In the U.S. music industry of the 1950s and 1960s, mainstream white artists often covered songs by black artists. On April 6, 1963, a rock and roll group from Portland, Oregon, called The Kingsmen, chose "Louie Louie" as their second recording, their first having been "Peter Gunn Rock."
The Kingsmen recorded the song at Northwestern, Inc., Motion Pictures and Recording in Portland. The group paid a modest $36 [6] for a one-hour Saturday morning session. Ely says he remembers paying $10.00, one-fifth of the $50.00 fee. The session was produced by Ken Chase. Chase was a local radio personality on the AM rock station 91 KISN and also owned the teen nightclub that hosted the Kingsmen as their house band. The engineer for the session was the studio owner, Robert Lindahl. The Kingsmen's lead singerJack Ely based his version on a 1961 recording of Berry's tune by another band from the Pacific Northwest, Rockin' Robin Roberts and the Fabulous Wailers (no relation to The Wailers which was headed by Bob Marley years later), unintentionally introducing a change in the rhythm as he did. "I showed the others how to play it with a 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3 beat instead of the 1-2-3-4, 1-2, 1-2-3-4 beat that is on the (Wailers') record," recalled Ely. The night before their recording session, the band played a 90-minute version of the song during a gig at a local teen club.
The Kingsmen's studio version was recorded in one take. They also recorded the "B" side of the release, an original instrumental by the group called "Haunted Castle".
The famous studio where Louie Louie was recorded in one take for a one hour session that cost $36
Ken Chase on left with his wife and Monster Mash star Bobby Boris Pickett
Advertisement for Ken's night club on Beaverton Hillsdale Highway
Note: The composer of Louie Louie, Richard Berry sold the rights to his famous song for $750 in 1959
The Kingsmen later that year took "Louie Louie" all the way to top of the "Cash Box" national chart.
Posted by: Craig Addams | April 06, 2011 at 05:34 AM
SUCH a familiar sound the second the beat starts!!! Reaching ALL around the globe!!!
Yay for the Kingsmen!!
And Thanks Mr. Stump and Mr. Addams for all your EXCELLENT reading material!!
Very interesting....ALWAYS enjoy the connections with KISN personalities too!
Posted by: Plog | April 06, 2011 at 05:57 AM
Love this blog. Keep doing what your doing and stay clear of political junk. Your mission is solid but nothing is going to change. The pics from the good old days are where its at for your blog.
Posted by: Dan Schouten | April 06, 2011 at 09:21 AM
Great story. The one take did produce a false vocal start after the guitar break. Not really noticeable on AM radio.
Posted by: Bob with a capital B | April 06, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Great Louie Louie memories.
I went to school with Bob Lindahl's daughter and dated her a couple of times.
Who sang the original Louie Louie? Jack Ely of course. Then Lynn Easton co-opted the band and threw Jack Ely to the curb. The Kingsmen may have recorded the song first but the Raiders version was waaaaaay better.
Posted by: JoelinPDX | April 06, 2011 at 10:29 AM
BOBBY BORIS PICKETT SURE RESEMBLES KISN OWNER DON BURDON IN THIS PICTURE! EVEN THE SUIT!
Posted by: JOE COOK | April 06, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Yes, the Raiders version was better, especially the saxophone. Drake Levin was a really good guitarist for the time, and you could actually hear Mark Lindsay sing the lyrics.
Posted by: Old School | April 06, 2011 at 07:28 PM
I think the Raiders version of Louie Louie was recorded before Drake Levin joined the band. If memory serves, Steve West was playing lead guitar for the group at the time.
Posted by: JoelinPDX | April 06, 2011 at 08:19 PM
At the time the Raiders recorded Louie Louie, the band included
Revere, Lindsay, Smith, guitarist Drake Levin and bassist Mike "Doc" Holliday, who was replaced in early 1965 by Phil Volk.
Posted by: Joe Cook | April 06, 2011 at 09:11 PM
Don't know abou the ad shown here/above for "The Chase" club on the Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., but "The Chase" nightclub owned by Ken Chase with KISN was, at least originally, on McLoughlin Blvd in Milwaukie and that's where The Kingsmen played almost every Friday and Saturday night for quite a while in the early 60's.
Posted by: Scorahic | April 09, 2011 at 11:20 PM
The Chase on Beaverton Hillsdale Highway was in the 70's....By the skating rink.
Posted by: Poljunkie | April 09, 2011 at 11:50 PM
Roger Hart has sure worked hard over the years to keep the Rock 'N Roll scene alive and remembered in the City of Roses! Thanks Roger....we are looking forward to hearing your DJ talents soon on the return of KISN!
Posted by: Plog | August 26, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Actually The Chase on Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy in the 70's and the Valley Ice Arena had a bitter dislike for eachother. I recognize Ken and his wife in the photo (that was taken several years before The Chase in Beaverton opened) as being the owners of The Chase at the Valley Plaza. As a kid in high school I was working in the rink at the time. Prior to The Chase occupying the space over the rink, it was a restaurant called Asparro's West. It was owned by a guy named Johnny Asparro and he also had one on Grand on the east side.
Posted by: Rink Rat | November 07, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Wanted to bring this to the top of the Stump again since another 'anniversary' has just past us by!! ......Thanks agin to Ken Chase for putting Portland on the map!!
Posted by: Plog | April 18, 2012 at 06:21 AM
'again'.... (disLIKE) misspelling words!
Posted by: Plog | April 18, 2012 at 06:25 AM