Lightnin' Strikes Video

Just found this on YouTube and thought I'd pass it along. Watch for the little snippet of Lou Christie in the video. Oh, and don't forget to sing along as well. :P

Enlightnin'ment: All About Lou Christie

Over the past couple of weeks, I've just been enthralled by Lou Christie. Yeah, I'd heard of him before when I was introduced to such songs as "Two Faces Have I", "Lightnin' Strikes" and "The Gypsy Cried". I liked how high his voice got on all of the songs...it reminded me of Frankie Valli a lot. On YouTube, I came across this old music video for "I'm Gonna Make You Mine", which I'll admit I had heard before, somewhere, but it wasn't that familiar to me. So I watched it, didn't think much of it and went on with my life. Next day, I found myself humming the stupid song!

So I watched it some more and more. Present day, and I'm hooked. I just love the simplicity of the "music video". The video quality is very poor. They're dancing in front of a hotel pool, not moving from their spots. He's wearing tight pants, obviously lip-synching really awfully, and there's a crazy lady over to the far left of the screen. Who she is, I don't know. Someone posted on the YouTube page an apparent funny story about her, but I could never find it. (Anyone, if you find it, send it my way!)

This second video is a promo for the song made by the record company. It's also poorly made, but Lou isn't too bad to look at. First off, the setting of the video: a scrap yard? Thinking of the lyrics, what does a scrap yard have to do with anything? Secondly, Lou's lip synching is out of synch, several times. But oh well, just go with it.


So the latest thing I'm obsessed with about him is his dirty song "Rhapsody in the Rain". I heard it on the XM 60's channel the other day and since then I've looked all over the place trying to download it. (iTunes only carries the live version where Lou talks about the controversy of the song.) Thank you library!

So, what's the controversy you say?

According to Christie, the original lyrics were changed from: "We were makin' out in the rain" to "We fell in love in the rain" and "In this car, we went too far" to "Our love came like a falling star."

The Catholic Church helped get this banned on many radio stations, which only made people want to hear it more (You'd think they'd have learned after banning Gary U.S. Bonds' "Quarter To Three"). It's mild by today's standards, but a hot topic back when you didn't sing about "Makin' love in the storm" with a teenage girl.

Christie (in Goldmine magazine): "I had priests and nuns calling to complain. Even Time magazine did an article on it, saying I was corrupting the youth."

The music was based on Tchaikovsky's "Romeo And Juliet."

Another interesting note about this song is that The Tammys, who did the background vocals on this and most Lou Christie songs, had a sexually suggestive song of their own in 1964, two years prior to this song, called Egyptian Shumba, which had lines like "Lets lie on the Nile, and dance Egyptian-style.

Released in the spring of 1966, "Rhapsody In The Rain" told of a teenager's regret over his sexual experience in the back seat of a car during a rainstorm as the windshield wipers made a rhythmic sound of "together, together". Later after the romance ends, the wipers seem to say "never, never". Many radio stations banned the song, and MGM insisted on a re-recorded version that toned down the lyrical content. Despite the edited version, many stations instead played two older songs re-released by other labels Christie had once recorded for: "Outside the Gates of Heaven" (on Co & Ce Records, a successor to C&C) peaked at #45, while "Big Time" (on Colpix Records) managed to hit #95. All three singles hit the U.S. charts within three weeks of one another, in March 1966. Whether it was the controversial lyrics or competition from the other singles released simultaneously, "Rhapsody" only managed to hit #16 in the U.S. and #37 in the UK.

Okay, so you wanna hear it?

The Beatles: Rock Band

Click this link to watch a trailer for The Beatles: Rock Band



Release Date: 9/9/09

Fanthology

BEST MOTOWN SONG OF ALL TIME?

According to the Motown website, "My Girl" was voted by fans as their all-time favorite song on the Motown label. A poll was held over the summer to see which song would take the prize. This event was just publicity for their Motown 50 Fanthology CD set, which is dropping September 1.

Here are the other winners:
1. “My Girl” – The Temptations
2. “What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
3. “Let’s Get It On” – Marvin Gaye
4. “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” – The Temptations
5. “The Tracks Of My Tears” – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
6. “Superstition” – Stevie Wonder
7. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye
8. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
9. “ABC” – Jackson 5
10. “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” – The Temptations

And if you're interested in the special CD set coming out soon, here are the track listings:

Disc 1
1. “My Girl” – The Temptations
2. “What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
3. “Let’s Get It On” – Marvin Gaye
4. “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” – The Temptations
5. “The Tracks Of My Tears” – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
6. “Superstition” – Stevie Wonder
7. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye
8. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
9. “ABC” – Jackson 5
10. “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” – The Temptations
11. “I’ll Be There” - Jackson 5
12. “I Want You Back” – Jackson 5
13. “Ain’t To Proud To Beg” – The Temptations
14. “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” – Four Tops
15. “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” – Jimmy Ruffin
16. “Ooo Baby Baby” – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
17. “Brick House” - Commodores
18. “The Tears Of A Clown” – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
19. “Dancing In The Street” – Martha & The Vandellas
20. “Got To Be There” – Michael Jackson
21. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Diana Ross
22. “Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)” – Gladys Knight & The Pips

Disc 2
1. “Reach Out I’ll Be There” – Four Tops
2. “Never Can Say Goodbye” – Jackson 5
3. “Stop! In The Name Of Love” – The Supremes
4. “Baby I Need Your Loving” – Four Tops
5. “My Cherie Amour” – Stevie Wonder
6. “This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)” – The Isley Brothers
7. “Easy” – Commodores
8. “Someday We’ll Be Together” – Diana Ross & The Supremes
9. “I Can’t Get Next To You” – The Temptations
10. “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” – Boyz II Men
11. “Hello” – Lionel Richie
12. “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” – Stevie Wonder
13. “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” – Martha & The Vandellas
14. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Gladys Knight & The Pips
15. “Super Freak” – Rick James
16. “Fire & Desire” – Rick James & Teena Marie
17. “You’re All I Need To Get By” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
18. “Cruisin’” – Smokey Robinson
19. “Got To Give It Up (Part 1)” – Marvin Gaye
20. “I’ll Make Love To You” – Boyz II Men
21. “Endless Love” – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
22. “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” – Jr. Walker & The All Stars
23. “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell


What do you think about the Motown poll results?
Cast your vote on the blog sidebar.

Squeaky's Out

Remember that crazy man, Charles Manson? Well, his little gaggle of girls all got the punishment they deserved, as did he. But here's the latest twist: Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme has been released!

Age in 1975: 26
Age in 2009: 60

Reason for Arrest: Attempted murder of President Gerald Ford
Sentence: Life with parole

Background: Not directly involved with the Manson clan, but believed in their lifestyle. She attended the trials of Manson and the three women who were convicted for the murders. Escaped from a women's prison (to be closer to Manson) in 1987 and was recaptured days later, adding 15 months onto her sentence.

Memoirs of Squeaky Fromme
The Girl Who Almost Killed Ford
Extensive Manson Family Background
Pictures of Manson Family

Looking Back...

As the celebration comes to an end on this 40th anniversary of Woodstock, we reflect on the good times...



Thanks to everyone who made this year's celebration exciting and memorable. Here's hoping the 50th is just as good!

Woodstock: Just For Fun

Want to see what the concert grounds look like today?




And want to see what the artists looked like then and now?
Richie Havens



Arlo Guthrie



Melanie



Joe Cocker