Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes

[Spiritsmum]

I'm thirteen again!

[MehMeh66]

This was when music was MUSIC !

[PippasPlace]

I saw Lou Christie on an "oldies" show recently. When the audience gave him a resounding ovation, his face lit up like a child's. He was SO thrilled his fans still remembered him.

[fixfireleo]

what a good looking guy with a hell of a voice...kinda like ricky nelson...

[PrazB2JC]

I'm listening to this song for the third time! I forgot just how good music WAS! What a sweet trip down memory lane. Remember when he/she would reach for your hand and that simple connection sent chills down your spine, or when that special someone tenderly kissed you for the first time sending your heart racing? Those WERE the days and I miss 'em!

[teresadoyle]

@PrazB2JC Yep, the times when you felt your heart racing so fast you thought it would come out of your chest : )

[cmmwiz]

Had the 45.Sounds like Frankie Vali doin backup vocals.

[pacific707]

Sorry. I loved Klaus, too, but THIS IS THE SONG!

[pacific707]

I'm 6 and dancing thru the house like I'm nuts!!! God! What a voice!!

[halfasser]

@pacific707 Im 2 and going nuts in my diaper!

[99strange]

99 rembers the song but dont tell anybody

[larryl26]

they just dont sing like this anymore...love this

[sherry5able]

I saw him in chattanooga tenn one time when I was 17, he was good

[madnessdns]

cool song im just as cool so you know,, loads o dough ladies hit meup

[deejaytai1]

The girls sound GREAT out the right channel!!!

[rascal211]

Who cares about the words. I like the melody, background singing and the way it is just catchy.

[crabbybutt1]

such a doll

[jojo2mag]

Loved this song my entire life. I still have trouble understanding how a song about a guy who's such a total pig got to be so incredibly popular. I don't understand why I love it either!

[TequilaMockingBus]

@jojo2mag was he a prick? I had no idea.

[Ettoredipugnar]

Italian american from Pittsburgh.

[deejaytai1]

The wind instruments in the back is what makes me lose it!

[priapus56]

What a riot! Fabulous track! Can't stop my feet from moving and groovin.!

[anniemckitty]

I used to like this song but boy, what a sexist song of double standards when you listen to what it's really about!

[Tonithenightowl]

@anniemckitty Ya know at that time that was how it was for guys. Until they said I DO they still felt they were free to fool around. Women on the other hand had to be trusted not to lol.Men weak, women strong. Or men smart women dumb lol

[ERIMATT]

SEEN HIM "LIVE'' 4 TIMES.

[StoneCampbellforLife]

I'm an unborn baby but I love this song!!!

[tobytwirl04]

BRIILIANT!!!!! Well done You Tube!

[lunarmation]

the best audio quality.

Спасибо, Landis

[barose1]

I didn't realize he was so handsome!

[Teresa7087]

He is so easy on the eyes!! Good looks, loaded with talent, great entertainer - what more could you ask for?

[Teresa7087]

One of my all-time favorite songs, by one of my all-time favorite performers. He has SO much talent. Not like a lot of today's performers who really can't sing, can't write music at all and basically rely on sophisticated sound tracks that make them appear to have decent voices. Lou has an amazing voice - no need to supplement it with anything else. He was the real deal.

[longbeach225]

Every weatherman favorite song.

[jazzalex22]

Even though Lou Christie was a copy of Frankie Valli, he was really good. He was way better than now music. I love his songs. We have to play his other songs more than they play Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Eminem, Lil Wayne, LMFAO, Bieber, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, Adele, Maroon 5 and everybody will realize what good music is.

[0413dec]

I like the piano part in the verses.

[acrethrills]

"If she gives me a sign that she wants to make time (STOP!)"

Love it.

[towerful1]

Like I'm not wasting enough time on YouTube, now I have to go look up the Klaus Nomi cover.

[ministeredj]

With all due respect, I'm so glad Klaus Nomi had the foresight and ability to make this a better record.

[LordKalbert]

I like Klaus Nomi and this one too actually.

[10021walshke]

What an amazing voice this guy has.

[archie977]

there humming bopate boop bop tralallalla dada :}

[lastrada52]

"Rhapsody In the Rain" 45 cover with Lou in red was punk-great. This has that crunchy guitar. This guy was no one hit wonder. Had many hits & songs that weren't huge still made it to the radio -- he was just that popular. "Nature's taken over my one track mind," & "There's a chapel in the pines waiting for us around the bend...." lines like that don't usually wind up on tacky 45 rpm hit records. Lou was a class act and still is.

[archie977]

love it thanx for posting

[nowhereman841]

@MikeMikeyYo Not to mention Russell Thompkins, Jr., the voice that defined the Stylistics...

[wattever333]

in some pics, he's adorable! in others, he looks sleazy. I guess that's the hollywood machine.

[therealjoebloggs]

@MikeMikeyYo Never discuss falsettos without mentioning Brian Wilson!

[1luv2paint]

Grief i love this song, danced to it when I was 13/14 and now I have teenage grandkids!

Takes me right back to the Basildon Mecca :0)

[therealjoebloggs]

@1luv2paint "Southern Soul", as it were!

[acrethrills]

This helps me write.

[ssur55]

Could never figure out what the girls sing in the background - is it BUM-MEE-OW-OOOHH????

[Slumpnasty]

I used to listen to this song on a CD Player...back in 2006!

[NikkiBizzy]

Good Song

[erichw23]

Klaus Nomi cover , All that need be said.

[Ettoredipugnar]

@erichw23 Klaus Nomi was a classicly trained singer. He was a counter tenor.

[strummeresque]

@MikeMikeyYo Jackie Wilson

[pghjan1]

Jay Black is another great falsetto.

[ChachaChapati]

9 people were struck and killed by lightning. Anyways, great '60s tune.

[iisnotatypicalblonde]

My dad has gotten me into 60's music now. And I'm 14. But I still love it. Especially this song! :D

[ehta01]

@iisnotatypicalblonde Maybe your dad knows something you don't :)  Keep listening.

[Kanuck40]

@iisnotatypicalblonde -- this music is when it was written and sung with feeling.....I"m 42 and love all kinds of music but this era has to be the best!!!!

[pghjan1]

@iisnotatypicalblonde

Lou Christie was from my Hometown near Pittsburgh....We used to see him shopping on the main st. in the 60's. :o)

[WickedTornado]

@iisnotatypicalblonde Well, if you are into the 60's stuff, and you're only 14....that means that you're a "throwback". Cool. Very cool. Ask your Dad what it means. It's a high honor, in my opinion. 

[KJVWordofGod]

@iisnotatypicalblonde ....what a wonderful dad ! This is great music. You will be/are learning not to follow the crowd and the crowd's tastes and such. Being your own person. You are miles ahead of others your age.

[imajeepster]

I used to hear this on the radio, and it still makes me feel the same way I did back then....

thanks!

[KCKILLERCAT]

Ah I remember roller skating to this great tune .. Too much fun . Thanks for posting.

[august251976]

Kind of reminds me of all those Frankie Vallie sounds i really like

[august251976]

what a great tune this is. Remember hearing this the day after my 18th bday in a pub in London (1994). Have loved it ever since

[MichaelHansenFUN]

too bad this isnt the early 80's where there was a commercial for "original hits original stars" because they used a picture of lightening bolts and played an excerpt from the chours, but it sounded more 'rocky' and 'sinister' on the tv than on record...it was a great effect!!! this was the early 80's, remember those commercials for those compilations???this song didnt sound like this!!!

[beggin1967]

i heard that when the mgm music head listened to this with lou and his manager ,he took it and threw it in the garbage pail.lou and manager took it to california where it got heavy air play,amd mgm relented and pressed it.the rest,as they say,is history!

[bubbah671]

this is before my time but the first time i heard this i was hooked.

[gr8vibes2]

Excellent song! Thanks.

[japaneselizard]

At the end of every episode of my brother and I's web/TV show the main character pukes and then a song plays. The plan is to make him puke to this song in the next episode.

[mangledinal]

Plus I think it depends on in which part of the country you live whether a song will be banned or not. I remember Lay Lady Lay was banned in the South but not in CA or MI.

[mangledinal]

Backup singers: Bernadette Carroll, Denise Ferri and Peggy Davison

Christie was born in 1943 in PA.

Real name: Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco

"Rhapsody in the Rain" had the distinction of being one of the first songs to be banned from many radio stations because of its perceived "suggestive" lyrics.

I love Christie's singing. Bee Gees did the same falsetto thing. Great songs all!

[mdwarsh]

Love the babe doing the background vocals. So sexy!

[importantisimo1]

@mdwarsh

Background singer add alot to the tune. agree.

[TheGB1950]

I'm surprised it wasn't censored, I remember hearing it back in the 60s when other groups were censored for the most ridicules things.

[bharfarar]

a well produced number. Anyone know who wrote it?

[Razzamoo]

I'm from Aussie land, I remember listening to this on the radio..

[bharfarar]

@Razzamoo ..g'day mate from the beautiful Northwest U.S.



[kyannos]

I was in high school in the 1975 and a station would play the oldies, and I was hooked, hooked on all the oldies actually

[hayesman76]

Well, judging by the handful of replies my post received, I'm very GLAD to say it appears I was mistaken about Lou Christie not being as popular as he should have been outside of the Northeast! I consider Lou to have one of the most unique and instantly- recognizable voices and styles of the 1960s pop scene. About the only other singer I can remotely compare him to would be Frankie Valli, who was also a master of the falsetto like the fantastic Lou Christie.

[hayesman76]

Well, judging by the handful of replies my post received, I'm very GLAD to say it appears I was mistaken about Lou Christie not being as popular as he should have been outside of the Northeast! I consider Lou to have one of the most unique and instantly- recognizable voices and styles of the 1960s pop scene. About the only other singer I can remotely compare him to would be Frankie Valli, who was also a master of the falsetto like the fantastic Lou Christie.

[Mgarguemare]

Thank goodness for older cousins. I have two older cousins (brothers) who are around Lou Christie's age. Had it not been for them I probably would have never known or heard of him. I was born and raised in S. Texas so this type of music was very rare. I would borrow their 45s and play the heck out of them. There are actually a few that I never gave back ;-)

[heavymetalchains333]

Thank God for Youtube! We can go and listen to great music and find videos! We can hear wonderful stories and accounts from all the artist's fans about their memories and what the songs mean to them.

[hayesman76]

I heard this song played on the radio many times while growing up during the 1960s in NYC. I get the impression that Lou Christie was quite a popular pop singer in the Northeast of the country but, for some reason, never received much recognition or fame in the rest of the U.S., which has always perplexed me. Anyone else agree/disagree ?

[Angusnofangus]

@hayesman76

I heard it lots in the northwest in the 60's. Great song.

[carroll1956]

@hayesman76 I grew up in the desert in Arizona.... I used to take my little red transistor radio, my sack lunch, and go climb a little mesa a mile or so from my house. I remember hearing this song a lot...I loved it.

[lkamer56]

@hayesman76 He was big in the midwest, This somg played at the pool A LOT

[NOBULLANDNOSPIN]

Great music from the 1960's! A+++ Thanks for posting this great song! A++

[sweetitis]

Lou Goes toe to toe with Frankie Valle in the Falsetto ring, Wouldve loved to hear 4Seasons do this song,better yet Frankie/Lou Duet Huh??

[TheLupa13]

I was brought up on 60's music thanks to my mum; this one was one of her faves & she used to belt out the chorus at the top of her lungs!! She still does, though not with quite so much gusto, lol.

[BoycottYou2ube]

thank you K-Earth 101 :.)

[risingphoenix86]

@BoycottYou2ube I was thinking the same thing! I love Socal!

[pxr5porp]

1st song I can ever remember as a VERY young boy, trying to reach the radio tuner so I could find the song constatly playing on the AM band radio.....Yes early 60's!!!! Thanks for posting & great covers on the video as well..........

[Honey059]

I played this song so much my father is actually sick of it.  I love this song.

[billj1231]

I see people saying klaus nomi sang this better than Lou Christie, I say klaus nomi is a bad joke. A Pee Wee Harris of singing.

[Minacious]

hell yeah. love this song.

[mrdramirez09]

Used to hear this on my transistor radio about 10 times a day on AM radio!

[carroll1956]

@mrdramirez09 me too....carried it everywhere with me. Mine was red. LOL

[beggin1967]

and to think that when the head of mgm music had this played for him, he threw it his garbage pail.true! christie and his manager toook it to california where it garned alot of airplay and mgm relented and released it! as paul harvey used to say,and now you know the rest of the story!

[AhiruxFakir4Evr]

My grandma's favorite song. RIP grandma

[gagirl55]

was one of my favorite songs then.

[donlarsen1956]

What a beautiful song. One of my all-time favorites. Thanks for posting.

[susiekward100]

Oh I WAS born when the music was great! This is the SHIT!

[perth2011100]

I first heard this song in Perth in the spring of 1966, I have always liked it.

Great voice!

[missqueenieful]

so did i

[trickeyanne]

i needed this today!

[NESHero]

The Klaus Nomi cover is very excellent.

[YeJiub]

@NESHero No.

[NESHero]

@YeJiub Yes.

[happyfatties5000]

One of the best auditions in Waiting for Guffman.

[Thedanner1000]

I always liked this song

[popeye012345678]

like if you think the 1960's is old people's music lol

[siouxsienova]

I never really paid attention to the lyrics until now. He's kind of a man whore.

[rockinrobintweets]

The guy wants to settle down, marry is girlfriend AFTER he sows his wild oats. He wants her to be true to him and wait untill HE is ready for a comited marriage but says nothing of being loyal to her UNTILL the wedding day.

[lhcarter]

@rockinrobintweets  the old double standard

[rockinrobintweets]

@lhcarter But of course.

[ronaldusfree1]

Great song!

[6000cat]

Yeah- ouch! Leave it alone!

[LaboratoryNotebook]

One m00:00re time!

[sirwob]

my friend over here right now toured w/Leslie Gore and Lou Christie he was a studio guitarist

[cryslovesmusic]

I think the NY radio station you're referring to is WABC in New York. It was one of the really big first FM stations. I used to hear it in PA. but only at night. I heard this song a lot on WABC.

[robertbombino999]

klaus nomi has the a way better version

[YeJiub]

@robertbombino999 lmao No.

[robertbombino999]

@YeJiub lmao definatly

[ellenkeffer]

@robertbombino999 I agree, but 'way' better might be too strong. Lou Christie's version is amazing too.

[ellenkeffer]

@ellenkeffer I agree that the Klaus Nomi version is out of this world.

[ucka25]

would love to see some video with the female vocalists on this song. they sound very, um, hot.

[imajeepster]

oh how I love this song! i remember hearing it on the radio when I was very young...i think we were vacationing in the adirondacks and the radio station was some NY station and they played that song all the time. I would give anything to go back, just for one day....

[brokenwingb4]

I sure loved this song when I was early teens. What a time it was then

[WingsONE]

i like Klaus' version better

[sixtiesrockboy]

The stand-alone photo, just before the Cash Box photo looks so much like my late younger brother Jeff, that it's spooky! Lou's hair was longer than Jeff's, but, otherwise, they were dead ringers! Unfortunately, leukemia nailed Jeff on 12-22-10. I know he's rocking out SOMEWHERE!

[unocarb]

The date rape song...

[HighwaySage]

Wow, all these years I was thinking Frankie Valli sang this song - and also "See You In September" by The Happenings.

Love these old ones even though I was a 70s kid, born in the mid-fifties. (Dylan, Stones, Beatles, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, Led Zep, Alman Bros.)

And now my own kids are discovering the 50s music and loving it, esp. Louis Prima, Frankie Valli, Sinatra, and doo-wop!

[MINNIENYPR]

I THANK GOD AND MY PARENTS THAT I WAS BORN WHEN MUSIC WAS REAL! THESE SONGS R ETCHED IN MY MEMORY FOREVER, AND EVER AND EVER. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF SO MANY. I AM FROM NYC THE LES, GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE!

[purpledivaification]

Great song! Not too sure he can hit those high notes anymore but props for trying.

[telegramsam]

"I can't stop myself!"

"baby live by my rules!"

sounds like a scary boyfriend to me...

[sixtiesrockboy]

@telegramsam Wait till you get your first boyfriend before you make judgements like that! You women have become so obsessed with jewish, one-world-instructed communism, and man-hatred, that you're afraid of ANY man with power, brains, decision-making ability, and the big balls to stand up to your world-wide male-castrating campaign!

[telegramsam]

@sixtiesrockboy LOL, what are you smoking?

[sixtiesrockboy]

@telegramsam I don't smoke, but I DO tell the truth. Some people can't stand the truth!

[telegramsam]

@sixtiesrockboy Truth? What, that your girlfriend dumped you or whatever and now you're sad and bitter? Go change your pampers and get over it.

[sixtiesrockboy]

@telegramsam 

[sixtiesrockboy]

@telegramsam I've lived with the same woman for 34 years! So, no, I was'nt dumped! I do the dumping, not women! We have a great relationship, because she's there for me, listens intently, asks for what she wants, and does her fair share financially. Sounds like YOU wound up with a loser! Figures! BTW, I prefer the altogether, and have never worn pampers!

[telegramsam]

@sixtiesrockboy Aw bless. Does she help you make your tin-foil hats?

[sixtiesrockboy]

@telegramsam They say cucumber slices help reduce swelling under the eyes, which, after pouring through dictionary after dictionary, as well as your vast cache of comic books to put together your eight words, you must certainly suffer from! Ha! Ha! No sleep, huh? LOL!

[telegramsam]

@sixtiesrockboy LOL n00b.

[gman8744]

This sounds so familiar but I can't remember where I heard it, has it been in any commercials or something?

[zeta71]

Does anyone know what the background singers are actually singing at the beginning if the song as well as throughout it?

[IndisputableAttitude]

@zeta71 "Help me out?" But sort of slopped together.

@gman8744 Rush Limbaugh used to play the crazy version of this song by Klaus Nomi on his radio show.

[telegramsam]

@IndisputableAttitude You're thinking of Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" on Rush Limbaugh, that is what he used for his "gay update theme" not "Lightnin' Strikes"...

[IndisputableAttitude]

@telegramsam

You're right, now that I think a bit about it.

[pattykad]

Cripes...I never realised he was that gorgeous.

[patmray1957]

Thank goodness I was growing up in this era of music...but now we always have it for future generations.

[teamsterbrian]

If Lou had the song writing of Bob Gaudio + Bob Crewe backing him up we might be saying Frankie Who?

[kellybob1966]

One of the best songs of 1966. LUV IT!!!!!

[MrSponge1985]

I wonder how much lightning he made strike lol

[lifesburden]

I couldn't I been born when people actually sang songs. *cough* kesha *cough*

[nema1218]

Nice song,have not heard in many years,only heard last night.

[kennymister333]

im becoming a wrestlers and my wrestlng name is going to be lightning louie im using this as my song and i dont care what any1 says

[christinelesley]

Love it!

[trailboyus66]

Timeless and priceless. Where is the old KAAY/WLS/KTTR.....gone to talk radio everyone. When will they ever learn. When will they ever learn/

[OrangeCountyBeauty]

I remember seeing Lou Christie on Lloyd Thaxston and of course Dick Clark's American

Bandstand. Life was so fun and simple back in the days of the 1960's.

Miss you Daddy!

[MsSpawn1234]

@OrangeCountyBeauty I'm from Newport Beach in the same time frame! Lloyd Thaxton, American Bandstand, 9th st.west with Sam Riddle and Kam Nelson!! Now I'm living in New Hampshire and nobody even knows what I'm talking about :) feel free to contact if you want to. Peace, Michael

[bw020566]

I think of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons when I hear this song.

[nema1218]

@bw020566

Alot of people think the same way!

[jimidee33]

This song was a hit when I was an eighth grader. Power pop before the term was invented I think. Sounds like Neal Sedaka on speed! Good memories as this was the time I started kissing girls and this tune is about the attraction to the opposite! Liked this tune back then and still a good listen.

[TheVineyarder]

LOL I always thought this was by the 4 seasons

[aldiakaroofus]

@TheVineyarder You're not alone!

[Batshitcool]

Sorry about that double click - something just wasn't working right. forgive?

[Batshitcool]

I was torn away at 17, from the girl I loved in '65 - Went into Army - This song had special meaning for me. It was kind of an 'unfinished business' thing for us. I guess she and I were old school. The song can carry a lot of emotional message to some of us, but I can understandably see that not all may be enthralled by it. Decent song though, with pep.

[tameralauer]

Ok I loved this song as a kid. Listened to it all the time....but since I listened to it as an adult...I still love the song but I have realized the condecending story line behind it. A guy saying be true to me...While i mess around with this girl and that girl...and when I feel like it i'll settle down with you. What a creep!!!!!! Not quite the love story I thought it was when I was a kid. LOL

[ruandted]

Unreal singer , but i think his best is " Beyond The Blue Horizon " . 

[gergs4life]

i'm not okay with racist trash it shows ignorance just enjoy the song without ethnic slurs and swear words

[marinello6]

I love Lou Christie and this song in particular. His hits really bring me back to an era "Gone With The Wind".

[iappreciategoodmusci]

Come on racial trolls. Go away. This is a classic. He brought some good tunes and it didn't have words that included killing cops, drugs, sex....What? You don't understand a song that doesn't have all that??? Again......go away.

I can`t beleve it.Why does hate have to c