One year after Stu Phillips recorded a spectacularly soporific reading of “Tired of Waiting for You,” The Sandpipers released a similarly sluggish take on the garage rock classic, “Louie Louie” — it, too, makes me laugh:

“Louie Louie”     The Sandpipers     1966

Released as a 45 and sequenced as the opening track on side two of their debut LP.

Were Stu Phillips and The Sandpipers part of a mid-60s “torp pop” trend?

What’s in a Name?

The Sandpipers, whose 1966 debut A&M 45, “Guantanamera” was a Top 10 smash, had unknowingly appropriated the same name as a trio of Pensacola, Florida girls who enjoyed musical backing from a young Duane & Gregg Allman (as The Allman Joys) when they auditioned for Columbia in 1965 with Bob Dylan’s producer, Bob Johnston.  Spectropop has the back story – with photos.