Lightnin' Strikes

"Lightnin' Strikes"
Single by Lou Christie
from the album Lightnin' Strikes
B-side	"Cryin' In The Streets"
Released	December 1965
Format	7" Vinyl
Recorded	September 3, 1965, Olmstead Studios, New York City, New York
Genre	Pop
Length	3:05
Label	MGM
Writer(s)	Lou Christie Twyla Herbert
Certification	Gold

"Lightnin' Strikes" is a song written by Lou Christie and Twyla Herbert, and recorded by Christie on the MGM label. It was a hit in 1966, making it first to No. 1 in Canada in January 1966 on the RPM Top Singles chart, then to No. 1 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 in February, No. 3 on the New Zealand Listener chart in May,^[1] and No. 11 on the UK Record Retailer chart. RIAA certification on March 3, 1966, garnering gold status for selling over one million copies.

Personnel

The song was arranged, conducted, and produced by Charles Calello and was recorded on September 3, 1965. The backup singers were Peggy Santiglia, Bernadette Carroll, and Denise Ferri. Session personnel included Joe Farrell and George Young on baritone sax; Ray DeSio on trombone; Stan Free on piano; Lou Mauro on bass; Charlie Macy, Ralph Casale, and Vinnie Bell on guitar; and Buddy Saltzman on drums. Ralph Casale's "stuttering" guitar solo was originally an overdub.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1965-66) Peak position Australia KMR [2] 9 Canada RPM 1 New Zealand (Listener) [3] 3 UK [4] 11 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [5] 1 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [6] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1966) Rank U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [7] 23 U.S. Cash Box [8] 15

Cover versions

"Lightnin' Strikes" was covered by Jan & Dean for their record Filet of Soul in 1966.

The song was also covered years later by the New York underground artist Klaus Nomi, appearing on his 1981 debut album Klaus Nomi, and was the A-side of a 1982 single accompanied by a video. The political satire group Capitol Steps spoofed it as The Right Wing's Striking Again.

• In 1983, Mike Love of The Beach Boys covered the song on Love's and Dean Torrence album Rock 'N' Roll City.^[9]

References

1. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
2. "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
3. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
4. "Top 100 1966". top-source.info. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
5. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002
7. "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
9. "Rock 'N' Roll City". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-09-29.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics