University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. Department of Justice Publications and Materials U.S. Department of Justice 1964 Louie Louie (The Song)- FBI File Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usjusticematls "Louie Louie (The Song)- FBI File" (1964). U.S. Department of Justice Publications and Materials. 21. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usjusticematls/21 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Justice at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in U.S. Department of Justice Publications and Materials by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Louie Louie (The Song) — filed under: Popular Culture In 1963, a rock group named the Kingsmen recorded the song “Louie, Louie.” The popularity of the song and difficulty in discerning the lyrics led some people to suspect the song was obscene. The FBI was asked to investigate whether or not those involved with the song violated laws against the interstate transportation of obscene material. The limited investigation lasted from February to May 1964 and discovered no evidence of obscenity. http://vault.fbi.gov/louie-louie-the-song 8 0 FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FREEDOM OF INFORMATION/PRIVACY ACTS SECTION COVER SHEET SUBJECT: LOUIE, LOUIE _ THE 60's SONG!_ I U J DESCRIPTION OF FOLLOWING FILE MATERIAL [Quiz lama92/7&2.05 S0103 . , . .. X "! N0 DUPLICATION§ FEE xxxxxx . FOR THIS PAGE x X>*>m*'>* XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX EXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Memorgdum I ' Te. '» T0 I DIRECTOR, FBI , DATE! 2/17/64 ATTENTION: FBI LABORATORY %>-/>1FRQM AC , TAMPA 45-New! P! 92. " 443153 ._;_? $vBJB<-'r= umcnownSUBJECT; , PHONOGRAPH" DISTRIBUTED & .- B IMAXon- MUSIC, -2 _nyc,,4;, , r : 1'AmPA_-;u¢,aw.-¬,~_.?»!mam! _ T Transmitted herewith are the following items for examination by he FBI Laboratory: ' ff . --- . 3. hyriis of "Louie Louie" as published by Limax Music. i Ca; _ Record "Louie Louie" under obscene cover!. -fkeported obscene lyrics for "Louie Louie." Under yo Lip: IF ggscene cover!.~ r _ from Sarasota G School, advisingth cap popular withtn=U high school students, and he has been furnished lyrics for the song n which aree determinedvery obscene. g , thatthis record is xi!~, ' popular, is a best seller in the area, and is played by the local Q radio stations. He said the record is a calypso-type song, and the . words are hard to recognize. However, with a copy of the obscene w- ~_ to refer to, it sounds like the lyrics are identical with the I enclosed obscene lyrics. , Radioism Station * WKXY, furnishedwhat Limax Music Companyclaims to;u4D ide the theactual l rics of the lyric¬iZfsong, w ich e isnclosureong do #1seemnot , However, be totheJ __same. REc_23M ,9: Enclosures wére!furnished,to SA by Q __.,_ am-é£.11<n,;¢>-'. ,§!glgN¬LQS4WE,-,.El:111» "£w"%92"""" Wm ' Twp? P-PI-'_? F-',f1r:w@»g6. ML M3"*»s'7 ~" ~ L--~ _ _l__ -_ ________..'-' _,. __ _ " "* -*~ . ;r'v.j|__w-W.- _.. ____ _ -; , ,1?-;j _----~- . __. ~.~. __~,V.. v _ """ , ._____.- __.~.~-- /90 W5ve?» ¢/ oz I ' . Q U" 1 TP 145-New . K/'.92 _»92 Laboratory is requested to determine if enclosed ;92--_. ~ :"92 record, "Louie Louie", can be considered obscene for purposes of prosecution under ITOM statute_ O . .. Q _:._.1, -1».-, ._ '-__.. _._ »: _ 2 ;; y. V _ _< V -_,., I ,_.._u. __- . __ . - _ _, ;-_ , ... , ... - _ . ,1 . ,__... _, .. 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