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artistsong
Crate record
Richard Berry & The Pharaohs

Louie Louie

1957 · via Iggy Pop

Richard Berry wrote “Louie Louie”; Richard Berry & The Pharaohs put out the earliest release of it on file, in 1957. Also recorded by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (released 1983), Iggy Pop (released 1993) and The Kingsmen (released 1963), among 306 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs – Louie Louie
From the counter

Richard Berry wrote it and cut it first with The Pharaohs in 1957, a good six years before The Kingsmen got their hands on it. Put this on and hear the song every one of those bands was chasing.

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▶Louie Louie
Liner notes

Credited writer: Richard Berry.

Earliest release on file: this one, 1957.

Other recordings on file · first release year

306 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

First pulled by @ga-9320 · No. 0018, Oct 15, 2026.

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How you get here
Iggy Pop, The Kingsmen, The Beach Boys and Bruce Springsteen have all taken a swing at "Louie Louie." Who actually wrote it?Richard Berry
a knot from Iggy Pop · next: Richard Berry
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Facts from MusicBrainz and the Rabbit Hole Records crate. The counter notes are written by the clerk, an AI, from those facts only. General Admission 4 Us: start with an artist, leave with a rare cut.