When recorded the band members were Jack Ely (vocalist/rhythm guitar; d. April 28, 2015), Lynn Easton (drummer), Mike Mitchell (lead guitar), Don Gallucci (electric piano) and Bob Nordby (bass guitar). Ken Chase (Kingsmen manager and Portland radio station KISN music director) produced the recording session. Robert Lindahl (Northwestern Inc. recording studio owner) was the audio engineer.
"Louie Louie" was kept from the top spot on the charts in late 1963 and early 1964 by the Singing Nun and Bobby Vinton, who monopolized the #1 slot for four weeks apiece. The Kingsmen single reached #1 on the Cashbox chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally in the UK it reached #26 on the Record Retailer chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The B-side of the single was an instrumental, "Haunted Castle".
The band attracted nationwide attention when "Louie Louie" was banned by the governor of Indiana, Matthew E. Welsh, also attracting the attention of the FBI because of alleged indecent lyrics in their version of the song. The lyrics were, in fact, innocent, but Ely's baffling enunciation permitted teenage fans and concerned parents alike to imagine the most scandalous obscenities. All of this attention only made the song more popular. In April 1966 "Louie Louie" was reissued and once again hit the music charts, reaching #65 on the Cashbox chart and #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
After the success of "Louie Louie", the members of the Kingsmen took varied paths. Easton, whose mother had registered the name of the group and therefore owned it, declared that from this point on he intended to be the singer, forcing Ely to play the drums. This led Jack Ely and Bob Nordby to quit the group.
Ely would later form his own group Jack Eely And The Courtmen (with the reason for the extra "e" in his surname not clear). Don Gallucci was forced out because he wasn't old enough to tour and later formed Don and the Goodtimes, which morphed into the short-lived Touch. Later, Gallucci would become a record producer with Elektra Records, with his most famous production being The Stooges' seminal second album Fun House. ("Louie Louie" was frequently performed at Stooges concerts; the song appears on their live album as well as an Iggy Pop solo record.) The two remaining original Kingsmen, Lynn Easton and Mike Mitchell, toured as the official band.
Following legal action on both sides, Easton established his right to the "Kingsmen" name. Thus Ely was forced to stop using it, and Easton was forced to stop lip syncing to Ely's vocals. This initially hurt the Easton Kingsmen's popularity, after audiences realized that this was no longer the band they had come to see. Eventually, though, the official band (with Easton on vocals) charted several more singles in the 1960s.
The Kingsmen's 1964 follow up to "Louie Louie" was a party version of "Money (That's What I Want)" which hit the Billboard Hot 100 at #16 and on Cashbox at #17. Then came "Little Latin Lupe Lu" peaking on Billboard at #46 and Cashbox at #49. After that it was "Death of An Angel" #33 on Cashbox and #42 on Billboard.
1965 saw the Kingsmen return to the Top 10 nationally with "The Jolly Green Giant" reaching #4 on Billboard and #8 on Cashbox. The follow-up song was "The Climb" #45 on Cashbox and #65 on Billboard. "Annie Fanny" was released next reaching #43 on Cashbox & #47 on Billboard. Next came "(You Got) The Gamma Goochee" #98 on Cashbox & #122 on Billboard.
In 1966 the Kingsmen continued to hit the charts, with "Killer Joe" reaching #77 on Billboard & #81 on Cashbox. In 1967 they made the chart for the last time with "Bo Diddley Bach" reaching #128 on Billboard.
On November 9, 1998, The Kingsmen were awarded ownership of all their early recordings released on Wand Records from Gusto Records, including "Louie Louie." They had not been paid royalties on the songs since the 1960s.
Original vocalist Jack Ely passed away in 2015, and original guitarist Mike Mitchell in 2021. A reformed Kingsmen performed at the "24 Hour Louie Louie Marathon" in Portland in October 2023, a testament to the enduring fascination with this song.
--Other Groups--
Prior to this group's formation, another group called The Kingsmen operated in 1958 and was made up of members of Bill Haley & His Comets who were moonlighting from their regular work with Haley. This group scored a hit record (#35) on Billboard with the instrumental entitled "Week End", written by Rudy Pompilli, Franny Beecher, and Billy Williamson, backed with "Better Believe It" as the B side. They released a follow-up single on East West Records featuring "The Catwalk" backed with "Conga Rock". Although the Comets did the actual recordings, when The Kingsmen went on tour a different set of musicians performed instead of Haley's people. The band made at least one appearance on American Bandstand in 1958.
Various other groups have used the name "The Kingsmen", including a gospel vocal group formed in 1956 (also referred to as The Kingsmen Quartet) and bands that were later re-named as Flamin' Groovies, The Gants and The Statler Brothers. An a cappella group at Columbia University is traditionally known as The Kingsmen; one incarnation of that group became Sha Na Na; also circa 1962-63, Bruza / Magnoli / Nofz / Tomczyk adopted that name in SE MI until dis-banding during the late-1970s.
shout
The Kingsmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on
In violent times
You shouldn't have to sell your soul
In black and white
They really really ought to know
Those one track minds
That took you for a working boy
Kiss them goodbye
You shouldn't have to jump for joy
You shouldn't have to shout for joy
Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on
They gave you life
And in return you gave them hell
As cold as ice
I hope we live to tell the tale
I hope we live to tell the tale
Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on
Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on
And when you've taken down your guard
If I could change your mind
I'd really love to break your heart
I'd really love to break your heart
Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on
The Kingsmen’s “Shout!” is a song that speaks about standing up for oneself and not letting others dictate their life. The lyrics “Shout! Let it all out. These are the things I can do without” is a call to action for listeners to shout out their frustrations and take control of their lives. The song talks about the struggle of living in a society that often breaks down an individual’s spirit and asks them to compromise their values for financial gain. The line “In violent times, you shouldn't have to sell your soul. In black and white, they really really ought to know” puts forth the idea that there should be no excuse for exploiting individuals in violent or racist times. The chorus, “Come on, I'm talking to you,” is almost like a pep talk, reminding listeners that they are capable of standing up for themselves.
The song also touches upon the theme of betrayal by someone whom you trusted. The line “And when you've taken down your guard, if I could change your mind, I'd really love to break your heart” talks about a person who had opened themselves up to someone and got betrayed in return. The singer reflects on his feelings of hurt and how he would want to hurt them back if given a chance.
Overall, The Kingsmen’s “Shout!” is a song that speaks of hope, empowerment and the importance of self-respect. It tells people to let go of things that don't matter and to stand for what they believe in. It is an anthem for those who need a push to stand up for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Let it all out
Release all your pent-up emotions
These are the things I can do without
I don't want or need these things in my life
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
I'm talking to you
I'm addressing you specifically
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Let it all out
Release all your pent-up emotions
These are the things I can do without
I don't want or need these things in my life
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
I'm talking to you
I'm addressing you specifically
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
In violent times
During tumultuous periods
You shouldn't have to sell your soul
You shouldn't have to compromise your values
In black and white
In clear terms
They really really ought to know
They should be aware
Those one track minds
Those with narrow, focused thoughts
That took you for a working boy
Who saw you as a reliable worker
Kiss them goodbye
Leave them behind
You shouldn't have to jump for joy
You shouldn't have to overexert yourself to be happy
You shouldn't have to shout for joy
You shouldn't have to work hard to be happy
They gave you life
Your parents gave birth to you
And in return you gave them hell
You caused them a lot of trouble
As cold as ice
Emotionless and unfeeling
I hope we live to tell the tale
I hope we survive this difficult period
I hope we live to tell the tale
I hope we survive this difficult period
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Let it all out
Release all your pent-up emotions
These are the things I can do without
I don't want or need these things in my life
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
I'm talking to you
I'm addressing you specifically
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Let it all out
Release all your pent-up emotions
These are the things I can do without
I don't want or need these things in my life
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
I'm talking to you
I'm addressing you specifically
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
And when you've taken down your guard
When you've let your defenses down
If I could change your mind
If I could influence your opinion
I'd really love to break your heart
I would love to deeply affect you emotionally
I'd really love to break your heart
I would love to deeply affect you emotionally
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Shout
Express your emotions loudly and clearly
Let it all out
Release all your pent-up emotions
These are the things I can do without
I don't want or need these things in my life
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
I'm talking to you
I'm addressing you specifically
Come on
Encouraging someone to act
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: O'kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind