Jun 052025
 

“Louie Louie” is perhaps the most famous garage rock song ever. People have claimed it is the world’s “most recorded rock song” however Second Hand Songs lists it as only the 25th most covered song from 1957, when it was originally released. Regardless, it’s been a staple of bar bands and some professional bands for 60+ years. Though originally released by Richard Berry and the Pharaohs, most people know it from The Kingsmen‘s infamous version, or one of the innumerable famous covers released before or after it. It is indeed The Kingsmen’s version, with its unintelligible lyrics and numerous hallmarks of ’60s garage rock that most people think of when they think of “Louie Louie.”

The Limiñanas are a French rock duo who have been releasing music for about 15 years. Their latest album, their 13th, mostly contains performances with some famous guest vocalists, such as Bobby Gillespie and Jon Spencer. But it also contains some covers. And their cover of “Louie Louie” is one of the songs that does not feature a guest vocalist; instead it is sung by drummer/singer Marie Limiñana.

If you’re going to cover such a popular cover, you might as well make your version distinct, right? And that’s what The Limiñanas do. They slow the song down to a ballad with gently plucked electric guitar and strummed acoustic. Marie whispers her vocals that classic French chanteuse way and there’s dream pop/neo-psychedelic droning keyboards in the background.

Though the drums and bass are fairly propulsive, and though there’s an extremely noisy guitar solo that absolutely overwhelms the mix, the “ballad” feel of the beginning never quite dissipates. In fact, the end of the song is quite noisy – a dense collage of neo-psychedelic guitars and keyboards, with Marie’s voice barely peeking through. It’s a little as if Stereolab decided to become the ’80s Flaming Lips or ’80s Mercury Rev partway through a song.

The result is an extremely distinct cover that you won’t mistake for The Kingsmen’s version or anybody else’s. Don’t speak French? Well, who knows what the words are anyway.

Nov 092021
 

Cover Classics takes a closer look at all-cover albums of the past, their genesis, and their legacy.

West of the West

“We dreamed of all the crazy places we never been. Like California.” So sings/speaks Bill Kirchen in the classic Commander Cody song “Mama Hated Diesels,” aptly summing up the lure of the Golden State. And, with due hats tipped to Tennessee and to New York State, is there any other that has drawn in so many songwriter acolytes to the flame it has provided, and for so long? Which, by way of introduction, is where Dave Alvin headed with West of the West, a glorious potpourri of songs from the 5th largest economy in the world, pulled together, chosen and sung by the erstwhile Blaster and X man.
Continue reading »

Feb 232017
 

Welcome to Cover Me Q&A, where we take your questions about cover songs and answer them to the best of our ability.

Matts Author Photo of Me

Patrick Robbins lives in Maine. He’s been writing for Cover Me since 2011. Of all his Cover Me essays, he especially likes his John Denver tribute review and his curation of Ramones Week.

It’s been great writing and editing for Cover Me, not just because I like cover songs so much, but because it’s led me to discover so many great ones I never would have heard otherwise. My thanks to Ray for taking me on, and to all of you for reading what I have to say about my finds. Here are ten of them that I’ve made over the years, which all struck significant chords in my life for various reasons…
Continue reading »