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.
Rhapsody in the Rain
Lou Christie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lonely rhapsody 'cause on our first date
We were makin' out in the rain
And in this car our love went much too far
It was exciting as thunder
Tonight I wonder where you are
The windshield wipers seemed to say
"Together - together - together - together"
And now they are saying
"Oh, ne...ver, ne...ver"
Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, baby
[Chorus]
Rhapsody in the rain
Rhapsody in the rain
Angels keep cryin' for me (don't... stop)
Angels keep cryin' for me (don't... stop)
Baby, I'm parked outside your door
Remember makin' love, makin' love, we were makin' love in the storm
(sha-la-la-la la-la)
Refrain 2:
And then a flash from above
Lightning - lightning - lightning - lightning
Just li-ike our love
It was exciting, exciting
Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, baby
[repeat chorus]
Bridge:
guitar solo:
Yesterday, bring back yesterday
[repeat chorus]
Coda:
Rhapsody in the rain
Lou Christie's "Rhapsody in the Rain" is a nostalgic song about a passionate love affair that took place in the rain. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the lovers making out in a car during a storm, with the raindrops and windshield wipers providing the background music to their passion. The chorus speaks to the intensity of the relationship, with "angels keep cryin' for me" suggesting that their love was so overwhelming that even the heavens took notice.
The song's main theme is the power of love to bring people together despite the circumstances. Rain is typically seen as a symbol of sadness and melancholy. However, in the song, it is used as a metaphor for the passionate and intense emotions that exist between the two lovers. The imagery of the rain helps to create a dreamy, romantic atmosphere that sets the mood for the song.
Overall, "Rhapsody in the Rain" is a classic love song that captures the passion and intensity of a relationship that defies the odds. It reminds us that love can be found in the most unexpected places and that it has the power to transform our lives completely.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby the raindrops play for me
The sound of the raindrops feels like a musical piece to me
A lonely rhapsody 'cause on our first date
The sound of the rain feels lonely because it reminds me of our first date
We were makin' out in the rain
We were kissing passionately in the rain
And in this car our love went much too far
We got carried away in our love while being in the car
It was exciting as thunder
The feeling of love was as thrilling as the sound of thunder
Tonight I wonder where you are
I am thinking about you tonight and wondering where you are now
The windshield wipers seemed to say
The sound of the windshield wipers felt like they were talking to me
"Together - together - together - together"
"We were together and in love"
And now they are saying
But now the sound of the wipers feels different
"Oh, ne...ver, ne...ver"
"It seems like we will never be together again"
Baby, I'm parked outside your door
I'm outside your door, waiting for you
Remember makin' love, makin' love, we were makin' love in the storm
Do you remember us having sex in the storm?
And then a flash from above
Suddenly there was lightning
Lightning - lightning - lightning - lightning
It felt like the lightning was trying to tell us something
Just li-ike our love
Like our love, it was thrilling and exciting
It was exciting, exciting
It was really thrilling
Yesterday, bring back yesterday
I wish I could go back to the past and relive our memories
Rhapsody in the rain
Our love in the rain felt like music to me
Angels keep cryin' for me (don't... stop)
I feel like the angels are crying for our lost love
Angels keep cryin' for me (don't... stop)
I still feel the sadness of our broken love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LOU CHRISTIE, TWYLA HERBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlrudd1858
This is a tour de force of 60's rock. Nobody today can touch it, in terms of pure spine-tingling teen angst genius.
@marionroberts8242
My now husband and I, in 1966, dating, graduating high school with Viet Nam hanging over our heads...teen angst doesn't begin to describe it.
@BrianWilsonFan66
The backing vocals still send chills up my spine. What great pop records he made. I need to look up who wrote and produced his songs. Just great.
@JoyneFreedom
Written by songwriting team Lou Christie and his friend Twyla Herbert. Produced and arranged by the legendary Charles Callelo, also known as the "Hit Man."
@GregBanish-so6zt
Lou was introduced to Twyla when he was 15 and she was 35
@DucksDeLucks
I really love Lou Christie's melodies and his voice and style. He has a truly unique voice.
@newhotman1001
This song was banned on many radio stations the spring of 1966. He re-recorded the song but some stations played the original version. In Lansing, MI the stations played the original version and we were happy for it. This is a great song by a great singer.
@tenderpawsm473
The cleaned up version still describes making love in a storm. So the re-recording was a little cleaner, but not by that much.
@figmo397
In the Philadelphia market they also played the original version.
@paulwilliams419
I loved how his falsetto voice blended in with those of his female backup singers!