The Kingsmen In Person
| The Kingsmen in Person | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US cover | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 28, 1963 | |||
| Recorded | April and November 1963 | |||
| Genre | Garage rock | |||
| Length | 41:53 | |||
| Label | Wand 657 | |||
| Producer | Jerry Dennon | |||
| The Kingsmen chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Kingsmen In Person | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 UK cover | ||||
The Kingsmen in Person is the first album by the rock band The Kingsmen, released in 1963. The album featured "Louie Louie", the band's biggest success. Jack Ely, the singer of "Louie Louie", appeared on no other track on the album because he quit before it was recorded.
Release and reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
The Kingsmen recorded "Louie Louie" at Northwestern Inc. recording studio on April 6, 1963.[2] After being reissued by Wand, "Louie Louie" debuted in the Billboard Hot 100 at #83 on November 9 and quickly began ascending the charts.[3] Trying to capitalize on the success of the song, the Kingsmen decided to release an entire album, and gigs at the Chase nightclub were booked on November 15 and 16 to record what was to become "The Kingsmen in Person".[4] Jack Ely, the singer of "Louie Louie", appeared on no other track on the album because he quit before it was recorded.[5] Wand quickly released the album to make a dent in the Christmas purchasing season.[6]
The album first appeared on the Billboard Top LPs on January 18, 1964, eventually peaking at #20 and remaining on the chart for over two years (131 weeks total) until 1966. [7]
The January 18, 1964 issue of Cash Box magazine reviewed the album:[8]
- The Kingsmen, who achieved national prominence with their smash Wand single of "Louie, Louie," tag this their premiere album after the hit and include eleven other rousing teen-angled dance-able items. The crew really swings up a storm as they dish-up winning renditions of "Money," "Mashed Potatoes" and "Mojo Workout." Disk seems destined to create an immediate stir.
Jack Rabid of Allmusic awarded the album 3.5 stars and said: "From "Mojo Workout" to "Night Train" to "Money" to the instrumental "You Can't Sit Down," the keyboards swirl above the stomp of the rhythm section and guitars, and it still makes people want to get drunk and go nuts. The band is primitive, sure, but boy does the spirit feel like a hot time."[1]
The LP was released in both mono (WDM 657) and stereo (WDS 657) versions. International releases included Canada (Reo 667), Germany (Vogue LDV 17002, different cover, titled The Kingsmen), Mexico (Orfeon/Videovox DML-MI-95), and United Kingdom (Pye International NPL 28050, different cover). In 1993 Sundazed and Bear Family reissued the album on CD with bonus tracks "Haunted Castle", "The Krunch", and "(You Got) The Gamma Goochee". In 2016 the album was reissued in Japan by Old Days Records with bonus tracks "Little Latin Lupe Lu", "Death of an Angel", and "The Jolly Green Giant".
Track listing
- Louie, Louie – 2:44 (Richard Berry)
- The Waiting – 3:08 (Don Gallucci, Lynn Easton)
- Mojo Workout – 2:28 (Julian Bright)[9]
- Fever – 3:07 (Otis Blackwell, Eddie Cooley)[10]
- Money – 2:24 (Berry Gordy, Janie Bradford)
- Bent Scepter – 2:59 (Don Gallucci)
- Long Tall Texan – 2:44 (Henry Strzelecki)[11]
- You Can't Sit Down – 2:59 (Dee Clark, Cornell Muldrow)[12]
- Twist & Shout – 4:55 (Phil Medley, Bert Russell)
- J.A.J. – 2:20 (Dave Lewis)
- Night Train – 2:18 (Jimmy Forest, Oscar Washington, Lewis C. Simpkins)
- Mashed Potatoes – 2:33 (Dessie Rozier)[13]
- Haunted Castle† – 2:47 (Lynn Easton)
- The Krunch† – 2:18 (Lynn Easton)
- (You Got) The Gamma Goochee† – 2:09 (John Mangiagli)[14]
† CD bonus tracks
Chart positions
| Chart (1963) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200[15] | 20 |
Musicians and production
- Lynn Easton: vocals, saxophone, drums
- Mike Mitchell: guitar
- Don Gallucci: keyboards
- Norm Sundholm: bass
- Gary Abbott: drums
- Jack Ely: vocals, guitar ("Louie Louie" only)
- Bob Nordby: bass ("Louie Louie" only)
- Liner notes: Dick Zimmerman (Cash Box)
- CD booklet layout: Jeff Smith
Notes
- ^ a b Rabid, Jack. "The Kingsmen in Person review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ Blecha 2009, p. 137
- ^ Marsh 1993, p. 100
- ^ Blecha 2009, p. 147
- ^ Marsh 1993, p. 111
- ^ Blecha 2009, p. 148
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-117-9.
- ^ Cash Box magazine, January 19, 1964, p. 32.
- ^ Julian Ferebee Bright also wrote and recorded as Larry Bright.
- ^ LP and CD incorrectly cite Leiber and Stoller as songwriters.
- ^ Originally released by Henry Strzlecki's group The Four Flickers in 1959. Subsequently covered by Jerry Woodard, Bob Luman, Murry Kellum, the Beach Boys and many others.
- ^ The original 1961 release by the Phil Upchurch Combo credited Clark-Upchurch-Muldrow as songwriters. Phil Upchurch and Cornell Muldrow had previously been members of Dee Clark's touring band. Many sources also credit Kal Mann as a co-writer.
- ^ "Dessie Rozier" is a pseudonym used by James Brown.
- ^ John Mangiagli also wrote and performed as "The Real Gamma Goochee". More at www.gammagoochee.com.
- ^ "The Kingsmen in Person awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
References
- Blecha, Peter (2009). Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0879309466.
- Marsh, Dave (1993). Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n' Roll Song. New York City: Hyperion Books. ISBN 1562828657.