Sacco was born in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania[1] and raised in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sacco traveled to New York after graduating from Moon Area High School and found work as a session vocalist.
His sister Susan Christie had a minor hit with the novelty song "I Love Onions", which peaked at #63 on the Hot 100 in 1966.
Robbee and Roulette: 1961-1963
Sacco also recorded a few unsuccessful discs of his own for various record labels in both New York and Pittsburgh, most notably "The Jury" (as by "Lugee & The Lions") on the Pittsburgh-based Robbee label, which achieved local success. "The Gypsy Cried" features the vocal style that would characterize all of Christie's biggest hits: verses sung in his normal register, and then a dramatic shift to his falsetto on the choruses. That song was released in 1962 on the tiny C&C label and unexpectedly credited to 'Lou Christie' without Sacco's permission. Sacco had been working on a list of potential stage names, and he has stated that he hated the name for decades afterwards: "I was pissed off about it for 20 years. I wanted to keep my name and be a one-named performer, just 'Lugee'."
After the C&C release became a Pittsburgh hit, "The Gypsy Cried" was picked up by Roulette Records and charted nationwide, peaking at #24, selling over one million copies, and receiving a gold disc. "The Gypsy Cried" was the first of numerous songs Christie co-wrote with his songwriting partner Twyla Herbert, a self-described eccentric and mystic, who was over twenty years older than Christie but also shared his love of classical music. The two struck up a working relationship after Christie auditioned for her at the age of 15 and began a lifelong friendship which ended only with her death in 2009.
Christie's follow-up single, "Two Faces Have I" in March 1963, was an even bigger hit, peaking at #6 and also selling over a million copies. He joined Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars Tour. A third Roulette release, "How Many Teardrops" (written by Milan), stalled at #46 as Christie's career was temporarily derailed by his induction into the U.S. Army. (A copy of "How Many Teardrops" is included on the Milan compilation album Hell Bent for Leather.) Christie would not have another charting single for two and a half years.
Re-establishment and Rhapsody: 1965-1966
While a stint in the military might have ended the careers of many musicians, Christie's career was quickly re-established after his discharge when he signed with the MGM label. MGM reportedly disliked Christie's first single for the label, with MGM's president reportedly throwing the tape into a wastepaper basket. But Christie's new management promoted the record in California, and when it gained some traction (eventually reaching #2 on KHJ the last two weeks of 1965), MGM released it. "Lightnin' Strikes" reached #1 in the U.S. on Christie's 23rd birthday on February 19, 1966; entered the UK Top 20, becoming his first hit in that country; and peaked at number one in Canada.
But Christie's next release would ignite a firestorm of controversy and censorship. Released in the spring of 1966, "Rhapsody In The Rain" featured a haunting melody inspired by Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet", telling of a teenager's regret over his sexual experience in the back seat of a car during a rainstorm as the windshield wipers made a rhythmic sound of "together, together".[citation needed] Later after the romance ends, the wipers seem to say "never, never".[citation needed] Many radio stations banned the song, and MGM insisted on a re-recorded version that toned down the lyrical content.[citation needed] Despite the edited version, many stations instead played two older songs re-released by other labels Christie had once recorded for: "Outside the Gates of Heaven" (on Co & Ce Records, a successor to C&C) peaked at #45, while "Big Time" (on Colpix Records) managed to hit #95. All three singles hit nationally within three weeks of one another, in March 1966, while "Lightnin' Strikes" was falling off.
Whether it was the controversial lyrics or competition from the other singles released simultaneously, "Rhapsody" only managed to hit #16 in the U.S. and #37 in the UK. Christie's career seemed to be derailed once again as his followup for MGM, "Painter", which also borrowed a melody from classical music - this time from Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly - stalled at #81. Two further MGM releases (produced by Jack Nitzsche) from 1966 missed the Billboard Hot 100 entirely, even though "If My Car Could Only Talk" (peaking at #118) seemingly revisits the ill-fated lovers from Rhapsody.
Resurgence and Romeo: 1969-1970
After being dropped by MGM and an unfruitful stint with Columbia Records in the late 1960s, Christie teamed up with Buddah Records (a move prompted by his business manager Stan Polley) and bubblegum music record producer Tony Romeo and had a surprise Wall of Sound constant uptempo hit "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" (which Romeo wrote) in the early autumn of 1969. Helped by two promotional videos distinctly different from each other, the song peaked at #10 in the U.S. but across the Atlantic climbed to #2 on the UK Singles Chart and thus became his biggest hit there. A follow up, "She Sold Me Magic" charted only in the UK, peaking at #25, and was later covered by Elton John. Conversely, "Are You Getting Any Sunshine?" only charted in America, where it reached #73.
Recoveries and Remakes: 1971 to present
Christie spent the early 1970s in London, largely outside of the music industry and battling drug addiction. In 1971 he released a concept album called Paint America Love and was married in London to former UK beauty queen Francesca Winfield. In 1974, Christie would try another new musical style, going country on his Beyond The Blue Horizon album. The title track, a remake of a hit song from 1930, written for the film Monte Carlo, features one of Christie's strongest non-falsetto vocal performances.[citation needed] The song missed the Country charts entirely, and only made #80 on the pop chart, but managed a respectable showing at #12 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song has been used in several film soundtracks, most notably in 1988's Rain Man.
After getting clean at a London drug rehabilitation clinic, he dropped out of the music industry, working variously as a ranch hand, offshore oil driller and carnival barker.[1]
Christie became active on the oldies circuit starting in the early 1980s, even scoring a final U.S. chart hit, credited as "Summer '81 medley" by The Cantina Band (featuring Lou Christie), in 1981 - and, coincidentally, peaking at #81, performing a medley of Beach Boys classics. In 1999 Christie recorded his first all-new album since the 1970s entitled Pledging My Love. In 2004 Christie released his first concert album, Greatest Hits Live From The Bottom Line, which featured studio recording "Christmas In New York" as a bonus track. In addition to the occasional new release, Christie remains a popular concert act on the oldies circuit in the U.S. and UK. He has also hosted a series of programs on SiriusXM radio for the 60's channel.
Lightnin’ Strikes
Lou Christie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're old enough to know the makings of a man (ma-me-aah, ooh)
Listen to me, baby, it's hard to settle down (ma-me-aah, ooh)
Am I asking too much for you to stick around (ma-me-aah, ooh)
Every boy wants a girl
He can trust to the very end
Baby, that's you
When I see lips beggin' to be kissed (stop)
I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself (stop, stop)
Lightning is striking again
Lightning is striking again
Nature's takin' over my one-track mind (ma-me-aah, ooh)
Believe it or not, you're in my heart all the time (ma-me-aah, ooh)
All the girls are sayin' that you'll end up a fool (ma-me-aah, ooh)
For the time being, baby, live by my rules (ma-me-aah, ooh)
When I settle down
I want one baby on my mind
Forgive and forget
And I'll make up for all lost time
If she's put together fine and she's readin' my mind (stop)
I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself (stop, stop)
Lightning is striking again
Lightning is striking again and again and again and again
(Ma-me-aah, ooh)
(Ma-me-aah, ooh)
(Ma-me-aah, ooh)
Lightning is striking again
Lightning is striking again
There's a chapel in the pines
Waiting for us around the bend
Picture in your mind
Love forever, but 'til then
If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time (stop)
I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself (stop, stop)
Lightning is striking again
Lightning is striking again and again and again and again
Lightning is striking again and again and again and again
The song "Lightnin' Strikes" by Lou Christie is a ballad about a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman and wants her to stay with him forever. The song begins with the man asking his love interest to understand that he is ready to settle down and to stick around. He then goes on to say that he wants a girl he can trust to the very end, but she should wait until he is settled down. He confesses that he can't stop himself when he sees lips begging to be kissed, but in the end, he wants one baby on his mind when he settles down.
Throughout the song, the man is convinced that he is in love with this woman and feels that she is always in his heart. He is aware that other girls are saying that she will end up a fool, but for the time being, he wants her to live by his rules. He then talks about a chapel in the pines where they will get married and live happily ever after. However, if the woman shows that she wants to make time, he can't stop himself, and Lightning Strikes again. The song ends with the man being struck by lightning again and again and again.
Overall, the song is about a man consumed by his love for a woman, and he is willing to wait for her, settle down with her, and have her on his mind forever. The lightning strikes refer to the electric attraction he feels towards the woman.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to me, baby, you gotta understand
I need to talk to you and have you comprehend what I'm trying to say.
You're old enough to know the makings of a man
You have enough life experience to understand what men desire.
Listen to me, baby, it's hard to settle down
It's difficult to commit and be content with only one person.
Am I asking too much for you to stick around
Is it too much for me to ask you to remain with me?
Every boy wants a girl
All boys desire a female companion and partner.
He can trust to the very end
A person they can rely on and trust entirely.
Baby, that's you
You're the person I can trust till the end of time.
Won't you wait but 'til then
Please wait for me until I'm ready and able to settle down with one person.
When I see lips beggin' to be kissed (stop)
When I see someone who appears to want to kiss me... (stop)
I can't stop (stop)
I can't help myself from giving in to temptation... (stop)
I can't stop myself
I cannot resist acting on my impulses.
Lightning is striking again
I'm feeling an intense attraction to someone once more.
Nature's takin' over my one-track mind
My mind is focused solely on my natural impulses and desires.
Believe it or not, you're in my heart all the time
You're always on my mind and in my heart even when I give in to my impulses.
All the girls are sayin' that you'll end up a fool
Other women are warning me to be cautious of you and not be blinded by my infatuation.
For the time being, baby, live by my rules
For now, please follow my lead and expectations.
When I settle down
When I'm ready to commit fully and be faithful...
I want one baby on my mind
I want to focus solely on one person.
Forgive and forget
Let's put our past mistakes behind us.
And I'll make up for all lost time
I'll make it up to you for any time we've lost due to our past mistakes.
If she's put together fine
If she's attractive and put together well...
And she's readin' my mind (stop)
And it seems like she knows exactly what I want... (stop)
I can't stop (stop)
I can't resist acting on my impulses... (stop)
Lightning is striking again
I'm once again feeling an intense attraction to someone.
There's a chapel in the pines
There's a romantic location in the woods surrounded by trees...
Waiting for us around the bend
A location that's meant for us to discover together.
Picture in your mind
Imagine how special it'll be when we find that place.
Love forever, but 'til then
We'll be in love forever but until then...
If she gives me a sign
If she appears to want to engage in a sexual activity and shows me a sign...
That she wants to make time (stop)
That she's ready and eager to act on her impulses... (stop)
I can't stop (stop)
I won't be able to resist acting on my impulses... (stop)
Lightning is striking again
I'm once more feeling intense sexual attraction to someone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LOU CHRISTIE, TWYLA HERBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karenpequignot6602
My late husband would always sing it to me...even though he has been gone for 25 years I still to this day go back to the days of laughter and this song
@randyrichards6124
Karen, God bless your sweet heart!
@louchristie3182
Hello Thanks for your comment and supports, your comments and constant support has brought me this far. Keep Supporting ❤️
Please send me a mail via louchristie157@gmail.com...............
@dianemeadows6722
Songs back then so different from those today. They moved your heart and had sweet meaning.
@victoriagambardella7136
That's romantic!
@danielmcfadzean7735
God bless
@michaeldavis6607
This was my Dads generation but I use my phone Bluetooth and crank this up in my car all the time and sing falsetto with Lou. I love it.
@motowngirl5891
No matter what year it is
These songs will never be OLD
@FelisaMontenegro
Same- my parents generation. I blast this music ❤️
@kmsc2055
I'm quite young for this era, but I have trouble imagining that we ever really beat vocals like this since? This is something incredible.