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.
The Gypsy Cried
Lou Christie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I had my fortune read
I had some trouble with my baby
And this is what the gypsy said
The gypsy cried, she cried
Gypsy, oh tell me, what is in your crystal ball
She cried, she cried and said
Watch your step, oooh she'll hurt you yet
Oh no no no no no no no
Watch your step, oooh she'll hurt you yet
Oh no no no no no no no
Gypsy, oh tell me, does she want to marry me
Gypsy, oh tell me, when the wedding's gonna be
She cried, she cried
Listen to what the gypsy said
Oh no no no no no no no
Listen to what the gypsy said
Oh no no no no no no no
Gypsy, say it isn't true
Watch out, oooh she doesn't love you
Watch out, oooh she doesn't love you
Gypsy, say it isn't true
Lou Christie's "The Gypsy Cried" is a song that tells the story of a man who, after having trouble with his girlfriend, turns to a Gypsy fortune teller to find out what the future holds in store for him. The lyrics are expressive and emotional, depicting the man's desperation and anxiety about his relationship. The chorus of the song, "The gypsy cried, she cried", emphasizes the sadness of the situation and the man's sense of helplessness.
The lyrics of the song reveal the intense emotional turmoil that is common in young relationships. The man is worried about his girlfriend's intentions and whether she truly loves him or not. He is seeking reassurance and guidance from the Gypsy, hoping that she will provide some insight into his future. The Gypsy's warnings, "Watch your step, she'll hurt you yet", add to the sense of tension and foreboding that pervades the song.
One interpretation of the lyrics is that they represent the fear and uncertainty that often comes with falling in love. The Gypsy serves as a symbol of the unknown future, and the man's desperate pleas for answers reflect the anxiety and insecurity that many people feel in the early stages of a relationship. The repeated refrain of "Oh no no no no no no no" adds to the feeling of unease and suggests that the man's fears are not easily dispelled.
Line by Line Meaning
I had some trouble with my baby
My significant other and I are having difficulties in our relationship
So I had my fortune read
I sought guidance from a fortune teller to help with my relationship problems
And this is what the gypsy said
The fortune teller, or gypsy, gave me advice after examining my future
The gypsy cried, she cried
The gypsy showed a lot of emotion while giving her advice
Gypsy, oh tell me, what is in your crystal ball
I asked the fortune teller what she saw in her crystal ball about my future
Gypsy, oh tell me, will my tears fall
I asked the fortune teller if my future includes me experiencing sadness
She cried, she cried and said
The fortune teller responded with a tone of emotion and urgency
Watch your step, oooh she'll hurt you yet
Be careful in your relationship because she will likely cause you emotional harm in the future
Gypsy, oh tell me, does she want to marry me
I asked the fortune teller if my significant other has intentions of marrying me
Gypsy, oh tell me, when the wedding's gonna be
I inquired with the fortune teller about the timing of a potential future wedding with my significant other
Listen to what the gypsy said
I am emphasizing the importance of the fortune teller's advice to me
Gypsy, say it isn't true
I am hoping that the fortune teller's prediction about my relationship is incorrect
Watch out, oooh she doesn't love you
I was warned to be cautious of my significant other because she doesn't truly love me
Gypsy, say it isn't true
I am continuing to hope that the fortune teller is wrong about my situation
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: LOU SACCO, TWYLA HERBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mycatalby630
I’m 74 and I love his music and remember all of it. He was amazing. Love the sixties music. If there was ever a Time Machine I’d go back. Great singers. 💜
@MrJoeyBoombotz
The best falsetto of all time, singer/song songwriter, excellent live performer and most underrated talent in all of Rock and Roll. His hits were the background music of my growing up in Aliquippa and Ambridge, PA. I was always very proud of him and his success. Too bad the area never really recognized him and his contributions to music. I remember in February of 1966 when Lightning Strikes passed up "Sounds of Silence" for #1. Thanks for the memories Lou and Twyla!!!
@freedintime
He was really cute, too. He must've had lousy management that he never became a teenager heartthrob!
@speedviper47
This gives me goosebumps, still after all these years. Lou Christie, sang about many of the things that many of us grew up with. I'm 74, an oldies DJ and aficionado of 50's and 60's music. Doesn't get any better than music from this era.
@jgordainc
Both Lou Christie and Frankie Valli had the gift of singing in different voices, and making a Great song!
@doctorfeinstone6524
And del shannon and Brian Wilson
@sanddollars23
This guy was so fabulous "" I'm so old school , still listening - age 72 still can't get enough ! LOL"
@mr.lambfriesesq.8540
Mr. Dollars, I agree with you 150%! I'm 73, grew up in san francisco with music that was, well.. MUSIC! It actually made sense back then. Great tunes. Now if I can make it another 10-15 years. The music helps smooth out the wrinkles. Enjoy!
@martyrezac9037
Meeee tooooo !!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭--😳😳😳😳😳😳
@bobscorpion9722
I'm 56 and I love it!!!