| Lightnin' Strikes | |
| Cover: | Lightnin'_Strikes_-_Lou_Christie.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Lou Christie |
| Album: | Lightnin' Strikes |
| B-Side: | Cryin' in the Streets |
| Released: | December 1965 |
| Recorded: | September 3, 1965 |
| Studio: | Olmstead Studios, New York City, New York |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Length: | 3:05 |
| Label: | MGM |
| Prev Title: | How Many Teardrops |
| Prev Year: | 1963 |
| Next Title: | Outside the Gates of Heaven |
| Next Year: | 1966 |
"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 first to No. 1 in Canada in January 1966 on the RPM Top Singles chart,[1] 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,[2] and No. 11 on the UK Record Retailer chart. It attained RIAA certification on March 3, 1966, garnering gold status for selling over one million copies.
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.
| Chart (1965–66) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia KMR[3] | 9 | |
| Canada RPM Top Singles[4] | 1 | |
| New Zealand (Listener) [5] | 3 | |
| UK [6] | 11 | |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 1 | |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [8] | 1 |
| Chart (1966) | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [9] | 23 | |
| U.S. Cash Box [10] | 15 |
