His other books include Glory Days: Bruce Springsteen in the 1980s (1987), and Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who (1983).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a vigorous discourse combining shrewd criticism and a conversational tone, Marsh ( Glory Days ) traces the evolution of one durable song from '50s cha-cha to '90s frat anthem. "Louie, Louie," in his estimation, is an archetype whose infectious "duh duh duh, duh duh" chorus bewitches teenage garage bands and major-label rockers alike. Inspired by a riff from Rene Touzet's "El Loco Cha Cha," "Louie" was written in 1956 by Richard Berry, who imagined a Jamaican sailor telling Louie, a bartender, that he's leaving to meet his girl ("Louie, Louie/Me gotta go"). "Louie" later achieved a cult following in the Pacific Northwest, and in 1963 a version by the Kingsmen became a national hit. Its slurred, indecipherable lyrics (the singer wore braces at the time) led to individual interpetations and an FBI obscenity investigation. Marsh closes the book on "Louie"--for now, anyway--with a lengthy discography listing "Louie" performers from Ike and Tina Turner to Frank Zappa to grunge band Nirvana. Crammed with trivia and wit, this text convincingly argues in mock-profound terms its thesis that "Louie" is a melodic phenomenon far bigger than the mere mortals who perform it.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Here, rock critic Marsh (Born to Run, Glory Days, etc.) ventures beyond mere celeb biography or fan-boy appreciation. This cultural history of a single rock tune is an exercise in modern legend-making that also tells ``the story of rock 'n' roll in a nutshell.'' For Marsh, the official investigation of the allegedly obscene lyrics in ``Louie, Louie'' prefigures current efforts to censor pop music. The lesson in this case is skewed in Marsh's favor, since ``Louie, Louie,'' despite years of rumor and myth-making, is really a harmless sea chantey composed by a small-time performer in the mid-50's as ``an R&B dance tune with a hint of cha-cha.'' When Richard Berry sold the publication rights to the tune for $750, he had no idea it would reemerge in the early 60's as a monster hit. Although numerous West Coast artists cut versions, it wasn't until the Kingsmen recorded their slurred, one-track interpretation that the rumors began concerning the ``true'' lyrics. In Marsh's view, the ``protopunk'' sloppy recording of the song ``is the most profound and sublime expression of rock 'n' roll's ability to create something from nothing.'' Down and dirty, the Kingsmen's version frightened parents and inspired a thorough FBI investigation based on the underground circulation of spurious vulgar lyrics. Meanwhile, the ``stop-time cluster-chord'' song spawned offshoots by the Kinks, the Who, and Jimi Hendrix. The song was remade by the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Otis Redding, and disco king Barry White. There are instrumental remakes, jazz-fusion versions, punk homages, and a rap rendition. Despite references to Camille Paglia and Theodor Adorno, Marsh is no Greil Marcus. Though he tells the story of ``Louie, Louie'' well, his cultural analysis is shallow and dependent on all sorts of p.c. insights. A full discography attests to his central point: ``Louie, Louie'' lives! (Eight pages of b&w photographs) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press; 2nd edition (November 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047203023X
• ISBN-13: 978-0472030231
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,238,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Louie,louie:the whole truth!, February 11, 2011

By 

Alam W. Biesenkamp "Hampton40" (Ravenna,OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'N' Roll Song; Including the Full Details of Its Torture and Persecution at T (Hardcover)

Ever wondered what the true story was about the "dirty" lyrics in Louie louie? Wonder no more. After reading this book, you'll know the whole shocking truth (and don't say I didn't warn you).

5.0 out of 5 stars "LOUIE LOUIE" is a wonderfully written book about a song, April 30, 2009

By 

Michael G. Jameson "Great guy!" (Dallas, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n Roll Song; Including the Full Details of Its Torture and Persecution at the ... Introducing for the First Time Anywhere, the (Paperback)

"LOUIE LOUIE" is a perfectly fascinating look at the rise of the legend of the purportedly "dirty" song. This is a "MUST HAVE" for those obsessed by rock and roll music and those who simply enjoy a really good read! If you remember the song (and who doesn't?!), you'll LOVE this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, April 11, 2006

By 

T. E. C. Strafford-taylor "straff" (Nottingham, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n Roll Song; Including the Full Details of Its Torture and Persecution at the ... Introducing for the First Time Anywhere, the (Paperback)

I suppose I was always going to say that, having already been converted myself to Louie Louie as "the only rock and roll song you'll ever need" (collected 60+ versions to date). It's just a fascinating journey with so many unexpected twists and turns but the ever present "duh duh duh". And still amazingly relevant today. And funny!