"Louie Louie"" investigated by FBI

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

http://www.louielouie.net/11-fbi.htm


The F.B.I. Investigation of the song "Louie Louie"

Over the years, the F.B.I. has conducted a wide variety of rather unusual investigations. Created in 1908 under the United States' Department of Justice department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation gathers information about potentially dangerous activities in order to protect the safety of the American citizens. As with any research project, time is spent gathering data that may or may not be useful. The process of proper investigation demands comprehensive research, an acute eye for detail, patience in dealing with complicated subjects, and an intelligent approach in evaluating the results of the data.

The F.B.I. has spent many hours investigating subjects that seem completely irrelevant by today's standards. Sex lives of celebrities were monitored by government-paid voyeurs, all under the auspices of national security. Entertainers with political beliefs counter to the status quo were routinely harassed, while the crimes of corporate theft went undetected.

Very few F.B.I. efforts could compare with the Louie Louie investigation.

Under the auspices of "ITOM," a federal law prohibiting Interstate Transportation of Obscene Material, "Louie Louie" was investigated by the F.B.I. to determine whether the song was actually obscene. Spurred on by naughty notes from teenagers that claimed to know the "actual lyrics," concerned parents contacted government authorities to see what could be done to restrict distribution of this controversial rock song.

In the mid 1960s, many people considered this subject a very serious matter. Rock and roll was considered a subversive movement, and governor Matthew Welsh of Indiana actually used his powers to restrict airplay of this song. Of course, all of this controversy helped spur more record sales, as teenagers rushed to the record store to buy the record that shocked, or at least confused their parents. It was no accident that the extra notoriety contributed to the popularity of "Louie Louie" as one of the greatest party songs of all time.

In 1984, I petitioned the F.B.I. for information on the Louie Louie investigation, using the Freedom of Information Act. When Dave Marsh wrote his book on the Louie Louie phenomena, he acknowledged me as the original source for bringing these papers to the public.

The F.B.I. investigation of the song, which took over two years, uncovered very little relevant information. Despite a lengthy investigative process that included repeating listenings of the song at different speeds, and interviews with author Richard Berry, and members of Kingsmen, the study could find no evidence of obscenity. In fact, the bureau came up with the conclusion that the song was "unintelligible at any speed."

The Louie Louie F.B.I. Files are a curious document to behold. Names are blacked out in this odd collection of paperwork, giving an appearance of Dadaist art manifesto that makes absolutely no sense. There's an assortment of imaginary lyrics, actual lyrics, copies of record labels, letters from concerned parents, and government forms filled out by lowly F.B.I. agents that were probably asking themselves "Why am I investigating this stupid little song, anyways?"

Deciphering this collection is something of a puzzle that few people would want to indulge in. Casual readers would probably be better served by tracking down Dave Marsh's out-of-print LOUIE LOUIE book, which summarizes some of the basic elements of the investigation into simple English.

For those interested in a copy of this investigation, what I offer from LouieLouie.Net is an archival collection of notes that duplicate my correspondence with the F.B.I. and their subsequent response; a total sum of approximately 140 pages This is something strictly for the serious collector, archivist, or scholar that wants a definitive document of the F.B.I. investigation. Media professionals that want to use these papers for a television show, documentary, radio broadcast, or other public showcase will pay a higher price.

My motives for the somewhat high price are not greed, but merely adequate compensation. For many years, I have dedicated a significant portion of my life researching this subject, and have accumulated many expenses in the production of the documentary. While I understand there's little I can do to restrict copies of documents that I've obtained from government agencies, what I offer is a specially-bound, limited-edition collection direct from the person that initially petitioned for it's public release. Autographed inscriptions are available upon request.

By purchasing this material, you agree to provide proper credit to Eric Predoehl and LouieLouie.Net. If this material is to be referred to in any manner, be television show, news program, magazine article, newspaper column, radio show, internet website, or any other media outlet readily available to the public, you agree to provide the proper credit to the original source - "F.B.I. Files courtesy of Eric Predoehl & LouieLouie.Net."


To purchase a bound copy of the F.B.I. files, go the LouieLouie.Net merchandise page.

[Tony Prior]

they could have just asked Steve Allen, he read the words on his TV show

t

[Charles Davidson]

A great song to play,If you could just remember Lo-I,Lo-I A,then just mumble something,beat on an out of tune guitar,drive a drunken frat party crazy,collect your two grand for the night and go home,used to do this at Auburn U.years ago.Those were the day's.

[Charles Davidson]

Come to think a lot of the students at these parties that loved Louie,Louie,so much became top dollar Vets,That's why I doctor my own critters myself.

[b0b]

The Louie Louie F.B.I. Files are a curious document to behold. Names are blacked out in this odd collection of paperwork, giving an appearance of Dadaist art manifesto that makes absolutely no sense.

It might not be their fault. Apparently, the CIA used black highlighter pens by mistake for several decades. Maybe some of them found their way into the FBI file room. See:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43014

[Ron Whitfield]

Too bad the FBI don't have the lyric's that Iggy uses for the tune to waste their time on, that'd keep their panties in a bunch!

[Charles Davidson]

How times have changed,What if we had have had this rap CRAP,or even some of the vidios they show on CMT or GAC today.

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

Here are the lyrics to the song. Clearly they are a threat to the American way of life.

Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go

Fine little girl waits for me
Catch a ship across the sea
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home

CHORUS

Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, constantly
On that ship, I dream she's there
I smell the rose in her hair.

CHORUS

Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now!

GUITAR SOLO

See Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long, me see me love
Take her in my arms again
Tell her I'll never leave again

CHORUS

Let's take it on outa here now
Let's go!!

[Tony Prior]

those aren't the words we use to sing !

tp

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

those aren't the words we use to sing !

tp

THAT'S why the FBI investigated the song.

It's all your fault Tony.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

It is my understanding that J Edgar started wearing that dress shortly after hearing the song for the first time. Never underestimate the power of music.

[Charles Davidson]

Mike,are you sure that's not a Jimmy Buffett song? sure sounds like something he would write.

[Tony Prior]

Sorry Mike, I was like 16 at the time , I didn't realize the weight of the world was on my shoulders at the time.

Had I known I would have played and sang even louder !

tp

[Bill Hatcher]

Saw the Kingsmen play it live one night in the 60s. I still could not understand the words!

Nice guitar solo.

[Kevin Hatton]

I'm glad someone posted the words. I never knew what they were. I just checked them against the recording and thats what they were. Interesting.

[Michael Johnstone]

I played on the same bill as the Kingsmen a dozen or more times in the mid to late 60s up and down the East Coast at college frat parties and other gigs mostly in Virginia and North Carolina and they weren't anywhere near as off color as Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts who played that same circuit and had many more albums out like "Hell Night" "Nuts To You" and "Panty Raid". http://www.ibiblio.org/hotnuts/history.html
I wonder if the FBI has a dossier on them.... Anyone heard the Beach Boys version of Louie Louie? It's more doo-wop and actually closer to Richard Berry's original record than any other cover including the Kingsmen. Here's the guy who wrote Louie Louie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Berry
I met him once and the band I was playing guitar in at the time - King Cotton - backed him up at an oldies review in 1995 here in L.A. We played Louie Louie the original way of course - as a calypso doo-wop groove.

[Brint Hannay]

I seem to remember reading that the singer of the Kingsmen (Lynn Eastman, I think (?)) said he mumbled "Louie, Louie" because he didn't know what the words were. If the FBI had investigated every time that was done by a singer, they'd never have been able to do anything else!

I remember the sense of subversive satisfaction I felt slurring and mumbling my idea of what the "dirty" words were while performing at a CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) dance when I was fourteen, with nuns standing in the back of the room, and getting away with it.

Among the kids I knew, the guitar solo to the Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie" was the benchmark that qualified you as a hot guitar player.

[Earnest Bovine]

Among the kids I knew, the guitar solo to the Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie" was the benchmark that qualified you as a hot guitar player.

What would be an example of a cold guitar player?

[b0b]

One who doesn't know the Louie Louie solo.

[Brint Hannay]

Among the kids I knew, the guitar solo to the Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie" was the benchmark that qualified you as a hot guitar player.
:)

What would be an example of a cold guitar player?

Me at the outdoor gig I played once--opening day of Little League baseball in early April--where snow was falling on us as we played out by the ball field. (The kids didn't have to play (baseball), but the show must go on!)

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

One of our members lives in Alaska.

[Olli Haavisto]

First time I heard Louie, Louie was on "Uncle Meat" by The Mothers of Invention

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Zappa had Louie Louie deeply implanted in his psyche.

Absolutely Free----1967

A fine little girl
She waits for me
She's as plastic
As she can be
She paints her face
With plastic goo
And wrecks her hair
With some shampoo

Plastic people
Oh baby, now
You're such a drag..............
...............................

Me see a neon
Moon above
I searched for years
I found no love
I'm sure that love
Will never be
A product of
Plasticity
A product of
Plasticity
A product of
Plasticity:


A prune is a vegetable . . . no, a prune is not a vegetable. Cabbage is a vegetable . . .oooops---off topic.

and from the same album:

Suzie Creamcheese
oh baby now
what's got into you

[Donny Hinson]

Hoover was probably the most paranoid, feared, and ruthless government official we've ever had. He distrusted entertainers, singers, and newspaper people most of all, because during his tenure, all media was considered a powerful tool for subversion. He kept files on Lennon, Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and a lot of other singers!

[b0b]

Let's keep the topic musical, okay?