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Decoding "Louie, Louie."

Rock and roll critic Dave Marsh talks about the song "Louie, Louie". He's written a book about it called, "Louie, Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n' Roll Song: Including the Full Details of Its Torture and Persecution at the Hands of the Kingsmen, J. Edgar Hoover's F.B.I., and a Cast of Millions; and Introducing, for the First Time Anywhere, the Actual Dirty Lyrics." (Hyperion) The song was written by Richard Berry in 1957...as a tale of a lovesick Jamaican sailor. When the Kingsmen recorded it in 1957, the lyrics were incomprehensible and mistaken for being dirty. It set off a series of events that Marsh details in his book.

16:29
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Other segments from the episode on August 10, 1993

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, August 10, 1993: Interview with Buddy Guy; Interview with Dave Marsh; Review of the book "Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales."
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22:14

Chicago-Based Blues Guitarist Buddy Guy.

Chicago-based blues guitarist Buddy Guy. Eric Clapton has called his "by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive." Guy was born in Louisiana, son of a sharecropper. He moved to Chicago in the late fifties and played with all the greats...including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Junior Wells. Guy's now having a comeback. Guy has a new album, "Feels Like Rain." (Silvertone), which follows his Grammy-winning release, "Damn Right I've Got the Blues."

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04:03

Modern Fairy Tales Are as Potent as the Old.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews the "Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales," edited by Alison Lurie. It includes 40 fairy tales written during the last century and a half by British and American writers.(Oxford University Press).

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

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11:18

Adding Blacks and Women Back Into the History of Rock.

Rock critic Dave Marsh. Marsh is one of rock's most influential voices. He edited the Rolling Stone Record Guide and has written profiles of Bruce Springsteen and the Who. Marsh's new book is "The Heart of Rock and Roll: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made."

Interview
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28:03

Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days"

Dave Marsh is a friend and biographer of the New Jersey rock star. He explains how Springsteen's work has matured, and the impact the artist's albums have had on the songwriter's fans.

Interview
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53:22

A Rock Critic on The Who

By focusing on one legendary band, Dave Marsh's new book explores how the public personas of rock bands are cultivated, and how these affect the personal lives of working musicians.

Interview

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