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
Lou Christie's hit song "Lightnin' Strikes" describes a young man's desire and struggle with commitment to a girl he's attracted to. He urges her to understand that he's reaching a stage where he wants to settle down and have a meaningful relationship, but he also acknowledges that his desire for physical intimacy with her is overpowering, represented by the repeated line "Lightning is striking again and again." The chorus is made up of the metaphorical imagery of natural disaster to describe the increasing intensity of his feelings of infatuation for the girl, effectively conveying to listeners just how strong the emotions depicted in the song are.
The lyrics continue to express that he wants his girl to trust him and wait for him, emphasizing his loyalty and love. There are other girls who criticize the girl he's attracted to, warning her that she may end up as a "fool" by staying with him, but he insists that for the time being, she should live by his rules, suggesting that he has her best interests in mind. There's a suggestion that they could embark on a lifelong relationship together, as the lyrics mention a "chapel in the pines" waiting for them in the future.
One interesting fact about the song is that the opening harmony was inspired by the real-life sounds of car foghorns honking in the dead of night near Lou Christie's home in Pennsylvania. The song was recorded in 1966 and became an immediate hit, rising to the top of the charts and remaining there for weeks, selling several million copies worldwide. Despite being known mainly for "Lightnin' Strikes" and a handful of other hits, Lou Christie has had an enduring career in the music industry, inspiring countless other artists with his unique sound and style.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to me, baby, you gotta understand
I need you to pay attention to me and comprehend what I'm saying
You're old enough to know the makings of a man
You're of age to understand what qualities a man should possess
Listen to me, baby, it's hard to settle down
It's difficult for me to commit to one person
Am I asking too much for you to stick around
Is it unreasonable to request for you to stay with me?
Every boy wants a girl
All men desire a woman
He can trust to the very end
One who is dependable and loyal
Baby, that's you
You possess those admirable qualities
Won't you wait but 'til then?
Can you hold out until I'm ready?
When I see lips beggin' to be kissed (stop)
When I see someone who looks like they want to be kissed
I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself (stop, stop)
I am powerless to resist the urge to kiss them
Lightning is striking again
I am once again feeling intense attraction towards someone
Nature's takin' over my one-track mind (ma-me-aah, ooh)
My thoughts are consumed with desire
Believe it or not, you're in my heart all the time (ma-me-aah, ooh)
Whether you know it or not, you have a special place in my heart
All the girls are sayin' that you'll end up a fool (ma-me-aah, ooh)
Other women are warning you against being with me
For the time being, baby, live by my rules (ma-me-aah, ooh)
For now, please follow my lead
When I settle down
If and when I am ready to commit
I want one baby on my mind
I only want one woman in my thoughts
Forgive and forget
Pardon my past mistakes and let's move on
And I'll make up for all lost time
I'll make it up to you for any time that has been wasted
If she's put together fine and she's readin' my mind (stop)
If she's attractive and seems to be interested in me
Lightning is striking again
I'm feeling struck by love or desire once more
There's a chapel in the pines
There's a wedding venue among the trees
Waiting for us around the bend
It's waiting for us in the near future
Picture in your mind
Imagine it in your thoughts
Love forever, but 'til then
Our love will last forever, but we must wait until the right time
If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time (stop)
If she hints that she wants to spend time with me
Lightning is striking again and again and again and again
I'm experiencing intense attraction repeatedly
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