Original version(s)

• Originally released as a single by Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (Flip Records, 1957)

 

FZ album(s) in which song has appeared

• The Old Masters Box One—Mystery Disc (1985), quoted in Opening Night Party At Studio Z, recorded in Cucamonga, August 1, 1964
• Joe's Corsage (2004), with different lyrics, as Plastic People, recorded c. 1965
• Freak Out! (1966), mentioned in the liner notes and quoted in Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet (7:35), recorded at T.T.G., LA, March 1966
• The Old Masters Box One—Mystery Disc (1985), with different lyrics, as Plastic People, performed in San Francisco, CA, June 1966
• Absolutely Free (1967), quoted in Plastic People, recorded at T.T.G., Los Angeles, CA, November 1966
  • same version on Mothermania (1969) as Plastic People
  • same version on Understanding America (2012) as Plastic People
• Absolutely Free (1967), quoted in Son Of Suzy Creamcheese, recorded at T.T.G., Los Angeles, CA, November 1966
• Lumpy Gravy (1968), mentioned in At The Gas Station, recorded at Apostolic Studios, New York, NY, October 1967
• Uncle Meat (1969), as Louie Louie (At The Royal Albert Hall in London), performed in London, September 23, 1967
  • same version on Meat Light (2016) as Louie Louie (At The Royal Albert Hall In London)
  • same version on Meat Light (2016) as Louie Louie (Live At The Royal Albert Hall In London)
• BTB II: Electric Aunt Jemima (1992), with "Plastic People" lyrics, as part of English Tea Dancing Interludes, performed in Denver, CO, May 3, 1968
• Whisky A Go Go, 1968 (2024), with different lyrics, as Plastic People, performed in Los Angeles, CA, July 23, 1968
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1 (1988), with different lyrics, as Plastic People, performed in The Bronx, February 28, 1969
  • same version on You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Sampler (1988) as Plastic People
• BTB II: Tengo Na Minchia Tanta (1992), mentioned at the intro of What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening, performed in New York, NY, November 1970
• The Roxy Performances (2018), as Orgy, Orgy, performed in Los Angeles, CA, December 8, 1973
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 3 (1989), requested by the audience before Dickie's Such An Asshole, performed in Los Angeles, CA, December 8-10, 1973
• Apostrophe (') 50th Anniversary Edition (2024), quoted in Dupree's Paradise Intro, performed in Colorado Springs, CO, March 21, 1974
• BTB I: Unmitigated Audacity (1991), as Louie Louie, performed in South Bend, IN, May 12, 1974
• One Size Fits All (1975), quoted in Florentine Pogen, performed in LA, August 7, 1974
  • same version, basic track, on The Dub Room Special! (2007) as Florentine Pogen
    • same version on The Dub Room Special! (video) (1982) as part of Florentine Pogen
    • same version on A Token Of His Extreme (2013) as Florentine Pogen
    • same version on A Token Of His Extreme Soundtrack (2013) as Florentine Pogen
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2 (1988), quoted by the percussion at the end of Dupree's Paradise, performed in Helsinki, Finland, September 22-23, 1974
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1 (1988), with improvised lyrics, as Ruthie-Ruthie, performed in New Jersey, November 8, 1974
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4 (1991), quoted in Smell My Beard, performed in New Jersey, November 8, 1974
• Bongo Fury (1975), quoted at the end of Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top, performed in Austin, TX, May 1975
• Studio Tan (1978), quoted somewhere in The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary, recorded at The Record Plant, January 3-14, 1975
  • same version on Läther (1996) as The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary
• BTB I: Saarbrücken 1978 (1991), quoted in Magic Fingers, performed in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 3, 1978
• Chicago '78 (2016), quoted in Magic Fingers, performed in Chicago, IL, September 29, 1978
• Halloween (2003), quoted in Magic Fingers, performed in New York, NY, October 1978
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4 (1991), quoted in Florentine Pogen, performed in London, UK, February 18, 1979
• BTB I: Anyway The Wind Blows (1991), quoted in Florentine Pogen, performed in Paris, France, February 24, 1979
• You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6 (1992), quoted in Magic Fingers, performed in Berkeley, CA, December 5, 1980
• Broadway The Hard Way (1988), quoted in Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk, performed in Portland, ME, March 15, 1988
  • same version on Understanding America (2012) as Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk
• The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life (1991), quoted in When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, performed in Binghamton, NY, March 17, 1988
• Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show (2021), quoted in Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk, performed in Uniondale, NY, March 25, 1988
• The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life (1991), quoted in Florentine Pogen, performed in Strasbourg, France, May 23, 1988
• The Yellow Shark (1993), quoted in Welcome To The United States, performed in Europe, September 1992

 

Tour(s) on which song is known to have been performed (main source: FZShows, v. 7.1)

• September-October 1967 (1st MOI European Tour)—known performances: 1
• October 1967-August 1968 (MOI)—known performances: 1
• November 1968-May 1969 (MOI)—known performances: 1
• May-August 1969 (MOI)—known performances: 4
• May 1970 (MOI Reunion)—known performances: 1
• May-July 1971 (MOI)—known performances: 1
• October-December 1973 (MOI)—known performances: 2 ("Brian Brian"); known quotations: 1
• April-May 1974 (MOI 10th Anniversary Tour)—known performances: 1
• September-October 1974 (MOI European Tour)—known quotations: 6
• October-December 1974 (MOI)—known performances: 1 ("Ruthie Ruthie"); known quotations: 2
• April-May 1975 (MOI with Captain Beefheart)—known quotations: 1
• September 1975 (Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra)—known quotations: 1
• September-December 1975 (MOI)—known quotations: 3
• January-March 1976 (MOI Pacific & European Tour)—known quotations: 1
• September-December 1977 (North America)—known quotations: 1
• January-February 1978 (Europe)—known quotations: 1
• March-May 1980 (North America)—known quotations: 8
• May-July 1980 (Europe)—known quotations: 3
• October-December 1980 (North America)—known quotations: 1
• May-July 1982 (Europe)—known quotations: 1
• February-March 1988 (North America)—known quotations: 1

 

Comments

An interesting article from louielouie.net:

• Frank Zappa and "LOUIE LOUIE"

Foggy G, "The Songs That Were Played," We're Only In It For The Touring

1973-74: Need I explain everything? (Only performed once.) [Well, I guess I should explain everything, so Jon Naurin adds..."...with alternated lyrics, a la "Ruthie Ruthie". This time it's about the sound engineer Brian (i.e "Brian, Brian"—cf. YCDTOSA #1 just before "Babette"—nice CC there!). The echoey hall prevents me from hearing the words though."]

1974 (May): Exactly performed as on "Unmitigated Audacity" from Beat the Boots Volume I, with this performance being the only one from this tour.

1974 (Jul-Dec): Yes, it pops its teenage head up once again. Just Frank being Frank, so whether it be as a stand alone song, or incorporated within another tune, "Louie Louie" made its requisite appearance.

RUTHIE RUTHIE- A one time only performance (11/8), represented in all its glory on YCDTOSA I. At the request of an audience member, Frank decides to play "Louie Louie", conceding to all in attendance that they might as well play it since they are "only in Passaic". Ruth begins the festivities with a short percussion rendition of the tune, before we get the full blown "Ruthie Ruthie" version.