Lightnin' Strikes
title: "Lightnin' Strikes" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1965-songs", "1965-singles", "1966-singles", "songs-written-by-twyla-herbert", "songs-written-by-lou-christie", "lou-christie-songs", "jan-and-dean-songs", "billboard-hot-100-number-one-singles", "cashbox-number-one-singles", "rpm-top-singles-number-one-singles", "mgm-records-singles"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightnin'_Strikes" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Lightnin' Strikes |
| cover | Lightnin'Strikes-_Lou_Christie.jpg |
| type | single |
| artist | Lou Christie |
| album | Lightnin' Strikes |
| B-side | Cryin' in the Streets |
| released | October 7, 1965 |
| recorded | September 3, 1965 |
| studio | Olmstead Studios, New York City, New York |
| genre | Pop |
| length | 3:05 |
| label | MGM |
| writer | *Lou Christie |
| producer | Charles Calello |
| prev_title | How Many Teardrops |
| prev_year | 1963 |
| next_title | Outside the Gates of Heaven |
| next_year | 1966 |
| misc | |
| :: |
| name = Lightnin' Strikes | cover = Lightnin'Strikes-_Lou_Christie.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Lou Christie | album = Lightnin' Strikes | B-side = Cryin' in the Streets | released = October 7, 1965 | recorded = September 3, 1965 | studio = Olmstead Studios, New York City, New York | venue = | genre = Pop | length = 3:05 | label = MGM | writer = *Lou Christie
- Twyla Herbert | producer = Charles Calello | prev_title = How Many Teardrops | prev_year = 1963 | next_title = Outside the Gates of Heaven | next_year = 1966 | misc =
"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, 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, and No. 11 on the UK Record Retailer chart. It attained RIAA certification on March 3, 1966, garnering gold status for shipping a million copies.
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. According to Billboard, the single "didn't happen overnight" and took several months to chart. MGM A&R man Frank Mancini credits radio stations in Youngstown and Erie, Pennsylvania – particularly WJET – with assisting in promoting the single. "Lightnin' Strikes" entered the Billboard Hot 100 on December 25, 1965 at a position of 93, before reaching number one on February 19, 1966, replacing Petula Clark's "My Love". It remained at number one for a week, before being replaced by Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". "Lightnin' Strikes" spent 15 weeks on the charts, was Christie's only number one single in the US, and his first chart entry since "How Many Teardrops" in August 1963.
In the UK, MGM released "Lightnin' Strikes" on February 4, 1966, 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. In total, it spent eight weeks on the charts. "Lightnin' Strikes" was the first of four top-40 singles Lou Christie scored in the UK. On the chart published by New Musical Express, "Lightnin' Strikes" reached number nine for one week.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (1965–66) | Peak | Australia (Kent Music Report) | Canada (RPM) | New Zealand (Listener) | UK (Disc Weekly) | UK (Melody Maker) | UK (New Musical Express) | UK (Record Retailer) | US (Billboard Hot 100) | US (Cash Box Top 100) | US (Record World 100 Top Pops) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | |||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| 12 | |||||||||||
| 11 | |||||||||||
| 9 | |||||||||||
| 11 | |||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||
| :: |
Year-end charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (1966) | Peak | US (Billboard) | US (Cash Box) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | |||
| 15 | |||
| :: |
Certifications
References
References
- "Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes". [[Dutch Single Top 100.
- Anon.. (January 29, 1966). "'Tight Playlist Brings Out Best in Promotion Men'".
- "Lou Christie – Chart History".
- Unterberger, Andrew. (June 23, 2025). "Forever No. 1: Lou Christie, ‘Lightnin’ Strikes’".
- Anon.. (January 29, 1966). "Discs from Proby & Billy".
- "Lou Christie". [[Official Charts Company]].
- Kent, David. (2005). "Australian Chart Book 1940–1969". Australian Chart Book.
- Anon.. (February 21, 1966). "R.P.M. Play Sheet".
- Kohler, Steve. (May 13, 1966). "The N.Z. Hit Parade". [[New Zealand Listener]].
- Anon.. (March 5, 1966). "Top 50".
- Anon.. (March 19, 1966). "Pop 50".
- Anon.. (March 5, 1966). "NME Top Thirty".
- "Lightning Strikes by Lou Christie". [[Official Charts Company]].
- Anon.. (February 19, 1966). "Hot 100".
- Anon.. (February 19, 1966). "Cash Box Top 100".
- Anon.. (February 26, 1966). "100 Top Pops".
- Anon.. (December 24, 1966). "Top Singles of 1966".
- (December 24, 1966). "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1966".
- Murrells, Joseph. (1978). "The Book of Golden Discs". [[Barrie & Jenkins]].
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