25 FEBRUARY 1966
The Sonics’ second album ‘Boom’ was released in the US during this month. This Washington-state group were one of the loudest of the (generally unsuccessful) garage bands of the mid-60s. The garage scene would prove very influential over time, however, as stuff like this was 'punk before punk'.
The Sonics' best two songs (in my opinion) came in 1965 - ‘Have Love, Will Travel’ and ‘Psycho’. Like almost every other hard rock band of the day (including the Kinks and the Troggs) they recorded the three-chord thrash ‘Louie, Louie’, which was featured on 'Boom' and is best listened to with the volume set to 11. Probably the most famous version of this was recorded by the Kingsmen, but other favourite versions include those by Paul Revere and the Raiders, and Motorhead.
'Louie Louie, me gotta go now
Louie Louie, me gotta go now
A fine girl, she wait for me.
Me catch the ship across the sea.
Then sailed me ship all alone.
Never think I'll make it home.
Louie Louie, me gotta go now.
Louie Louie, me gotta go now.
Three nights and days we sailed the sea.
Me think of girl constantly.
And on the ship, I dream she' there.
I smell the rose in her hair.
Louie Louie, me gotta go now
Louie Louie, me gotta go now
Louie Louie, me gotta go now
Louie Louie, me gotta go now
Me see Jamaican moon above.
It won't be long me see me love.
Me take her in my arms again
I tell that I dream her there.
Louie Louie, me gotta go'