Jack Ely...RIP

tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 28 2015 09:31 PM

The Kingsmen's singer....Mr. Louie Louie...gone at age 71. Jack thanks for the memories......

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Happy Sunsets!

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da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Apr 29 2015 02:15 AM

Louie Louie was suspected of having crude lyrics. After repeated listening the lyrics were judged to be unintelligible. Slurred because he was wearing a dental brace, apparently.

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Clarry

Joined: Oct 01, 2014
Posts: 519
Streatham, London
United Kingdom

Posted on Apr 29 2015 05:15 AM

I've heard he had the lyrics taped to a mic stand and couldn't read them properly.

All part of the songs mythology.

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spskins

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3795
tn
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 07:18 AM

In Portland, where it was recorded, the myth is that the only versions they had to go off of were seeing The Wailers doing it live, and the 45 of the Richard Berry original that was housed in a jukebox in Seaside, OR, where all the bands played. So, they were winging it. The Kingsmen also kicked him out of the band before it became a hit, so the new singer had to travel the world singing that song and didn't have the same high voice or energy as Jack Ely did.

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Syndicateofsurf

Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:08 AM

Didn't he have to stand on a box on tiptoe cause the mike was way too high and they wouldn't/couldn't move it to a better position? Which contributed to the mumbled strangulated veneer of the vocal?

—

Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest

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djangodeadman

Joined: Jan 25, 2007
Posts: 1569
Brighton UK
3 News Pins

Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:38 AM

I love the way he comes in too early on one of the verses, stops then comes in in the right place. Records just don't get made in the same way these days!

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Los Fantasticos

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Syndicateofsurf

Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:50 AM

djangodeadman wrote:

I love the way he comes in too early on one of the verses, stops then comes in in the right place. Records just don't get made in the same way these days!

And the drummer burns him with a roll!

—

Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest

The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube

http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/

http://sharawaji.com/

http://surfrockradio.com/

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spskins

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3795
tn
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 10:48 AM

Syndicateofsurf wrote:

Didn't he have to stand on a box on tiptoe cause the mike was way too high and they wouldn't/couldn't move it to a better position? Which contributed to the mumbled strangulated veneer of the vocal?

I've heard that too.

—

http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com

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Syndicateofsurf

Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 12:23 PM

spskins wrote:

Syndicateofsurf wrote:

Didn't he have to stand on a box on tiptoe cause the mike was way too high and they wouldn't/couldn't move it to a better position? Which contributed to the mumbled strangulated veneer of the vocal?

I've heard that too.

Actually I should be sure of it cause I read it in a book- this one. That's right, a whole book about one song. Literature examining art masquerading as music? Dave Marsh is a good writer- wrote for Creem methinks. More facts to check.

—

Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest

The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube

http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/

http://sharawaji.com/

http://surfrockradio.com/

Top

da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Apr 29 2015 03:42 PM

Here you go. Now you can sing along....

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

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SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 03:56 PM

Dave Marsh wrote an excellent biography about The Who as well.

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spskins

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3795
tn
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 04:02 PM

I think the FBI objected to "I smell the rose in her hair" as being a euphemism for cunnilingus. Those G-men had dirty minds!

—

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com

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JohnnyMosrite

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 913
New York City area

Posted on Apr 29 2015 04:18 PM

On youtube, there is a video of Jack Ely giving a radio interview about the song. He goes through all the lyrics and talks about the mic being suspended 2 feet down from a 15 foot ceiling. As Jack was only 5'10", that's around 7 feet that he had to scream out the lyrics with his head cocked back and the band surrounding him - which made all his words sound garbled and different. The tune is actually a Jamaican love song - with no risque lyrics. And LOUIE,LOUIE was a bartender that was being spoken to in the song.

In the interview, military obligation was one of the reasons Jack left the Kingsmen. The poor guy only got about $120.00 or so for his efforts.
Gotta love the music business. No wonder he went into horse breeding.

The tune was banned in Indiana because someone thought they heard the
'F' bomb or equivalent and the then governor hit the panic button.
The FBI and ol' J. Edgar Hoosits got into the lyrics, also. They came up with nothing - not even the correct lyrics. Exemplary use of tax dollars.
Stupid people just won't go quietly into extinction.. Oh well
J Mo'

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tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Apr 28 2015 09:31 PM The Kingsmen's singer....Mr. Louie Louie...gone at age 71. Jack thanks for the memories...... — Happy Sunsets! Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Apr 29 2015 02:15 AM Louie Louie was suspected of having crude lyrics. After repeated listening the lyrics were judged to be unintelligible. Slurred because he was wearing a dental brace, apparently. — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
Clarry Joined: Oct 01, 2014 Posts: 519 Streatham, London	Posted on Apr 29 2015 05:15 AM I've heard he had the lyrics taped to a mic stand and couldn't read them properly. All part of the songs mythology. Top
spskins Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3795 tn	Posted on Apr 29 2015 07:18 AM In Portland, where it was recorded, the myth is that the only versions they had to go off of were seeing The Wailers doing it live, and the 45 of the Richard Berry original that was housed in a jukebox in Seaside, OR, where all the bands played. So, they were winging it. The Kingsmen also kicked him out of the band before it became a hit, so the new singer had to travel the world singing that song and didn't have the same high voice or energy as Jack Ely did. — http://www.satanspilgrims.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553 https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/ http://www.surfyindustries.com Top
Syndicateofsurf Joined: Oct 08, 2014 Posts: 1073 Northern Ohio	Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:08 AM Didn't he have to stand on a box on tiptoe cause the mike was way too high and they wouldn't/couldn't move it to a better position? Which contributed to the mumbled strangulated veneer of the vocal? — Da Vinci Flinglestein, The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/ http://sharawaji.com/ http://surfrockradio.com/ Top
djangodeadman Joined: Jan 25, 2007 Posts: 1569 Brighton UK	Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:38 AM I love the way he comes in too early on one of the verses, stops then comes in in the right place. Records just don't get made in the same way these days! — Los Fantasticos Top
Syndicateofsurf Joined: Oct 08, 2014 Posts: 1073 Northern Ohio	Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:50 AM djangodeadman wrote: I love the way he comes in too early on one of the verses, stops then comes in in the right place. Records just don't get made in the same way these days! And the drummer burns him with a roll! — Da Vinci Flinglestein, The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/ http://sharawaji.com/ http://surfrockradio.com/ Top
spskins Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3795 tn	Posted on Apr 29 2015 10:48 AM Syndicateofsurf wrote: Didn't he have to stand on a box on tiptoe cause the mike was way too high and they wouldn't/couldn't move it to a better position? Which contributed to the mumbled strangulated veneer of the vocal? I've heard that too. — http://www.satanspilgrims.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553 https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/ http://www.surfyindustries.com Top
Syndicateofsurf Joined: Oct 08, 2014 Posts: 1073 Northern Ohio	Posted on Apr 29 2015 12:23 PM spskins wrote: Syndicateofsurf wrote: Didn't he have to stand on a box on tiptoe cause the mike was way too high and they wouldn't/couldn't move it to a better position? Which contributed to the mumbled strangulated veneer of the vocal? I've heard that too. Actually I should be sure of it cause I read it in a book- this one. That's right, a whole book about one song. Literature examining art masquerading as music? Dave Marsh is a good writer- wrote for Creem methinks. More facts to check. — Da Vinci Flinglestein, The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/ http://sharawaji.com/ http://surfrockradio.com/ Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Apr 29 2015 03:42 PM Here you go. Now you can sing along.... — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on Apr 29 2015 03:56 PM Dave Marsh wrote an excellent biography about The Who as well. — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top
spskins Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3795 tn	Posted on Apr 29 2015 04:02 PM I think the FBI objected to "I smell the rose in her hair" as being a euphemism for cunnilingus. Those G-men had dirty minds! — http://www.satanspilgrims.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553 https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/ http://www.surfyindustries.com Top
JohnnyMosrite Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 913 New York City area	Posted on Apr 29 2015 04:18 PM On youtube, there is a video of Jack Ely giving a radio interview about the song. He goes through all the lyrics and talks about the mic being suspended 2 feet down from a 15 foot ceiling. As Jack was only 5'10", that's around 7 feet that he had to scream out the lyrics with his head cocked back and the band surrounding him - which made all his words sound garbled and different. The tune is actually a Jamaican love song - with no risque lyrics. And LOUIE,LOUIE was a bartender that was being spoken to in the song. In the interview, military obligation was one of the reasons Jack left the Kingsmen. The poor guy only got about $120.00 or so for his efforts. Gotta love the music business. No wonder he went into horse breeding. The tune was banned in Indiana because someone thought they heard the 'F' bomb or equivalent and the then governor hit the panic button. The FBI and ol' J. Edgar Hoosits got into the lyrics, also. They came up with nothing - not even the correct lyrics. Exemplary use of tax dollars. Stupid people just won't go quietly into extinction.. Oh well J Mo' Top

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Jack Ely...RIP