The Kingsmen Explained

The Kingsmen
Origin:Portland, Oregon, United States
Years Active:1959–present
Label:Jerden, Wand, Sundazed, Vogue Schallplatten
Spinoffs:Don and the Goodtimes, Jack Ely and the Courtmen, Touch
Current Members:Dick Peterson
Kim Nicklaus
Steve Peterson
Todd McPherson
Dennis Mitchell
Marc Willett
Past Members:Mike Mitchell
Lynn Easton
Jack Ely
Bob Nordby
Don Gallucci
Gary Abbott
Norm Sundholm
Barry Curtis
Kerry Magness
J.C. Reick
Turley Richards
Pete Borg
Jeff Beals
Steve Friedson
Fred Dennis
Andy Parypa

The Kingsmen are a 1960s American rock band from Portland, Oregon. They are best known for their 1963 recording of R&B singer Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the No. 2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks and has become an enduring classic.

In total, the Kingsmen charted 13 singles from 1963 to 1968 and five consecutive albums from 1963 to 1966. Their first album, The Kingsmen in Person, remained on the Billboard Top LPs chart for 131 weeks from January 1964 to August 1966. Their early albums were released internationally in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and Taiwan.

Early years

Lynn Easton and Jack Ely started performing at an early age in local newspaper-sponsored revues with the Journal Juniors and the Young Oregonians, respectively. In 1957, they started performing together, with Ely singing and playing guitar and Easton on the drum kit. The two teenagers had grown up together, as their parents were close friends. Easton and Ely performed at local parties and events, and soon added Mike Mitchell on guitar and Bob Nordby on bass to round out the band. They called themselves the Kingsmen, taking the name from a recently disbanded group. The Kingsmen began their collective career playing at fashion shows, Red Cross events, and supermarket promotions, generally avoiding rock songs on their setlist. In 1962, Don Gallucci, a high school freshman at the time, was recruited from another local group, the Royal Notes, to play keyboards.[1]

"Louie Louie"

In 1962, while playing a gig at the Pypo Club in Seaside, Oregon, the band noticed Rockin' Robin Roberts's version of "Louie Louie" being played on the jukebox for hours on end with the entire club dancing. Ely convinced the Kingsmen to learn the song, which they played at dances to a great crowd response. Unknown to him, he changed the beat because he misheard it on a jukebox. Ken Chase, host of radio station KISN, formed his own club to capitalize on these dance crazes. Dubbed "The Chase", the Kingsmen became the club's house band and he became the band's manager. On April 5, 1963, Chase booked the band an hour-long session at the local Northwestern Inc. studio for the following day to record a demo tape for a summer cruise ship gig. Adding to the hurried atmosphere, the band had just played a 90-minute "Louie Louie" marathon the night before.

Despite the band's annoyance at having so little time to prepare, on April 6 at 10 am the Kingsmen walked into the three-microphone recording studio. "Jamaica Farewell", one partial and one full take of "Louie Louie", and "Haunted Castle" were recorded. For "Louie Louie", the only vocal number, Ely was forced to lean back and sing to a microphone suspended from the ceiling. "It was more yelling than singing", Ely said, cause I was trying to be heard over all the instruments." In addition, he was wearing braces at the time of the performance, further compounding his infamously slurred words.[2] Ely sang the beginning of the third verse two bars too early but realized his mistake and waited for the rest of the band to catch up. The Kingsmen were not proud of the recording and wanted to fix their mistakes, but Chase liked the energy and rawness and assured them that the demo version could be redone before a record was released. The one hour session cost either $36, $50, or somewhere in between and the band split the cost.

With a competing "Louie Louie" version from Paul Revere and the Raiders getting heavy play on a competing station, Chase began playing the Kingsmen's demo version on his show at KISN. He then contracted with Jerry Dennon's Jerden Records to press a single. The B-side was "Haunted Castle", composed by Ely and Don Gallucci, the new keyboardist; however, Lynn Easton was credited on both the Jerden and Wand releases.

"Louie Louie" reached No. 1 on the Cashbox and Music Vendor charts and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally it reached No. 1 on the CHUM Canada chart and in the UK it reached No. 26 on the Record Retailer chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3]

The band attracted nationwide attention when "Louie Louie" was banned by the governor of Indiana, Matthew E. Welsh, also attracting the attention of the FBI because of alleged indecent lyrics in their version of the song. The lyrics were, in fact, innocent, but Ely's baffling enunciation permitted teenage fans and concerned parents alike to imagine the most scandalous obscenities. (Ironically, the FBI totally missed Lynn Easton yelling "Fuck!" at 0:54 after fumbling a drum fill.) All of this attention only made the song more popular. In April 1966 "Louie Louie" was reissued and once again hit the music charts, reaching No. 65 on the Cashbox chart and No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 1985, Ross Shafer, host and a writer-performer of the late-night comedy series Almost Live! on the Seattle TV station KING, spearheaded an effort to have "Louie Louie" replace "Washington, My Home" by Helen Davis as Washington's official state song.[4] Picking up on this initially prankish effort, Whatcom County Councilman Craig Cole introduced Resolution No. 85–12 in the state legislature, citing the need for a "contemporary theme song that can be used to engender a sense of pride and community, and in the enhancement of tourism and economic development". His resolution also called for the creation of a new "Louie Louie County". While the House did not pass it, the Senate's Resolution 1985-37 declared April 12, 1985, "Louie Louie Day". A crowd of 4,000, estimated by press reports, convened at the state capitol that day for speeches, singalongs, and performances by the Wailers, the Kingsmen, and Paul Revere and the Raiders. Two days later, a Seattle event commemorated the occasion with the premiere performance of a new, Washington-centric version of the song written by composer Berry.[5]

Other Kingsmen "Louie Louie" versions with either Lynn Easton or Dick Peterson as lead vocalist appeared on Live & Unreleased (recorded 1963, released 1992), Live at the Castle (recorded 1964, released 2011), Shindig! Presents Frat Party (VHS, recorded 1965, released 1991), 60s Dance Party (1982), California Cooler Presents Cooler Hits (recorded 1986, released 1987),[6] The Louie Louie Collection (as the Mystery Band, 1994), Red, White & Rock (2002), Garage Sale (recorded 2002, released 2003), and My Music: '60s Pop, Rock & Soul (DVD, 2011).[7] Peterson also released a solo version on the 1999 Circle of Friends, Volume 1 CD.[8]

Over the years the Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie" has been recognized by organizations and publications worldwide for its influence on the history of rock and roll. Rankings and recognition in major publications and surveys are shown in the table below.

SourcePoll/SurveyYearRank
Rock & Roll Hall of FameHall of Fame Singles2018None[9]
Rock & Roll Hall of FameSongs That Shaped Rock and Roll1995None[10]
National Academy of Recording Arts and SciencesGrammy Hall of Fame1999None[11]
National Public RadioThe 300 Most Important American Records of the 20th Century1999None[12]
Smash Hits, James E. PeroneThe 100 Songs That Defined America2016None[13]
The WireThe 100 Most Important Records Ever Made1992None[14]
MojoUltimate Jukebox: The 100 Singles You Must Own2003
  1. 1[15]
The Ultimate Playlist, Robert WebbThe 100 Greatest Cover Versions2012
  1. 1[16]
PasteThe 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time2014
  1. 3[17]
Rolling Stone40 Songs That Changed The World2007
  1. 5[18]
All Time Top 1000 Albums, Colin LarkinThe All-Time Top 100 Singles2000
  1. 6[19]
VH1100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll2000
  1. 11[20]
The Heart of Rock and Soul, Dave MarshThe 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made1989
  1. 11[21]
Rolling StoneThe 100 Best Singles of the Last 25 Years1989
  1. 18[22]
Los AngelesLA's Top 1002001
  1. 19[23]
Rock and Roll, Paul WilliamsThe 100 Best Singles1993
  1. 22[24]
VH1100 Greatest Dance Songs2000
  1. 27[25]
Mojo100 Greatest Singles of All Time1997
  1. 51[26]
Rolling StoneThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time2010
  1. 54[27]
Rolling StoneThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time2004
  1. 55[28]
NEA and RIAASongs of the Century1999
  1. 57[29]
MojoBig Bangs: 100 Records That Changed The World2007
  1. 70[30]
PitchforkThe 200 Best Songs of the 1960s2006
  1. 154[31]
Rolling StoneThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time2021
  1. 156[32]
NMEThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time2014
  1. 157[33]
WCBS-FMTop 1001 Songs of the Century2005
  1. 184[34]

Kingsmen history

Before the success of "Louie Louie", the members of the Kingsmen took varied paths. Easton, whose mother had registered the name of the group and therefore owned it, declared that from this point on he intended to be the singer asserting, "It's my band because I own the name", and forcing Ely to play the drums.[35] This led Ely and Nordby to quit the group in 1963, and Gary Abbott and Norm Sundholm were added to play drums and bass, respectively.[36] (The liner notes for the first album, The Kingsmen In Person, presented an abridged history with no mention of Ely or Nordby and with Easton as the group’s sole founder and creative force.)[37]

Don Gallucci was forced out because he wasn't old enough to tour and later formed Don and the Goodtimes, which morphed into the short-lived Touch.[38] Later, Gallucci became a record producer with Elektra Records, with his most famous production being the Stooges' seminal second album Fun House.

The two remaining original Kingsmen, Lynn Easton and Mike Mitchell, were joined by Gary Abbott, Barry Curtis and Norm Sundholm to record their first album and tour as the official band. Dick Peterson (not Dickie Peterson) replaced Gary Abbott shortly thereafter. This line-up stayed intact from 1964 into 1966 and charted multiple singles and albums with Easton as the principal vocalist.

After Ely's departure and considerable chart success by the new line-up, the group learned that he was performing with another group as The Kingsmen.[39] [40] Following legal action, a settlement was reached and Easton, Mitchell, Peterson, Curtis and Sundholm established their rights to the "Kingsmen" name. Thus, Ely was forced to stop using the name, Easton could no longer lip sync to Ely's vocals, and subsequent releases of "Louie Louie" were required to have the text "Lead vocal by Jack Ely" below the title.[35] Unable to perform using the Kingsmen name, Ely continued with his groups the Squires and the Courtmen. He also received a gold record for "Louie Louie" as part of the settlement.[41] [42] [43]

The Kingsmen's 1964 follow up to "Louie Louie" was a party version of "Money (That's What I Want)" which hit the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 16 and on Cashbox at No. 17. Then came "Little Latin Lupe Lu" peaking on Billboard at No. 46 and Cashbox at No. 49. After that it was "Death of An Angel" No. 33 on Cashbox and No. 42 on Billboard.

After starting 1965 with their own float in the Rose Bowl Parade,[44] the Kingsmen returned to the Top 10 nationally with "The Jolly Green Giant" reaching No. 4 on Billboard and No. 8 on Cashbox. The novelty number also made No. 25 on the Billboard R&B chart and hit No. 1 on the RPM Canada chart. The follow-up song was "The Climb", No. 45 on Cashbox and No. 65 on Billboard. "Annie Fanny" was released next reaching No. 43 on Cashbox and No. 47 on Billboard. Next came "(You Got) The Gamma Goochee", No. 98 on Cashbox and No. 122 on Billboard. The group also appeared in the beach party movie How to Stuff a Wild Bikini singing "Give Her Lovin'" (released as a B-side to "Annie Fanny") which appeared on the soundtrack album along with their recording of the title song.

In 1966 the Kingsmen continued to hit the charts with "Killer Joe" reaching No. 77 on Billboard and No. 81 on Cashbox. Their original recording of "Louie Louie" was re-released as "Louie Louie 64-65-66" and re-entered the Billboard, Cash Box, and Record World charts. They also released a promotional item, a "picture-sleeve-clad potato-chip ad jingle 45" titled "The Krunch", their only picture sleeve single, which did not chart.[45]

1966 also saw two Kingsmen departures: Barry Curtis was drafted and Norm Sundholm opted to work full time for Sunn amplifiers, a business he had started in 1964 with his brother. Replacements were J.C. Rieck on keyboards (until Curtis's return) and Kerry Magness on bass, with Magness soon giving way to Pete Borg and then Jeff Beals.

In 1967 they made the charts for the last time with "Bo Diddley Bach" reaching No. 128 on Billboard, and in July founding member Lynn Easton left the group.[46] He worked for an advertising firm and hosted this is IT, a "bandstand-type" show for Portland television station KGW.[47] Singer Turley Richards was brought in as Easton's replacement, but he departed later that same year.[48]

In 1968 with the original group on a recording and touring hiatus, the Kingsmen's management team worked with the Kasenetz-Katz production organization and studio musicians to release a single on the Earth label ("Feed Me"/"Just A 'B' Side").[49] A separate lineup was formed with new members (including lead singer Yank Barry) to tour for a time during 1968–1969 on the East Coast of the United States while the main lineup of the band was inactive.[50] [51]

In 1973 the reactivated group signed with Capitol and released one single which did not chart.[52] [53]

In addition to Jack Ely's groups and re-recordings, several of the Kingsmen pursued other solo projects. Dick Peterson and Barry Curtis as the Other Two released two singles in 1966,[54] and Lynn Easton re-recorded "The Jolly Green Giant" in 1976.[55] Peterson as Dick St. Nicklaus released two albums, Magic (1979) and Sweet and Dandy (1980), and multiple singles.[56] In 2002, Barry Curtis and Steve Peterson joined the revived line-up of The Daily Flash.

In 1983, the group successfully sued K-tel over the release of the 1982 60's Dance Party album because it featured a 1976 Jack Ely re-recording of "Louie Louie" billed as by "The Kingsmen" and displayed the text "These selections are rerecordings by the original artists" on the back cover.[57] K-tel had also similarly marketed the Lynn Easton re-recording of "The Jolly Green Giant".

Also in 1983, a music video, The Kingsmen – Live at Delta House, aired on MTV.[58] Directed by David Jester, the video recreated the raucous, toga party atmosphere popularized in National Lampoon's Animal House using the "Delta House" on the University of Oregon campus.[59] Bassist Fred Dennis was featured as the lead vocalist.

In 1993, members of the group brought legal action against Gusto Records to have all of their original recordings returned.[60] Gusto had acquired the Kingsmen song rights from Springboard International Records, Inc., who had purchased the entire Scepter-Wand catalog in 1977 after Florence Greenberg's retirement, but the group had not been paid royalties since 1968. In 1998, the Kingsmen were awarded ownership of all their early recordings, including "Louie Louie".[61] [62]

When Jack Ely died on April 28, 2015, obituaries were published by the Associated Press, Time, Washington Post, New York Times, The Times, and others.[63] Critic Dave Marsh said that Ely's vocal made the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" "...the classic that it is." Lynn Easton died on April 24, 2020.[64]

Mike Mitchell died on April 16, 2021, on his 77th birthday. At the time of his death, he was the only remaining member of the Kingsmen's original lineup who still performed with the band.[65] His "Louie Louie" guitar break has been called "iconic",[66] "blistering",[67] and "one of the most famous guitar solos of all time".[68] Guitar Player magazine noted, "Raw, lightning-fast, and loud, the solo's unbridled energy helped make the song a No. 2 pop hit, but also helped set the template for garage-rock – and later hard-rock – guitar."[69]

Bob Nordby and Don Gallucci are now the last surviving members of the "Louie Louie" line-up.

Members

Current

Former

Timeline

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bar:Mike from:start till:16/04/2021 color:vocals width:3 bar:Mike from:start till:16/04/2021 color:guitar bar:Lynn from:start till:01/01/1967 color:vocals width:3 bar:Lynn from:start till:01/01/1963 color:drums bar:Lynn from:01/01/1963 till:01/01/1967 color:sax bar:Jack from:start till:01/01/1963 color:vocals width:3 bar:Jack from:start till:01/01/1963 color:guitar bar:Bob from:start till:01/01/1963 color:bass bar:Don from:01/01/1962 till:01/01/1963 color:keyboards bar:Gary from:01/01/1963 till:01/06/1963 color:drums bar:Norm from:01/01/1963 till:01/01/1967 color:bass bar:Barry from:01/01/1963 till:01/01/1966 color:keyboards bar:Barry from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/2005 color:keyboards bar:Kerry from:01/01/1967 till:06/01/1967 color:bass bar:JC from:01/01/1966 till:01/01/1968 color:keyboards bar:JC from:01/01/1966 till:01/01/1968 color:vocals width:3 bar:Turley from:01/01/1967 till:01/06/1967 color:vocals width:3 bar:Turley from:01/01/1967 till:01/06/1967 color:guitar bar:Pete from:06/01/1967 till:06/01/1969 color:bass bar:Jeff from:06/01/1969 till:01/01/1972 color:bass bar:SteveF from:01/01/1967 till:01/01/1973 color:keyboards bar:Fred from:01/01/1972 till:01/01/1982 color:bass bar:Fred from:01/01/1972 till:01/01/1982 color:vocals width:3 bar:Andy from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1984 color:bass bar:Kim from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1984 color:keyboards bar:Kim from:01/01/2000 till:end color:keyboards bar:Marc from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1992 color:bass bar:Marc from:01/01/2021 till:end color:bass bar:Dick from:01/06/1963 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Dick from:01/06/1963 till:end color:drums bar:Todd from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/2021 color:bass bar:Todd from:01/01/2021 till:end color:guitar bar:Todd from:01/01/1992 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Dennis from:01/01/2006 till:end color:guitar bar:Dennis from:01/01/2006 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Steve from:01/01/1988 till:end color:guitar bar:Steve from:01/01/1988 till:end color:vocals width:3

Discography

U.S. albums and singles, plus major compilation releases and appearances on 1960s various artist compilations.

Studio albums

Listed in chronological order with peak chart positions (Billboard/Cashbox) noted.

Live albums

Releases of earlier material

Compilation albums

EPs

International releases in Brazil, France, Spain, and U.K.

Singles

YearSong TitlesPeak chart positionsLabelAlbum
Billboard Hot 100 [80] Cashbox Top 100 Billboard R&B [81] Cashbox R&B 50 [82] Record World[83] Canada U.K.[84]
1963"Louie Louie" (Berry)
b/w "Haunted Castle" (Easton)
2 111123Jerden 712
Wand 143
In Person
1964"Money" (Gordy-Bradford)
b/w "Bent Scepter" (Gallucci)
161762424Wand 150In Person
In Person
"Little Latin Lupe Lu" (Medley)
b/w "David's Mood" (Lewis)
464966Wand 157Volume II
Volume II
"Death of an Angel" (Woods)
b/w "Searchin' for Love" (Gust)
4233294236Wand 164Volume II
Volume 3
"The Jolly Green Giant" (Easton, Harris, Terry)
b/w "Long Green" (Easton)
482561 [85] Wand 172Volume 3
Volume II / Volume 3
1965"The Climb" (Easton)
b/w "The Waiting" (Gallucci-Easton)
654539Wand 183On Campus
In Person
"Annie Fanny" (Easton)
b/w "Give Her Lovin'" (Easton)
47432913Wand 189On Campus
"(You Got) The Gamma Goochee" (Mangiagli)
b/w "It's Only The Dog" (Wayne)
1229895Wand 1107
1966"Killer Joe" (Russell-Elgin-Medley)
b/w "Little Green Thing" (Lewis)
778166Wand 111515 Great Hits
On Campus
"The Krunch" (Easton)
b/w "The Climb" (Easton)
Wand 1118
On Campus
"Little Sally Tease" (Valley)
b/w "My Wife Can't Cook" (Russ)
Wand 1127Up and Away
"If I Needed Someone" (Harrison)
b/w "Grass Is Green" (Peterson-Mitchell)
128136Wand 1137Up and Away
Up and Away
"Louie 64-65-66" (Berry)
b/w "Haunted Castle" (Easton)
97653076Wand 143 In Person
1967"Trouble" (Resnick-Levine)
b/w "Daytime Shadows" (Easton-Tannen-Wildey)
Wand 1147Up and Away
Up and Away
"Children's Caretaker" (Peterson)
b/w "The Wolf of Manhattan" (Levine-Resnick)
Wand 1154Up and Away
"(I Have Found) Another Girl" (Curtis-Peterson)
b/w "Don't Say No" (Bartholemew-Richardson)
95Wand 1157Up and Away
"Bo Diddley Bach" (Sonny Curtis)
b/w "Just Before the Break of Day" (Tillison)
128139143Wand 1164
Since We've Been Gone
1968"Get Out of My Life Woman" (Toussaint)
b/w "Since You've Been Gone" (Dangel-Ormsby-Merrill)
Wand 1174
"On Love" (Bell-Turnbull)
b/w "I Guess I Was Dreamin'" (Weston-Rabbitt)
Wand 1180
1973"You Better Do Right" (Kingsmen)
b/w "Today'" (Kingsmen)
Capitol 3576
  • Most album cuts had crowd noise overdubs to simulate a live performance.
    * The late 1968 release on Earth 104 ("Feed Me"/"Just a B-side") is not included in the singles discography as it was released by Kingsmen management using studio musicians while the original group was on a recording and touring hiatus.

Appearances (1960s releases)

Discography notes

Other uses of the name

Prior to this group's formation, another group called The Kingsmen operated in 1958 and was made up of members of Bill Haley & His Comets who were moonlighting from their regular work with Haley. This group scored a hit record (#35) on Billboard with the instrumental entitled "Week End", written by Rudy Pompilli, Franny Beecher, and Billy Williamson, backed with "Better Believe It" as the B side. They released a follow-up single on East West Records featuring "The Catwalk" backed with "Conga Rock". Although the Comets did the actual recordings, when the Kingsmen went on tour a different set of musicians performed instead of Haley's people. The band made at least one appearance on American Bandstand in 1958.

Many other groups have used the name "The Kingsmen", including a gospel vocal group formed in 1956 (also referred to as The Kingsmen Quartet), and bands that were later renamed as Flamin' Groovies, The Gants and The Statler Brothers. An a cappella group at Columbia University is traditionally known as the Kingsmen; former members include Art Garfunkel and the original lineup of Sha Na Na.[86]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RIP: Lynn Easton of the Kingsmen. The Louie Report. April 28, 2020. Eric. Predoehl.
  2. News: Hayes. Ron. Rock's Rumored Dirtiest Song Turns 30. July 19, 2012. Lewiston Morning Tribune. August 13, 1993.
  3. Book: Murrells , Joseph . 1978. The Book of Golden Discs. 2nd. Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. London. 161. 0-214-20512-6. registration.
  4. Seattle Weekly (October 27, 1999) Music: "The State I'm In", by Kurt B. Reighley
  5. http://www.xs4all.nl/~tdg/dg/Comps/rhino2.html Liner notes, The Best Of Louie Louie Volume 2
  6. Book: Marcus, Greil. Real Life Rock: The Complete Top Ten Columns, 1986-2014. 2015. Yale University Press. New Haven. 9780300196641. The Village Voice, 1986-1990. 10.
  7. Web site: Clay. Stabler. Kingsmen Discography. The Kingsmen Official Site. August 25, 2021.
  8. Hollywood. Circle of Friends, Volume 1. 1999. MainStreet Entertainment.
  9. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inducts Songs for the First Time, Including 'Born to Be Wild' & 'Louie Louie' . April 14, 2018 . . July 11, 2020.
  10. Web site: 500 Songs That Shaped Rock . February 11, 2017 . Infoplease . July 11, 2020.
  11. Web site: GRAMMY Hall Of Fame . October 18, 2010 . . September 21, 2013.
  12. Web site: The Original NPR 300 . . September 21, 2013.
  13. Book: Perone, James E.. Smash Hits: The 100 Songs That Defined America . 2016. ABC-CLIO. 9781440834691. 141–144. February 3, 2022.
  14. Web site: The Wire - 100 Most Important Records Ever Made . September 21, 2013.
  15. Web site: Ultimate Jukebox : The 100 Singles You Must Own . September 21, 2013.
  16. Book: Webb, Robert. 2012. 1–2. The Ultimate Playlist: The 100 Greatest Cover Versions. McNidder and Grace Limited. London. 978-0857160577.
  17. Web site: The 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time. August 26, 2014. May 26, 2016.
  18. Web site: 40 Songs That Changed The World . List of the Day. December 11, 2023.
  19. Book: Larkin, Colin. All Time Top 100 Albums. Colin Larkin. 1999. 978-0753503546. Virgin. London. The All-Time Top 100 Singles.
  20. Web site: VH1: '100 Greatest Rock Songs': 1-50 . September 21, 2013.
  21. Web site: 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made – Part 1. Nos 1 to 500 . September 21, 2013.
  22. Web site: Rolling Stone - The 100 Best Singles Of The Last 25 Years . September 12, 2013.
  23. LAs Top 100. Los Angeles. Steve. Erickson. November 2001. 88. January 28, 2022.
  24. Book: Williams, Paul. Rock and Roll: The 100 Best Singles. 1993. Carroll & Graf Publishers. 978-0881849660.
  25. Web site: VH1 - '100 Greatest Dance Songs'. April 29, 2015.
  26. Web site: The 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time . Mojo . September 21, 2013.
  27. Web site: Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2010 version) . Spotirama . March 9, 2010 . September 16, 2021.
  28. 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 1-100 . . February 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080619072533/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page . 19 June 2008 . dead.
  29. Web site: NEA and RIAA: The top 365 songs of the 20th century . September 21, 2013.
  30. Web site: Big Bangs: 100 Records That Changed the World . September 21, 2013.
  31. Web site: Pitchfork: The 200 Best Songs of the 1960s . . February 17, 2018.
  32. 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: The Kingsmen, 'Louie Louie' . Rolling Stone . September 16, 2021 . September 16, 2021.
  33. Web site: 500 Greatest Songs . . December 26, 2014.
  34. Web site: WCBSFM: Top 1001 Songs Of The Century . September 21, 2013.
  35. Goldmine. Robert. Dalley. February 1981. 57. The Kingsmen. 152.
  36. Artists' Biographies – The Kingsmen. Billboard. December 14, 1963. May 15, 2019.
  37. Dick. Zimmerman. The Kingsmen In Person. 1963. LP liner notes. Wand Records. New York.
  38. Web site: Producer's Profile – Don Gallucci. October 10, 1979. . May 13, 2019.
  39. Peterson 2005, p. 325.
  40. Record World. Kingsmen Act on Name Thieves. December 25, 1965. December 24, 2021.
  41. Peterson 2005, p. 327.
  42. News: Settle Kingsmen vs Jack Ely Litigation . February 2, 1966. 7. Cash Box. May 15, 2019.
  43. Court Tells Ely & Kingsmen to Use a Different Billing. February 12, 1966. 8. Billboard. May 15, 2019.
  44. Cash Box. March 6, 1965. Bios for Deejays - Kingsmen. 12. December 22, 2021.
  45. Book: Blecha, Peter. Peter Blecha. Rock & Roll Archaeologist. 2005. 62. Sasquatch Books. Seattle. 978-1570614439.
  46. Book: Rogers, Don. Dance Halls, Armories, and Teen Fairs, Volume One. Music Archives Press. Hollywood. 1988. The Kingsmen. 20. 0-940849-02-X.
  47. Giant Easton Launches Weekly Seg on KGW-TV. Billboard. 55. October 28, 1967. May 15, 2019.
  48. Book: Richards, Turley. Turley Richards. Blindsighted. 2014. Insight Publishing. Sevierville, Tennessee. 68. 978-1624520396.
  49. Released on Earth 104. Lead singers were C. L. Weldon on "Feed Me" and Joey Levine on "Just A 'B' Side".
  50. Web site: Kingsmen web site historical page . May 29, 2014 . dead . March 16, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110316060331/http://www.louielouie.org/modules.php?name=Kingsmen_Lineup.
  51. Web site: The world according to Yank: Montrealer with checkered past gets Nobel nod, or does he?. . Joe. O'Connor. April 15, 2012 . January 21, 2017 .
  52. Web site: Kingsmen to Capitol. 14. Cash Box. March 24, 1973. May 13, 2019.
  53. Web site: Picks of the Week. 16. Cash Box]. March 31, 1973. May 15, 2019.
  54. The Other Two. 1966. 45 single. 45cat.
  55. Book: Entertainment Law and Business . Trademark, Part IIC Intellectual Property - Battle Over Band Names. William D.. Henslee . Elizabeth. Henslee. 2018 . 978-1543802924. Philadelphia. Wolters Kluwer. 385 .
  56. Dick St. Nicklaus - Magic. Epic Records. 1979. Album. JE 36178. Discogs.
  57. Billboard. January 22, 1983. Original Kingsmen Suing: Rule K-tel Can't Market Remake of 'Louie Louie'. Irv. Lichtman. 6. February 25, 2022.
  58. 1989 . Peter. Blecha. Peter Blecha. The Best of Louie Louie . liner notes . . R1 70605.
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  60. Kingsmen to Reclaim Master Recordings. July 8, 1995. 9, 12. May 15, 2019. Billboard. Chris. Morris.
  61. Kingsmen Prevail in Contract Suit. 8, 87. November 21, 1998. May 15, 2019. Billboard. Bill. Holland.
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  63. News: Jack Brown 'Louie Louie' Ely. May 12, 2015. The Bend Bulletin. May 5, 2015.
  64. Oregon Music News. Terry. Currier. April 25, 2020. RIP Lynn Easton of the Kingsmen, Portland TV fame.
  65. Kreps . Daniel . Mike Mitchell, Guitarist on the Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie,' Dead at 77 . Rolling Stone . April 18, 2021 . April 18, 2021.
  66. Web site: Guitar.com. April 19, 2021. David. Seah. Mike Mitchell, Co-Founder of Kingsmen and Guitarist On Louie Louie, Dies at 77. February 28, 2022.
  67. Web site: Guitar World. Mike Mitchell, The Kingsmen co-founder and Louie Louie guitarist, dies aged 77. Matt. Owen. April 19, 2021. February 28, 2022.
  68. News: The Guardian. Mike Mitchell, guitarist on the Kingsmen's Louie Louie, dies aged 77. April 19, 2021. Ben. Beaumont-Thomas. February 28, 2022.
  69. Guitar Player. Jackson. Maxwell. April 19, 2021. Mike Mitchell, Guitarist and Co-Founder of The Kingsmen, Dead at 77. February 28, 2022.
  70. News: Mike Mitchell, a founding member of the band that recorded 'Louie Louie,' has died. Jack. Rose. May 12, 2015. CNN. April 18, 2021.
  71. News: Jack Brown 'Louie Louie' Ely. May 12, 2015. The Bend Bulletin. May 5, 2015.
  72. Web site: RIP: Gary Abbott, drummer with Kingsmen. July 15, 2015. April 19, 2021. Eric. Predoehl. The Louie Report.
  73. Web site: RIP: Kerry Magness. July 4, 2005. May 22, 2019. Eric. Predoehl. The Louie Report.
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  77. News: National Post clarification: Yank Barry . National Post. January 6, 2017 . May 13, 2019.
  78. Web site: January 22, 2021. Discography The Kingsmen America's Greatest Party Band. The Kingsmen Official Site. August 19, 2021.
  79. Web site: Live at The Castle - The Kingsmen. April 9, 2021. amazon.com.
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  82. Web site: Cash Box Archive. worldradiohistory.com. January 1, 2022.
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  85. Web site: RPM Magazine Top Singles (Volume 2, No. 25, Feb 15, 1965). Library and Archives Canada. December 25, 2021.
  86. Susan. Peterson. Woodstock to Prime Time – A 10 Year Rock Odyssey. Billboard. July 15, 1978. May 15, 2019.