One-Hit Wonderful - “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen

kingslp One Hit Wonderful Louie Louie by The Kingsmen In my opinion, the greatest one-hit wonder in history is the sublime Louie Louie by The Kingsmen. Stupidly catchy organ backed by a pounding primal beat with fratboy wailing atop… it was always gonna shake up and wake up the world.
“Louie Louie” was actually written by Richard Berry in 1955 and has since become a garage hymn and a standard to everyone else. The Kingsmen’s ‘63 version is still the best known, and hilariously, was the subject of an FBI investigation about the supposed obscenity of the lyrics. After a few listens, the investigation ended without prosecution (and probably a buncha men in suits doin’ the mash potato). Click over to see The Kingsmen performing the song live on the legendary Shindig! show way back when…