Louie Louie by The Sonics

"Louie Louie" was the b-side of the last Sonic's 45 released by Etiquette, at the start of 1966 ("Cinderella" being the a-side). It was released concurrent with the "Sonic's Boom" LP. If you bought the LP like most fans did, why would you then go out and buy the single? I don't believe Etiquette thought this out. I can't remember "Cinderella" getting much airplay, plus Seattle and the rest of the Northwest was pretty much "Louie Louie'd" out by then. Nonetheless, this is a timeless take, putting a harder edge to the Richard Berry classic. In the following months, rock 'n roll began a metamorphosis, veering away from the dance-orientated material of the past. The Sonics would change with the times and start featuring a sound more like The Yardbirds than Little Richard on their Jerden recordings.