Combinations: “Louie, Louie”

Music fans from the 1960s are familiar with The Kingsmen’s ballad, “Louie, Louie,” which became a surprise hit upon its release in 1963. But how many know that it was a remake? The original, performed by its composer, Richard Berry, was recorded in 1956 and released in 1957. Poor sound engineering by The Kingsmen’s studio…

Days of Art 2025-7: Am I the Same Song?

In 1968, music producer Carl Davis gathered a group of session musicians and laid out a track written by Eugene Record and Sonny Sanders called “Am I the Same Girl?” The song was accompanied by lead vocals provided by Chicago native and Brunswick Records recording artist, Barbara Acklin. Barbara’s vocals were not to Davis’s liking,…