I was in New York in December 1965 when this song was just released. It was playing all over the place. What a catchy melody! It reached the #1 position in the US Billboard. I was 14 at that time. My mom, my sisters and I had come to New York to meet my father who was coming back from the Pakistan-India war. He had been sent there by the United Nations in a peace-making mission. It was an unforgettable Christmas!
Incredible performance. The Midnight Special was indeed special. Imagine a live audience and then the TV audience and most performers seemed to give it their all. Those of us growing up in the 70's had a front row seat to the best.
he is now 80yrs old.was married at 1 time to francesca winfield but not sure status now.i think they had 2kids.as for his looks back then,he reminds me of eddie rabbitt.
I am so glad Lou trusted himself when some agent told him to stop singing with a high voice or he won't succeed. Some guy who thought he was a know it all big shot, and the guy himself was never a singer, trying to tell the great singer Lou Christie what he should do. So glad you trusted yourself Lou🙏😎🌟
I was just a little kid in the 60s, but I loved all the music I heard on the radio. I liked everything from Dean Martin to Iron Butterfly, but Lou Christie really got my blood flowing. I would love to see him in concert. Hopefully "When I'm 64."
@@geneva1040 And Jay Black of Jay and the Americans. Yet too all three had very virile, seductively sonorous baritones. Lou Christie, as here, was caveman hot.
All thru teen years, before I had a driver's license in the mid and late 1960's, I'd spend summers on my cousin's Boone Co. Nebraska farm. An ancient old home even then was where we cousin's lived like Huck Finns and had a flat out wonderful time out there living like the last vestiges of the pioneers. For music, we had just a small am radio on a shelf above the stove in the kitchen. Right at sundown, we'd be able to sometimes tune into Oklahoma City's 50K watt "blowtorch".....KOMA radio. I remember listening to them playing this one quite frequently. Oh Lord I'd give about all I have to just be able to go back and spend just 24 hours back on that Nebraska Sandhills farm and relive the natural joys a bunch of cousins experienced. Now I'm 70.......all 4 cousins still alive and in good health......
I have always loved the music of the extremely talented Lou Christie. His voice is gorgeous. I like him sporting that full beard very attractive on him.
Those certainly are not the Pointer Sisters. The singer in the yellow blouse is Clydie King, who also recorded as Brown Sugar. Clydie sang backup for a variety of artists, particularly Bob Dylan who she worked with for close to 40 years. She passed away a few years ago.
I am going through the tops hits if ‘66, my birth year, and was happy that I knew this song, along with a dozen other hits from that year. A good year for music.
One of the things I love about this song is how the chorus almost comes out of nowhere, like the chorus is in a different key and in a different mood than the rest of the song, it’s wild
I live in the Uk, this guy has been in my head for over 50 years,,, I never get tired of hearing his songs , a amazing artist , he can sing live as good as the recording,,, that takes some doing. Respect LOU
Best live version ever!!! He is fabulous here. Starts out like he doesn’t really want to do it. But then he goes ballistic!! The band is incredible. Look at that drummer kill it. The girls are sensational. This is 100 x better than the record.
Drummer is Gary Malaber. He’s on “Moondance” by Van Morrison, all the hits by Steve Miller, the early big Eddie Money records like “Two Tickets To Paradise”. Great player.
@@boogingtonthunderwood8969 All true. He’s really young here. But he plays great. This is probably around 1975. So, am I correct that he had already done the Steve Miller sessions? Fabulous drummer.
AHHHHHH , THD 60'S & 70'S LIVE ON, 4-EVER & EVER ! =-------LOU LOOKED SO 70'S HERE, BUT THEN, WE AL DID .----FANTASTIC SONG, IRRESISTIBLE ! ---MJL, 77 Y/O
What a voice lou has an all timer for sure. Wasn't an easy song to sing back in his prime he still does an amazing job even today. Never ceases to amaze me I've seen a lot of artists from that era many now pushing 80 yet they just have a love for there art and still in such great shape many of them..
I did notice the falsetto started to give out toward the end. He's got my respect though; I don't think I could have held out singing that high for that long! What a voice!
Lou Christie is celebrating his 80th birthday today, February 19, 2023. He is an American singer-songwriter known for several hits in the 1960s, including his 1966 US chart-topper "Lightnin' Strikes," (1965) "The Gypsy Called" (1962),"Two Faces Have I," (1963) and "Rhapsody in the Rain" (1966), among others. He was born in Pennsylvania on February 19, 1943
The way he sings the lines, “Won’t you wait” and “…settle down, I want one baby on my mind” is just so beautiful. Also glad to see Lou doesn’t have a problem showing off his lightning rod lol👖
Lou Christie and Frankie Valli are The Only 2 Singer’s That Could Hit High Notes The Way They Do 🎵🎶🎼 They Are Both Fabulous and Remarkable Singer’s and Entertainer’s 🌹🌹 Love Them Both ❤️❤️👍👍😊
FABULOUS ,FABULOUS SINGER / ENTERTAINER 🌹 LOU CHRISTIE and FRANKIE VALLI THE GREATEST HIGH PITCH VOICE’S EVER TO BE HEARD 🎼🎶🎵 BOTH ARE TOTALY AWSOME 🌹🌹Love All Their MUSIC and SONG’S ❤️❤️😊
This song dates back to 1966. When did Midnight Special begin airing? All I can say is this is a real special Midnight Special; it crossed time barriers.
And if you are in love.... Dream..Dream..Dream....Dream....The Everly Brothers - You would greatly Swoon to Dick & Dee Dee.....God Bless Them....They were an great inspiration into my my Musical Life ..career.... Dick and Dee Dee Forever !!!
This song always reminds me of sitting in my best mate Julie waites bedroom playing our records and this one was the 1st one she played and then she introduced me to elvis we were both 15 at the time lolxx
They pulled the band together and probably went one time through. But everyone does a terrific job. A young Gary Malabar on drums. He played with Steve Miller, Eddie Money, Van Morrison and everyone’s boss Springsteen.
I was in New York in December 1965 when this song was just released. It was playing all over the place. What a catchy melody! It reached the #1 position in the US Billboard. I was 14 at that time. My mom, my sisters and I had come to New York to meet my father who was coming back from the Pakistan-India war. He had been sent there by the United Nations in a peace-making mission. It was an unforgettable Christmas!
Great experience! I was maybe 8 when it came out. Loved it.
❤❤❤❤
Incredible performance. The Midnight Special was indeed special. Imagine a live audience and then the TV audience and most performers seemed to give it their all. Those of us growing up in the 70's had a front row seat to the best.
This song and most of his songs came out in the 1960's, the decade of the greatest music in history!
Born in 1968 my dad ALWAYS sang this song when I was growing up
Good lord, he's beautiful!!!
He absolutely is beautiful. I love the beard❤️❤️❤️🤩🤩🤩
You know he’s homosexual right?
he is now 80yrs old.was married at 1 time to francesca winfield but not sure status now.i think they had 2kids.as for his looks back then,he reminds me of eddie rabbitt.
@@pdunc1976 lotta homosexuals are married with children. He is obviously homosexual.
@@pdunc1976 He reminds me of John Ritter(RIP).
Man, when those voices come together in the chorus how can can you not smile? 😁
I believe the backup are the "Blackberries", it gets no better.
Him in that denim oh my god I wish I was young again.
😂❤
Lol!
I bet you can still be young again, that never departs from us. You have a Mind that remembers everything, be young again
Lou is handsome & he fills out those jeans nicely.
That, my friend, is a "Canadian Tuxedo".
Looks great,sounds brilliant.Oh he was so gorgeous.Thus still sounds fab in 2024
I am so glad Lou trusted himself when some agent told him to stop singing with a high voice or he won't succeed. Some guy who thought he was a know it all big shot, and the guy himself was never a singer, trying to tell the great singer Lou Christie what he should do. So glad you trusted yourself Lou🙏😎🌟
I was just a little kid in the 60s, but I loved all the music I heard on the radio. I liked everything from Dean Martin to Iron Butterfly, but Lou Christie really got my blood flowing. I would love to see him in concert. Hopefully "When I'm 64."
Lou Christie knew his vocal range better than anybody else did. I dare say the best vocal coaches back then envied him.
Yeah he sings in that high pitch just like Frankie Vallie.
Falsetto is very popular for love songs especially for more upbeat rhythm-and-blues numbers like these.
@@geneva1040 And Jay Black of Jay and the Americans. Yet too all three had very virile, seductively sonorous baritones. Lou Christie, as here, was caveman hot.
Awesome track...Some love for Clydie King (August 21, 1943 - January 7, 2019) RIP....Clydie's the beauty in gold.
I’ve seen her in other videos, she must’ve been really good !!❤
God she was one beauty that's for sure!
She is incredible. They are the best together. They don’t sing like that these days
So sad to hear she was a beautiful woman
Beautiful ladies.
I like the one in the white sweater.
LOVE this song too!! Born early Nov in 1970. He's Sicilian btw. LOVE the Black girls too.... SUPER HOTTIES!!.....👍😁
They ARE gorgeous!
All thru teen years, before I had a driver's license in the mid and late 1960's, I'd spend summers on my cousin's Boone Co. Nebraska farm. An ancient old home even then was where we cousin's lived like Huck Finns and had a flat out wonderful time out there living like the last vestiges of the pioneers. For music, we had just a small am radio on a shelf above the stove in the kitchen. Right at sundown, we'd be able to sometimes tune into Oklahoma City's 50K watt "blowtorch".....KOMA radio. I remember listening to them playing this one quite frequently. Oh Lord I'd give about all I have to just be able to go back and spend just 24 hours back on that Nebraska Sandhills farm and relive the natural joys a bunch of cousins experienced. Now I'm 70.......all 4 cousins still alive and in good health......
He's just happy to see everybody.
What a good looking man he was!! 🥂🎉💐🎊♥️💋 And a great singer into the bargain!! 🥂
❤ awesome, every time...great and beautiful back up singers..
I have always loved the music of the extremely talented Lou Christie. His voice is gorgeous. I like him sporting that full beard very attractive on him.
Those are the Pointer Sisters
Agree
Those certainly are not the Pointer Sisters. The singer in the yellow blouse is Clydie King, who also recorded as Brown Sugar. Clydie sang backup for a variety of artists, particularly Bob Dylan who she worked with for close to 40 years. She passed away a few years ago.
@@robertpearlman6089 I was kidding
@@floatsting20 No you weren't...
He was so handsome,,love the beard,,awesome voice too.
I am going through the tops hits if ‘66, my birth year, and was happy that I knew this song, along with a dozen other hits from that year. A good year for music.
Love that song! Never gets old!
Good Tune! Those 3 ladies are so Beautiful and charming!
Brings back a lot of memories of my teen years!!! Love it!!
He's got it goin' on in more ways than one! 47 years later I saw him a few months ago in concert. He still sounds and looks great!
One sexy dude!
He's really talented
Good looking dude
Yes he is !!!@@mattveteska8559
such a performer and stage presence, beautiful voice
Ahhh, the good old days. Best music ever and The Midnight Special was great also!
What a great song. ❤️❤️❤️
Those sisters harmony with Lou is breath taking ..! Yes I do agree he look dam good with the beard ... the 60s an 70s were a some great 👍 music
One of the things I love about this song is how the chorus almost comes out of nowhere, like the chorus is in a different key and in a different mood than the rest of the song, it’s wild
Agree. Two different songs on one ‘single’.
Brilliant analysis.
Always great to watch LouChristie's videos
Lou, you were my Italian Boy making music! No more on the street light corners in Jersey or Philly! Come home to our fans that love you!
I live in the Uk, this guy has been in my head for over 50 years,,, I never get tired of hearing his songs , a amazing artist , he can sing live as good as the recording,,, that takes some doing. Respect LOU
great voice, Lou is the man.
Memories of my childhood!!! How I miss that music!!!!
This is the only Lou Christie song I ever heard and I always like it. My oh my he has a set pipes on him that even the Tenors could not touch!
Check our Rhapsody in the Rain! Another good one. ⛈️⚡️❤️🔥
@@Trabug1071many more
I have his greatest hits album somewhere; there’s lots of great music in it.
@@Trabug1071 The Gypsy Cried and If My Car Could Talk too
I love this song it just gives me the nicest feeling
Best live version ever!!! He is fabulous here. Starts out like he doesn’t really want to do it. But then he goes ballistic!! The band is incredible. Look at that drummer kill it. The girls are sensational. This is 100 x better than the record.
It is out of sync like a Japanese war movie.
nice! someone as enthusiastic as you
Drummer is Gary Malaber.
He’s on “Moondance” by Van Morrison, all the hits by Steve Miller, the early big Eddie Money records like “Two Tickets To Paradise”.
Great player.
@@boogingtonthunderwood8969 All true. He’s really young here. But he plays great. This is probably around 1975. So, am I correct that he had already done the Steve Miller sessions? Fabulous drummer.
@@grouchosays Some if not all. The “Fly Like An Eagle” album was cut around this time, I believe.
I love this song 💓
Great song, great artist! Love the backup girls!
Isn't one of the singers La Wanda Page???
The build up to the chorus is so great!
AHHHHHH , THD 60'S & 70'S LIVE ON, 4-EVER & EVER ! =-------LOU LOOKED SO 70'S HERE, BUT THEN, WE AL DID .----FANTASTIC SONG, IRRESISTIBLE ! ---MJL, 77 Y/O
LIGHTNING LOU CHRISTIE! OH YEAH! LOVE THIS SONG!!!
Great song, brought back so many memories ❤️
CINNAMON QUEENS ARE BEAUTIFUL
cinnamon queens???????????????
What a voice lou has an all timer for sure. Wasn't an easy song to sing back in his prime he still does an amazing job even today. Never ceases to amaze me I've seen a lot of artists from that era many now pushing 80 yet they just have a love for there art and still in such great shape many of them..
I did notice the falsetto started to give out toward the end. He's got my respect though; I don't think I could have held out singing that high for that long! What a voice!
Lou Christie is celebrating his 80th birthday today, February 19, 2023. He is an American singer-songwriter known for several hits in the 1960s, including his 1966 US chart-topper "Lightnin' Strikes," (1965) "The Gypsy Called" (1962),"Two Faces Have I," (1963) and "Rhapsody in the Rain" (1966), among others. He was born in Pennsylvania on February 19, 1943
Thank you 🥰
Loved all of his songs, especially lightning strikes
@@jimmyolsen5897 Another hit he had was I'm going to make you mine.
@@cigsbutt I remember it well 1969
@@jimmyolsen5897 It's kinda funny,but later on while listening to it I thought wow people today would probably think it was stalking.
The way he sings the lines,
“Won’t you wait” and
“…settle down, I want one baby on my mind” is just so beautiful.
Also glad to see Lou doesn’t have a problem showing off his lightning rod lol👖
He’s Italian 🎉
The drummer was outstanding!
Gary Malabar
@@grouchosays Also played with Van Morrison and Steve Miller Band.
@@jasonpp1973 yup. Played on a Bruce album too.
Me too! Thought all these years it was Frankie V thank heaven for Midnight Special! It’s all we had in those days & Don Kirshner.
I was thinking the same thing - I'm kinda shocked to learn that this is not Frankie Valli, after thinking that for decades.
Lou Christie and Frankie Valli are The Only 2 Singer’s That Could Hit High Notes The Way They Do 🎵🎶🎼 They Are Both Fabulous and Remarkable Singer’s and Entertainer’s 🌹🌹 Love Them Both ❤️❤️👍👍😊
I thought he was hot in '66 & '69, but, wow, look at him here !
bootsamou I never thought 'he was put together so fine" ! damn!
oh gay guy huhh,,cant seem to escape from you peeps..
bootsamou bloody hell never seen him wished I had
Sorry but still looks hot here what do you look like now
WTF FUCK MAN?YOU MUST BE INTO MEN TO CALL ANOTHER MAN HOT SMH
Wish I was there to see it live. Incredible song and performance
You are from my era very handsome and talented
Those were the good old days life was easier.
I miss those days.
💘 you you are great
Something about this song majes me so emotional. Love it!
Have always loved this song!
Good Lord luv the pants
Ahhhh , memories of my youth, how I love this song thank you !!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️♥️♥️♥️♥️🎶🎵🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎵🎵🎶
I can't remember where I heard this song but I'm in love with this specific performance, and The Delicates (backup singers) are stunning.
That’s actually the Blackberries. Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, and Venetta Fields.
I think this was his best look! Very sexy!
"Canadian Tuxedo".
Again and again lightning LOU🌪⚡🔥
What a fantastic video everybody did a great job
Love this song! Sounds good live.
FABULOUS ,FABULOUS SINGER / ENTERTAINER 🌹 LOU CHRISTIE and FRANKIE VALLI THE GREATEST HIGH PITCH VOICE’S EVER TO BE HEARD 🎼🎶🎵 BOTH ARE TOTALY AWSOME 🌹🌹Love All Their MUSIC and SONG’S ❤️❤️😊
💓💓💓
WHAT A BABE!
Wow ! The riffs on the guitar outstanding!
Hunka hunka burning love!
Hello Tulessa. Hope you’re having a great day?
The only other male singers I know that can hit such high notes are Frankie Vallie and Barry Gib. All great singers.
Smokey Robinson has a falsetto, too.
Love this!!! ❤
Love that song n Lou wil always be my favorite
Love him!!!
hes got that whole jean look going🥰🥰🥰 those girls are so cute
Awesome song about a young man growing up
Still going in his seventies though drugs never got the best of him
Luigi Sacco!
This was #1 for multiple weeks in New York
Best voice in rock. Wish hed done covers more. In your face fireworks.
Such a cute song. Well produced.
classic song it has class , remembered for ever'
LUVVVVVVVV LOU CHRISTIE AND THIS SONG!!!!!! 60s 70s MY MUSIC!!!!! MAGICAL TIME!!!!!!!💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥💜
One of the best singers of all time ❤
Great song! But the song's magic also depended upon the backup voices of the singing sensation known as The Delicates.
These are not The Delicates, they played on the studio version.
Think about it Bruce. This guy could carry a tune. At least give him that. At least we agree it's a good song✌
@@gabeplankton1291 He said "also."
Lou Christie was born in 1943 so he was like 32 here.
Not sure about the all denim look, but whatever works, man.
They were killing it. I love it
Love this
pop music at its best
Rather listen to this music then the shit that's brought out now days
This song dates back to 1966. When did Midnight Special begin airing? All I can say is this is a real special Midnight Special; it crossed time barriers.
Midnight Special started airing in 1973, ran until 1980 or so.
Wonder Awhile he's older here. You can tell by the lack of enthusiasm for the song he's done it for years
Lip Syncing , much ?
@@denyseduran5547 I bet he could sing that song in a coma...love him...
@@peterbowling950 I don't think so; he sounded a bit hoarse. Fortunately, there was not auto-tune back then.
And if you are in love.... Dream..Dream..Dream....Dream....The Everly Brothers - You would greatly Swoon to Dick & Dee Dee.....God Bless Them....They were an great inspiration into my my Musical Life ..career.... Dick and Dee Dee Forever !!!
I really wish there was a collaboration with Lou and Klaus...i love this song lol
Judging by the clothes, 75 or 76. Lou is wearing it well
Oh yeah looks good looks good
I'd give my dog up to be able to pull that fashion off.
Those denim outfits never go out of style
Thank you so much for posting this video. I really enjoyed it! :-)
Very Handsome😊😊
I like what’s in his pants
Quarters for parking, space was limited.
beautiful song
por muchos años buscando este canción bellísima y lo qué le sigue recordar es volver a vivir
My god how did I miss this back in the day ?
Amazing ‼️💯♥️
He is one gorgeous looking man. ❤
Lou, I can't even remember this far back.
The Midnight Special: Flashback to 1974 : Movies & TV
Lou Christie: Lightnin' Strikes
This song always reminds me of sitting in my best mate Julie waites bedroom playing our records and this one was the 1st one she played and then she introduced me to elvis we were both 15 at the time lolxx
sounds like there wasn't much of a rehearsal but the tune is so strong. the smoking hot back up girls bring the chorus bigtime
Most of these show they made the artists use records. Not this one, not 3 Dog Night, not The Guess Who.
Probably got together that night.😆😂
They pulled the band together and probably went one time through. But everyone does a terrific job. A young Gary Malabar on drums. He played with Steve Miller, Eddie Money, Van Morrison and everyone’s boss Springsteen.
07/17/2022,,I needed a Great Flashback🌹getting harder to sing along at 63,,lmfao
I see he's wearing a Canadian tuxedo.
I only watch this to watch the late Clyde King but I do like the song and the drumming.