The Prince of the High C's Presents his Greatest and More!
Laura Pinto | St. Petersburg, FL United States | 11/25/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Those of us who grew up with the music of Lou Christie will remember his flawless falsettos on such hits as "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" and "Lightning Strikes" - the latter became his signature song and forever after earned him the nickname "Lightning Lou." In this concert, recorded live at the Bottom Line nightclub in New York City in October 2003, Lou proves that he can still reach the high notes without stumbling on the way up the ladder - he offers us his greatest hits, and more, sung in the same key as when he originally recorded them.
After the exciting live intro gets us in the mood, and Lou gets us in the groove with his opening number, "I Still Wanna Rock & Roll With You," the handsome and still-youthful entertainer launches into his first Top 40 record, from 1962, "The Gypsy Cried," which he delivers - yes - in the same key as the original recording. He then goes on to sing an uncensored version of his 1966 offering "Rhapsody in the Rain," a tune which was (gasp!) actually banned by several markets for its risque lyric: "We were makin' out in the rain" (Lou actually had to change this to "We fell in love in the rain" in order to get airplay). What a difference 38 years makes - this song wouldn't even raise an eyebrow these days. Whether it's about makin' out or falling in love, or going "much too far," this song, with its touch of Tchaikovsky, is always a delight to listen to.
The next track is Lou's wonderfully romantic version of the 1965 Mel Carter hit "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," delivered with rapturous longing - every lady in the audience that night was surely wishing Lou were singing this song directly to her. Oh, be still my heart! Next on deck, another falsetto-laden early hit, "Two Faces Have I," followed by a vintage number Lou recorded originally in 1974 and which became a Top 20 hit on the Adult Contemporary charts, "Beyond the Blue Horizon." Lou's recording enjoyed a resurgence of popularity when Barry Levinson included it in his 1988 film, Rain Man, which starred Tom Cruise and Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman.
After the uptempo "The Heart of Saturday Night," Lou pays tribute to the late, great Roy Orbison with Orbison's "It's Over." Next up, "I'm Gonna Make You Mine," Lou's top-tenner from 1969 (complete with the high notes, of course!) ... and then a pleasant surprise, my personal favorite of this CD's tracks, a thinly disguised (and oh-so-delicious) autobiographical number titled "Rita, Joanie and the Wayward Wind" ... ahhh, the temptations of an entertainer on the road, and woe to the ladies who fall for him - this isn't your mama's "The Wayward Wind," and if the vamp intro doesn't clue you in, the lyrics surely will. Lou's backup gals, The Crayons step in with some brilliantly executed counterpoint vocals during the final repitition of the verse.
The delightful "Sure Fell in Love With You" follows, and is itself followed by an equally delightful "Mack the Knife," always a crowd pleaser and very well done by Lou - you won't be able to keep your fingers from snapping or your toes from tapping. Lou concludes with his signature song, "Lightnin' Strikes" - still nailing the high notes - before encoring with the Association hit "Never My Love."
This CD also includes a bonus track, Lou's charming "Christmas in New York," featuring The Crayons on backing vocals. Even if you aren't from the Metro NYC area, this song will make you want to visit Rockefeller Center at tree-lighting time, or at the very least snuggle up with your lover in front of the TV to watch it live!
Lightning Lou Christie is a talented, charismatic performer, and this wonderful CD is a must-have for your collection."
Vintage Lou in Concert plus an awesome bonus Christmas tune!
James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 01/31/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album - Lou's first live recording captured in 2003 during one of the final concerts held at the (now closed) New York City night club The Bottom Line - reveals why he is still considered, at 60ish, a great entertainer.
All of Lou's big hits are here: the early do-wop ditties "The Gypsy Cried" and "Two Faces Have I;" his smash love making odes "Lightning Strikes" and "Rhapsody In The Rain" (the "banned" version); the bubblegum classic "I'm Gonna Make You Mine;" and his '70s country flavored comebacker "Beyond The Blue Horizon" which was later included in the film RAIN MAN.
There's also effective remakes of Mel Carter's "Hold Me, Thirll Me, Kiss Me," Bobby Darin's "Mack The Knife" (first recorded by Lou on his Beyond The Blue Horizon album), and The Association's "Never My Love," plus a tribute to his late, great friend Roy Orbison on "It's Over." The concert's highlight is probably the starkly rhythmic and haunting "Rita, Joanie, and the Wayward Wind." First recorded by Lou on his 1997 album Pledging My Love, it combines the Gogi Grant hit with a story composed by Lou of his encounters with two groupies.
The album's other highlight is its final bonus track: a studio recording of Lou's "Christmas In New York" which is one of the finest modern holiday recordings around. The only other places you can purchase "Christmas In New York" is as a cd-single on Lou's website and on the various artist compilation Rockin' Christmas Party, Volume 1. Live and in the studio, Lou's four octave range, highlighted of course by that amazing falsetto, is still going strong. Don't miss Lou when he comes to your area, and until then, check out this album."
Lous Christie . . . Still Electric!!!
Michael G. Batcho | McAdoo, PA (USA) | 09/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Two words say it all: LOU CHRISTIE!
back in the mid 1960's i was a high schooler . . . and i owned a small pocket transistor radio (a Japanese El Dorado to be exact) which brought a universe of music to me . . . and one of the stars that shone brighter than the rest was a fellow Pennsylvanian by the name of Lou Christie.
I nick-named him "the stiletto falsetto" beacause lou could make a seemingly seamless transition from a baritone to electric falsetto in a marvelously magical way. And his talent made his rock & roll and balladeering sound simply sonorously electric.
And i find myself now in the new millenium . . .2006 . . .and i obtained cd lou recorded live on October 21, 2003 at The Bottom Line in New York City . . . and Lou has lost none of the magic . . . he's matured and evolved and grown, but retained that youthful exuberance and ability to deliver a song with vibrant energy!
This cd contains "some" of lou's hits done "live": "The Gypsy Cried" . . . "Rhapsody In The Rain" . . . "Two Faces Have I" . . . "I'm Gonna make You Mine" . . . and "Lightning Strikes".
and the cd contains a bonus studio track of "Christmas In New York" -- a nostalgically evocative poem in music re-presenting the spirit and feel of the Christmas time in The Big Apple (as i remember travelling through New York during those holidays when i was coming and going home from prep school making the pilgrimage from Grand Central Station to Port Authority Bus Terminal and killing hours of time seeing "the sights and sounds of New York at Christmas").
Lou has gifted us with great live performances on this cd . . . it is worth the rather inexpenisve cost many many times over since you will doubtless play this disc over and over and over again . . .
Thanks Lou Christie for ALL the great music . . . and i hope for much much more yet to come! :)"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1