Rhapsody In The Rain by Lou Christie

Album: Rockin' And Rollin' (1966)

Charted: 37 16

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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. >>
Suggestion credit:
Uncle - Philly, PA
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."
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."

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Comments: 9

Moanin' Lisa from Chillicothe Mo.Back in '66 I was a sophomore at University of Kansas (Lawrence KS) & recall that a local rock station's DJ would play this song & mention that it was banned back East by some "stuffy shirts." haha! In my record collection back then, I'd write on the record label the ranking in local AM station's polls. So I know in Lawrrence & the Kansas City area that this record got to #6 and #7 respectively. I never paid attention to the Billboard Hot 100 chart or other charts of Billboard. They just seemed too adult-influenced back in the Sixties. This song was well arranged and produced. I knew it was about love-making or sex & coming from a hottie like Lou Christie made it even more sizzling! It's tame compared to some songs today. But, ahhh, the memories it stirs up! Uhh, is it steamy-hot in here----or just me??!!
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 3rd 1966, Lou Christie performed "Rhapsody in the Rain" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
Six months earlier on March 20th, 1966 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on April 24th, 1966 it peaked at #16 {for 1 week} and spent 8 weeks on the Top 100...
It reached #40 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart...
On the same 'Bandstand' show he performed "Painter"; it stayed on the Top 100 for 5 weeks, peaking at #81...
Between 1963 and 1974 he had twelve Top 100 records; three made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Lightnin' Strikes" for 1 week on February 3rd, 1966...
Mr. Christie, born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, will celebrate his 72nd birthday come next February 19th {2015}.
Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesSteve in Norwood, your reference to the Tammys' "Egyptian Shumba" sent me scurrying off to Youtube, where I listened in stunned amazement to what has to be one of the wildest rock and roll songs ever recorded. They're practically primal-screaming in the chorus. Holy Ankhesenamon, Batman!, I muttered, this was on the *radio*??? I was an avid listener to WLS in the early 1960s, and I have no memory at all of it (or of "Rhapsody in the Rain", for that matter, which was banned on WLS and WCFL by none other than John Cardinal Cody. Maybe he stomped "Egyptian Shumba" as well). Thank you for a piece of my youth I never knew was there.
Charles Hollingswort from Leeds, AlThere were two different pressings of the 45. Although the same catalogue numbers were used:M.G.M. Records #13473,the one with the lyrics "We were makin' out in the rain" has the matrix number 66XY 308 in the vinyl trail-off while the one with the lyrics "We fell in love in the rain" has the matrix number 66XY 308-1 in the vinyl trail-off. A copy of the 45 with the lyrics "We were makin' out in the rain" with the corresponding matrix number is worth between 30 and 75 dollars according to the condition of the 45. Lou had a record out in 1960 on Starr Records #508 entitled "Close Your Eyes" which was shown as by The Classics.It was reissued in 1963 on Alcar #207 as by Lou Christie & the Classics. Lou's sister, Susan Christie, also sang back-up on many of his recordings.
Steve from Whittier, CaThe Chatolic Chruch almost all molest young boys,though>:) Always enjoyed Lou Christie, esp.from "Lightning Strikes" on. Not just in the storyline but the rainy weather "LS" & "Rhapsody" are quite similiar but nothing built the way that the first song did.["Lightning"].
John from Fort Worth, TxLou, my mom and I both loved "Lightening Strikes" way back in the day. I look forward to researching your other songs. You're amazing!
John Martin, 46
Steve from Norwood, MnAnother 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.
Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesIn his book "The Beatles: A Study in Drugs, Sex and Revolution", published by the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade in 1969, right-wing rock critic David Noebel fired off one of his longest tirades on the evil depravities of this and of all radio stations which played it. He cited interviews with DJs who stated they not only knew what the song was about, they were aware that "the kids" knew as well. OMG!

Noebel's books are a must read for anyone wanting to amass a list of the best sexual, psychedelic and political songs of the era. (Parts of this comment crossposted to amazon.com)
Gary from Dublin, GaRhapsody in the Rain: 1966
Lightning Strikes: 1965
Two Faces Have I: 1963
The Gypsy Cried: 1963
All of the above were top twenty.

Lou Christie Born as:
Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco
Born in 1941 64YOA
Take Care Stay Safe

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