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.
Outside the Gates of Heaven
Lou Christie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Outside, outside, outside, outside
When the angels looked down, they saw you walk away
They knew you hurt me more and more each day
So don't leave me, leave me, leave me all alone
Leave me, leave me, leave me all alone
Outsi yi yi yi yi yi yide, outside the gates of heaven
When the angels looked down, they knew my fate
They cried and cried and cried when you closed the gate
If you'd only say "Be my, be my baby"
I'd be right there by your side (inside, inside, inside)
Running home (running) to catch you
The gates will open up wide
Outsi yi yi yi yi yi yide, outside the gates of heaven
Outsi yi yi yi yi yi yide, outside the gates of heaven
Outside, yes I'm outside, oh and all alone (heaven)
Lou Christie's song "Outside the Gates of Heaven" features the singer expressing his deep longing for love and acceptance from his partner. The opening phrase, "Where is heaven? (In your heart) / Outside, outside, outside, outside," suggests that the singer feels excluded from their partner's heart, and this exclusion has left them feeling lost and disoriented. The repetition of "outside" creates a feeling of being left out in the cold, of being excluded from the warmth and comfort of the singer's partner.
The singer then goes on to describe how the angels, who are often seen as protectors and messengers from God, witnessed the partner walk away from the singer, causing them pain and devastation. The line, "They knew you hurt me more and more each day," highlights the singer's feelings of betrayal and hurt. The plea to be left alone is a common response to emotional pain, but it's clear the singer still craves the love and affection of their partner, as evidenced by the repeated refrain, "Leave me, leave me, leave me all alone / Outsi yi yi yi yi yi yide, outside the gates of heaven."
The final lines of the song express hope that the singer's partner will reciprocate their love and open up the gates of heaven to let them inside. "If you'd only say 'Be my, be my baby' / I'd be right there by your side (inside, inside, inside) / Running home (running) to catch you / The gates will open up wide" suggest that the singer believes that their love is worth fighting for, and that their partner will eventually come around to loving and accepting them.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is heaven? (In your heart)
Heaven can be found within one's heart and is not a physical place.
Outside, outside, outside, outside
The singer is outside the gates of heaven, separated and unable to enter.
When the angels looked down, they saw you walk away
The angels witnessed the singer's lover departing, causing them to feel hurt.
They knew you hurt me more and more each day
The artist's lover was causing them increasing emotional pain over time.
So don't leave me, leave me, leave me all alone
The artist does not want to be left alone without their lover.
Outsi yi yi yi yi yi yide, outside the gates of heaven
Reiterating that the singer is separated from their lover and outside of heaven.
When the angels looked down, they knew my fate
The angels knew that the singer was destined to be separated from their lover.
They cried and cried and cried when you closed the gate
The angels were emotional when the gates of heaven closed and the artist was left outside.
If you'd only say "Be my, be my baby"
If the lover were to express affection for the artist, they would respond happily.
I'd be right there by your side (inside, inside, inside)
If the lover expressed affection, the artist would be able to join them within the gates of heaven.
Running home (running) to catch you
The singer wants to catch up to their lover and join them in heaven.
The gates will open up wide
If the lover expressed affection, the gates of heaven would open and the artist would be able to enter.
Outside, yes I'm outside, oh and all alone (heaven)
Reiterating that the singer is outside the gates of heaven, separated and alone without their lover.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LOU CHRISTIE, TWYLA HERBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sharonkopronica5925
Forgot about this one. Good to hear it again.
@francescoblefari7494
Wow!
So many people that live this music.
Mr. Christie, your voice wow!
@crissieivie9918
I could dance to this forever!!!
@gorgonique
My top Lou song. We're still off into our world of fabulous strange, me glued to my little 8-transistor radio, a half century ago, hearing someone just like me.
@BAMP75
I must have been the female version of you!! Transistor radios meant we were rich! lmbo!!! The good ole days.. awe fond memories!
@Soviet1332
Lou Christie was the last singer to continue old school Rock n Roll in 1966
@johnnyborealis
best song ever!
@Banderuola66-Szonja
Omg, also this one is new to me !! What a cutie Oldie !! Love it !!! WOW your uploads make me smile sooo much !!! Enjoyed it very much. Thank You and Big Happy Thumbs Up !!!
@martinpedersen8129
wow i bought this in jan 66 with nowhere man in a 45prm-lov lou
@maryrawson4324
What a great song....