LIGHTNING STRIKES
LOU CHRISTIE

LOU CHRISTIE /
LOU CHRISTIE STRIKES AGAIN
Collectables 6229
June 22, 1999

Two Faces Have I (Mono)
Mr. Tenor Man (Stereo)
Have I Sinned (Roulette)(Mono)
All That Glitters Isn't Gold (Mono)
To Be Loved (Mono)
The Gypsy Cried (Mono)
How Many Teardrops (Stereo)
Tonight I Fell In Love (Stereo)
When You Dance (Stereo)
Stay (Stereo)
Tears On My Pillow (Stereo)
You And I (Have A Right To Cry) (Stereo)
Guitars And Bongos (Stereo)
Back Track (Stereo)
Make Summer Last Forever (Stereo)
Have I Sinned (Colpix) Stereo
Pot Of Gold (Stereo)
Why Did You Do It Baby (Stereo)

A Teenager In Love (Stereo)
Don't Let Me Catch You Running Wild (Stereo)
If Wishes Could Be Kisses (Stereo)
Cryin' On My Knees (Stereo)
Big Time (Stereo)
Too Many Miles (Stereo)

Goldmine #505
December 3, 1999
LOU CHRISTIE
Lou Christie /
Lou Christie Strikes Again
Collectables (COL-CD-6229)

The early '60s waxings of falsetto-fired crooner Lou Christie have really been receiving a reissue workout lately. Taragon's comprehensive cross-section of his work for Co & Ce and Roulette emerged last year; now Collectables weighs in with a 24-track comp pairing Christie's eponymous Roulette LP with Strikes Again, issued by Colpix in 1966 but actually cut during the years immediately before.

The Roulette set contains Christie's first three pop hits from 1963, including his breakthrough "The Gypsy Cried" and its Top 10 follow-up "Two Faces Have I" (both cut in Pittsburgh and memorably spotlighting Christie's soaring vocal pyrotechnics atop choppy up-tempo rhythms). "How Many Teardrops," the singer's other '63 chart entry for Roulete, is also likewise featured, along with "Mr. Tenor Man" (a teasing retort to Johnny Cymbal's "Mr. Bass Man") and covers of fellow falsetto specialist Donnie Elbert's "Have I Sinned," Little Anthony's "Tears On My Pillow," and the Turbans' rocking "When You Dance."

The Colpix set finds Christie backing off the doo-wop-tethered oldies (except for a cover of Dion & the Belmont's "A Teenager In Love") to collaborate prolifically with songwriter Twyla Herbert on the punchy "Guitars And Bongos," "Big Time" (his only chart single for the label), a totally different "Have I Sinned," and the distinctive "Back Track" and "Too Many Miles." All in all, another bonanza for Christie fans.
(Box 35, Narberth, PA 19072)
~ Bill Dahl

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Pittsburgh Magazine
October 1999
Facts and Faces

NEW LOU: There's another CD reissue for fans of Lou Christie. Lou Christie / Lou Christie Strikes Again (Collectable Records) features 12 tracks from the July 1963 and February 1966 releases respectively. The combo CD features such classics as "Two Faces Have I," "The Gypsy Cried" and "Guitars And Bongos."
~ Phillip Harris

Reissues:
Back To The Future
UK Tower Records TOP
October 1999, p. 26
LOU CHRISTIE
Lou Christie /
Lou Christie Strikes Again
(Collectables)

A break from the usual Best Ofs -- two vintage albums from '63 and '66 by the deliciously nasal pop / soul singer who kept the US AM radio programmers busy.
~ Ken Kessler

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HI-FI NEWS & RECORD REVIEW
December 1999

LOU CHRISTIE
LOU CHRISTIE /
LOU CHRISTIE STRIKES AGAIN

Collectables COL-CD 6229 (57m 06s)

Unusually, two complete LPs on one CD instead of a 'best of.' 'Pained falsetto' sums up this US pop from 1963-6, thoroughly evocative of the era and riddled with hooks.
A-B: 1-2 *
~ Ken Kessler

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Record Collector
September 1999
LOU CHRISTIE
Lou Christie /
Lou Christie Strikes Again
US Import:
Collectables COL-CD-6229 (57:06)

"The Gypsy Cried" and "Two Faces Have I" first introduced America to the remarkable voice(s) of Lou Christie. Recent compilations have revived his more familiar hits, like "Lightnin' Strikes" and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine," plus material from his epic "Paint America Love" album, at the end of the 60s. But this set reprises two early albums, Roulette's "Lou Christie," from 1963 and Colpix's retrospective, "Strikes Again" (cashing in on that hit single), three years later.

As ever, Christie veers between his startling falsetto and a crooning tenor (the latter displayed on a the tongue-in-cheek "Mr. Tenor Man"). A mix of teen covers and vibrant pop originals, the CD's highlights are his Australian hit from 1964, "Guitars And Bongos," and the unorthodox beat ballad, "Have I Sinned".

Goldmine #494 July 2, 1999

Goldmine #495 July 16, 1999

DisCoveries #134 July 1999

ICE The CD News Authority
January, February,
March & April 1999

All Music Guide ~ Cub Koda

The Gazette (Montreal)
March 25, 1999, FINAL
SECTION: Entertainment: The New Music; D13
HEADLINE: This Week
POP & ROCK - FROM THE VAULTS
Lou Christie.
Lou Christie /
Strikes Again
(Collectables).

The Gazette (Montreal)
February 11, 1999, FINAL
SECTION: Entertainment: The New Music; C13
HEADLINE: This Week
Lou Christie.
Lou Christie / Strikes Again (Collectables).

Thanks to arranger Artie Butler,
the late great Dusty Springfield
covered Lou Christie's Colpix rendition of
"If Wishes Could Be Kisses," Copyright October 10, 1964,
on her Oooooweeee!!! LP (Philips PHS600-174, March 1965).

Oooooweeee!!! was released in Mono
On CD March 23, 1999:
Mercury 314 538 910-2

Dusty's NYC True Stereo
"If Wishes Could Be Kisses"
Session:

2-33984 I Wanna Make You Happy
2-33985 Guess Who
2-33986 I Want Your Love Tonight
2-33987 If Wishes Could Be Kisses

As per M. Ruppli's Mercury Masters,
only 2-33985 Guess Who
"1964?"
was arranged by Ray Stevens.

By far the best sounding Super-Stereo
Dusty Springfield CD is on
Taragon Records.

Come Go With Me:
The Best Of The Del Vikings
The Dot / ABC Recordings
(Hip-O MCA CD 40059,
June 17, 1997) :
CD Track 8: I'LL NEVER STOP CRYING (written by Twyla Herbert)
Copyright Twyla Herbert June 20, 1960, released March 1961 ABC 10208 B; Arranged & Conducted by Chuck Sagle; Billboard review April 3, 1961: "*** The tune is a slow ballad with an effective lead job. Incidental comments from the bass a la the Ink Spots, add interest. (Saratoga, BMI) (2:15)." ; Billboard ad April 17, 1961 (same week as Lugee & the Lions' Robbee 45 review); Billboard peak #101; Cash Box peak #66; Mono on CD.

Del Vikings' CD Track 11:
KISS ME (written by Twyla Herbert)
Copyright Twyla Herbert June 21, 1960, released November 1961 ABC 10278 B, Arranged & Conducted by Chuck Sagle
Billboard review November 27, 1961: "*** A ballad pleader with the lead giving a fervent, urgent quality. Side may have a chance. (Saratoga, BMI) (1:54)." ; Mono on CD.

Not on Del Vikings' CD (?!):
TOO MANY MILES
(absolute masterpiece written by Twyla Herbert)
Copyright Twyla Herbert November 20, 1962 released March 1963 ABC 10425 B, Arranged & Conducted by Richard Wolfe.

Del Vikings' ABC Sessions:

4286 I'll Never Stop Crying
4287 Bring Back Your Heart
~ ABC 10208, BB rvw Apr 3, 1961
4312 Kiss Me
~ ABC 10278, BB rvw Nov 27, 1961
4313 Sorcerer's Apprentice
~ ABC 10425, Mar 1963, no BB rvw
Arr/Cond Chuck Sagle
10437 Face The Music
~ ABC 10278, BB rvw Nov 27, 1961
10438 One More River To Cross
~ ABC 10304, BB rvw Mar 3, 1962
10439 I Hear Bells (Stereo on CD)
10440 Don't Get Slick On Me (Not On CD)
~ ABC 10248, BB rvw Sept 18, 1961
10729 The Big Silence
~ ABC 10304, BB rvw Mar 3, 1962
10730 Confession Of Love
10731 Kilimanjaro (Not On CD)
~ ABC 10341, BB rvw Jun 23, 1962
Arr/Cond unknown
11177 Too Many Miles (Not On CD)
~ ABC 10425, Mar 1963, no BB rvw
11178 An Angel Up In Heaven
11179 --
11780 The Fishing Chant (Not On CD)
~ ABC 10385, BB rvw Dec 15, 1962
Arr/Cond Richard Wolfe.