Lightnin' Strikes

They Say...

Review by Joe Viglione, All Music Guide

Lou Christie hit number one with the title track of this album, Lightnin' Strikes, and it is a perfect three-minute pop tune produced by the legendary Charles Calello. The rest of the disc is divided between the six cover versions of side one and six Lou Christie/Twyla Herbert originals on side two. Sure, in 1965-1966 the hit single was the be-all and end-all, but Lou Christie showed more promise than the blasé version of "Love Is Like a Heatwave" displays. Having covered the Beatles with his decent working of "If I Fell" at least gets all Beatles fans who collect every cover on the bandwagon. Christie does Lenny Welch's "Since I Fell for You" as well. The choice of previously recorded love songs are all laments, the antithesis of his electrically charged hit which closes the album. The gentle piano and smart, building production of the 45 rpm "Lightnin' Strikes" blows away everything on side one. The rock & roll guitar solo juxtaposed against strings and the immaculate chorus -- just more elements that make for a classic. Even many years after this recording, Lou Christie in concert is totally Las Vegas, much like "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me," which opens the album, and the best cover on side one, a reading of the Fortunes' "You've Got Your Troubles." It's too bad Christie's publisher didn't foster the originals; "Trapeze" on side two is fun and "Diary" certainly shows he could follow in Neil Sedaka's footsteps. The originals and the album work best when Lou Christie's high-pitched backing vocals and falsetto kick in, as they do on "Jungle" and "Crying in the Street." Sixties artists highly influenced each other, and there's little doubt Nancy Sinatra's hit from 1967, "Lightning's Girl," was that: lightning striking twice. This MGM release is an interesting look at an artist who should have been much bigger; fun pop tunes capped off by a '60s classic.