Definitely worthy of a footnote in rock'n'roll history for his contribution to one of the most covered songs ever. RIP Jack.

This report from the BBC.

[www.bbc.co.uk]


Jack Ely, the lead singer of the Kingsmen who was best known for 1960s hit Louie Louie, has died aged 71.

His son, Sean Ely said the singer died at home in Redmond, Oregon after a long battle with an illness.

Ely's incoherent singing on Louie Louie led the FBI to investigate the famous track on the grounds that it might be obscene.

Ely had a falling out with the band shortly after the song was recorded and later trained horses in Oregon.

"Louie Louie" was recorded in 1957 by Richard Berry, who had written it two years earlier.

The song is written from the perspective of a man who wants to sail to Jamaica to return to a girl he loves.

But it was Mr Ely's rendition that popularised the song, which became a huge hit.

Its popularity brought it to the attention of the FBI, which worried that Mr Ely's peculiar vocal style might be masking lyrics that broke federal obscenity laws.

The law enforcement agents reportedly concluded, in a lengthy investigative report, that the song was "unintelligible at any speed".

Despite hundreds of covers by artists including Otis Redding, the Beach Boys, and the Sonics, the Kingsmens' version of Louie Louie remains the definitive recording.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-04-29 10:14 by Silver Dagger.

The guitar solo is my favorite part. The simplicity of the song makes a listener anticipate a dumb-simple solo like the Troggs' silly recorder-flute solo in WILD THING. But LOUIE LOUIE has a great little guitar solo that isn't dumb at all.

Great song and version, rest in peace.

Louie Louie, the ultimate rock rebel anthem






"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-04-29 11:08 by Deltics.

I read that Berry sold the rights to it for a couple of hundred dollars...

A nice cover of this one by the Kinks as well.

Jack Ely "sets the record straight".






"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

Louie Louie
Boom Boom Are there more songs with titles where a Word is repeated?

R.I.P.

Jack Ely

2 1 2 0

Sad Sad Sad

Mony Mony - Tommy James and the Shondells
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Shoorah Shoorah - Betty Wright
Ring Ring - Abba
Suki Suki - Marvin Gaye
Pamela Pamela - Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders
Bang Bang - Cher
Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond
Talk Talk - Talk Talk
Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Red Red Wine - UB40
Monday Monday - Mamas and the Papas
Turn Turn Turn - The Byrds
Da Da Da -Trio
Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song) - Otis Redding
Teacher Teacher - Rockpile
Green Green Grass Of Home - Tom Jones



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-04-29 14:48 by Silver Dagger.

Fine Fine Fine – Status Quo

Quote
Silver Dagger
Mony Mony - Tommy James and the Shondells
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Shoorah Shoorah - Betty Wright
Ring Ring - Abba
Suki Suki - Marvin Gaye
Pamela Pamela - Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders
Bang Bang - Cher
Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond
Talk Talk - Talk Talk
Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Red Red Wine - UB40
Monday Monday - Mamas and the Papas
Turn Turn Turn - The Byrds
Da Da Da -Trio
Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song) - Otis Redding
Teacher Teacher - Rockpile
Green Green Grass Of Home - Tom Jones

Cool, I Think I got most of them on CDs and LPs...

2 1 2 0

Quote
Silver Dagger
Mony Mony - Tommy James and the Shondells
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Shoorah Shoorah - Betty Wright
Ring Ring - Abba
Suki Suki - Marvin Gaye
Pamela Pamela - Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders
Bang Bang - Cher
Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond
Talk Talk - Talk Talk
Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Red Red Wine - UB40
Monday Monday - Mamas and the Papas
Turn Turn Turn - The Byrds
Da Da Da -Trio
Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song) - Otis Redding
Teacher Teacher - Rockpile
Green Green Grass Of Home - Tom Jones

You missed out Star Star!


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

Hi Hi Hi

Je Suis Un Rock Star (Si Si)

Yeh Yeh-Georgie Fame

New York New York, Da Do Ron Ron, Dooo Dooo Dooo Dooo (Heartbreaker), , Fly, Robin, Fly, Cry, cry, cry... many actually, maybe it would be more proper to think of a song where the name of a person is said two times. And perhaps only the name/word is in it and no other words.

Well, looks like the Monkees did do a "Mary, Mary". [en.wikipedia.org]

Jo Jo Gunne, that's another one.

-------

But above all, the song is excellent and a garage rock classic. Very fine.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-04-29 20:10 by BroomWagon.

I feel bad for Joe Ely for hijacking his thread...

Quote
BroomWagon
New York New York, Da Do Ron Ron, Dooo Dooo Dooo Dooo (Heartbreaker), , Fly, Robin, Fly, Cry, cry, cry... many actually, maybe it would be more proper to think of a song where the name of a person is said two times. And perhaps only the name/word is in it and no other words.

Well, looks like the Monkees did do a "Mary, Mary". [en.wikipedia.org]

Jo Jo Gunne, that's another one.

-------

But above all, the song is excellent and a garage rock classic. Very fine.

Run Run Run by Jo Jo Gunne

Hard to imagine this tune sung by a 20 year old kid in braces surrounded by teenagers. What a fun romp it is though. RIP Mr. Ely, you get a free pass at the pearly gates from St. Peter for this one.

peace

Quote
Naturalust
Hard to imagine this tune sung by a 20 year old kid in braces surrounded by teenagers. What a fun romp it is though. RIP Mr. Ely, you get a free pass at the pearly gates from St. Peter for this one.

peace

"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

From the FBI vaults
119 pages!


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

Quote
Deltics
Louie Louie, the ultimate rock rebel anthem

So this was done, um, before people learned the art of lip synching and pretending to play instruments, especially during lead guitar solos?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-04-30 04:30 by Long John Stoner.