Lightnin' Strikes

Last updated
"Lightnin' Strikes"
Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie.jpg
Single by Lou Christie
from the album Lightnin' Strikes
B-side "Cryin' in the Streets"
ReleasedOctober 7, 1965
RecordedSeptember 3, 1965
Studio Olmstead Studios, New York City, New York
Genre Pop
Length3:05
Label MGM
Songwriters
Producer Charles Calello
Lou Christie singles chronology
"How Many Teardrops"
(1963)		"Lightnin' Strikes"
(1965)		"Outside the Gates of Heaven"
(1966)
Official audio
"Lightnin' Strikes" on YouTube

"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 to No. 1 in Canada in February 1966 on the RPM Top Singles chart, [1] then to No. 1 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 in February, [2] No. 3 on the New Zealand Listener chart in May, [3] and No. 11 on the UK Record Retailer chart. [4] It attained RIAA certification on March 3, 1966, garnering gold status for shipping a million copies. [5]

Contents

Personnel

The song was arranged, conducted, and produced by Charles Calello and was recorded on September 3, 1965. The song featured backing vocals from Bernadette Carroll, Peggy Santiglia and Denise Ferri of the Delicates. 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 an overdub.

Release

MGM Records released "Lightnin' Strikes" as a single in the US on October 7, 1965, with "Cryin' in the Streets" as the B-side. [6] According to Billboard, the single "didn't happen overnight" and took several months to chart. [7] MGM A&R man Frank Mancini credits radio stations in Youngstown and Erie, Pennsylvania – particularly WJET – with assisting in promoting the single. [7] "Lightnin' Strikes" entered the Billboard Hot 100 on December 25, 1965 at a position of 93, [8] [9] before reaching number one on February 19, 1966, [8] replacing Petula Clark's "My Love". [9] It remained at number one for a week, before being replaced by Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". [9] "Lightnin' Strikes" spent 15 weeks on the charts, [8] was Christie's only number one single in the US, [9] and his first chart entry since "How Many Teardrops" in August 1963. [8]

In the UK, MGM released "Lightnin' Strikes" on February 4, 1966, [10] and it entered the Record Retailer charts on March 2 at a position of 40 before peaking at number 11 for two weeks starting on March 23. [4] In total, it spent eight weeks on the charts. [4] "Lightnin' Strikes" was the first of four top-40 singles Lou Christie scored in the UK. [11] On the chart published by New Musical Express , "Lightnin' Strikes" reached number nine for one week. [12]

Chart performance

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [5] Gold1,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide—2,000,000 [20]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Anon. (February 21, 1966). "R.P.M. Play Sheet" (PDF). RPM . p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  2. 1 2 Anon. (February 19, 1966). "Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard . p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 25, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  3. 1 2 Kohler, Steve (May 13, 1966). "The N.Z. Hit Parade". Flavour of New Zealand. New Zealand Listener. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Lightning Strikes by Lou Christie". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  5. 1 2 "American single certifications – Lou Christie – Strikes". Recording Industry Association of America.
  6. ↑ "Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Archived from the original on January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Anon. (January 29, 1966). "'Tight Playlist Brings Out Best in Promotion Men'" (PDF). Billboard . p. 44. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Lou Christie – Chart History". Billboard . Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Unterberger, Andrew (June 23, 2025). "Forever No. 1: Lou Christie, 'Lightnin' Strikes'". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 24, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  10. ↑ Anon. (January 29, 1966). "Discs from Proby & Billy" (PDF). Record Mirror . p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  11. ↑ "Lou Christie". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Anon. (March 5, 1966). "NME Top Thirty". New Musical Express . p. 5.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 48. ISBN   0-646-44439-5. OCLC   62561852.
  14. ↑ Anon. (March 5, 1966). "Top 50". Disc Weekly . p. 12.
  15. ↑ Anon. (March 19, 1966). "Pop 50" (PDF). Melody Maker . p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  16. ↑ Anon. (February 19, 1966). "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box . p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 26, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  17. ↑ Anon. (February 26, 1966). "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World . p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  18. ↑ Anon. (December 24, 1966). "Top Singles of 1966" (PDF). Billboard . p. 34. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 9, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  19. ↑ "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1966" (PDF). Cash Box . December 24, 1966. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 6, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  20. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). United Kingdom: Barrie & Jenkins. p. 188. ISBN   0-214-20512-6. OCLC   62561852 – via Internet Archive. Gold disc award from R.I.A.A. in March 1966. Sales were two million.
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