Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco (born February 19, 1943), known professionally… Read Full Bio ↴Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco (born February 19, 1943), known professionally as Lou Christie, is an American singer-songwriter best known for three separate strings of pop hits in the 1960s, including "Two Faces Have I" and "Lightnin' Strikes" and his incredible 3 octave vocal range.

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.

You Were the One
Lou Christie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got chills.
They're multiplyin'.
And I'm losin' control.
Cause the power
You're suplyin',
It's electrifyin'!

You better shape up,

'cause I need a man
And my heart is set on you.
You better shape up;
You better understand
To my heart I must be true.

Nothin' left, nothin' left for me to do.

You're the one that I want.
(you are the one I want), o,o, oo, honey.
The one that I want.
(you are the one I want), o,o,oo, honey.
The one that I want
You, o,o, oo
Are what I need.
Oh, yes indeed.

If you're filled
With affection
You're to shy to convey,
Meditate in my direction.
Feel your way.

I better shape up,
Cause you need a man
I need a man
Who can keep me satisfied.
I better shape up
If I'm gonna prove
Oh you better prove
That my faith is justified.

Are you sure? Yes, I'm sure down deep inside.

You're the one that I want.
You, o,o, oo, honey.
The one that I want.
You, o,o,oo, honey.
The one that I want
You, oo, oo

Are what I need.
Oh, yes indeed.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lou Christie's song "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" tell the story of a determined lover who will stop at nothing to win the object of their affection over. The first verse sets the tone with the lines "I'll try every trick in the book, with every step that you take, everywhere that you look." This shows that the singer is going to be relentless in their pursuit, trying every method possible to get through to the person they desire. The line "I'll try to get to your soul, I'll try to get to your mind" indicates that they understand that it won't be an easy feat, and that they will need to connect with the person on a deeper level to get through to them.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'm gonna make you mine" several times, emphasizing the determination and persistence of the singer. The line "I know I'll never give up, I'm at the end of my rope" shows that they have been trying for a while already, but they are willing to go the distance to make their love interest theirs.

The second verse goes even further, with lines like "I'll be waiting in line" and "I'll be a hard-lovin', pushin' kind of individual." This shows that the singer is willing to be patient and persistent, but they are also not afraid to be forceful if needed. Overall, the lyrics to "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" paint a picture of a determined lover who will stop at nothing to make their love interest theirs.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll try every trick in the book
I am determined to use every method at my disposal

With every step that you take, everywhere that you look
I will be closely following and observing you

Just look and you'll find
I will be easily found, always present in your surroundings

I'll try to get to your soul, I'll try to get to your mind
My goal is to not only gain your affection, but also your deeper emotional and mental connection

I'm gonna make you mine
I am fully committed to winning your heart

I know I'll never give up, I'm at the end of my rope
I will never stop trying, even if it means my own emotional exhaustion

From the morning till suppertime, you'll find
Throughout the entire day, I will be present and persistent in my pursuit

I'll be waiting in line, I'll be waiting in line
I am willing to wait patiently for my chance to win you over

I'll be a hard-lovin', pushin' kind of individual
I will be intense and passionate in my approach to winning your affection

Knockin' night and day at your door
I will not stop pursuing you, even in the face of rejection or obstacles

You'll have to turn me away like an indestructible force
My persistence and determination will be so strong that it will be difficult for you to reject me outright

Baby, I'm gonna make you mine
My sole focus and desire is to win your heart and affection

Make you mine, I'm gonna make you mine
My efforts and actions will be solely focused on winning you over

Baby, I'm gonna make you mine, I'm gonna make you mine
My ultimate goal and desire is to have you as my own, and I will stop at nothing to make it a reality

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: John Farrar

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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