Lucky Number (song)

"Lucky Number" is a song by recording artist Lene Lovich. Originally released as a B-side for Lovich's cover of "I Think We're Alone Now", the song was re-released on January 26, 1979, by Stiff Records as an A-side and became the lead single of her debut studio album Stateless (1978). The song was written by Lovich and Les Chappell, who produced the song.

"Lucky Number"
The 7" single cover of "Lucky Number" (1979)
Single by Lene Lovich
from the album Stateless
B-side"Home"
ReleasedJanuary 26, 1979 (1979-01-26)
Format
  • 7"
  • 12"
Recorded1978
Genre
Length2:47
LabelStiff
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Les Chappell
Lene Lovich singles chronology
"I Think We're Alone Now"
(1978)		 "Lucky Number"
(1979)		 "Say When"
(1979)
Alternative cover
The 7" single cover of the 1982 re-release of "Lucky Number".

"Lucky Number" received very positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success, peaking at number two in Australia, number three in the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and number five in Belgium. The single also charted well in Ireland and Austria. It became a defining song of the new wave genre.

"Lucky Number" was covered by German punk artist Nina Hagen. The German version "Wir leben immer... noch" ("We are living… still") was released on the album Unbehagen (1979).

Background and recording

After the break-up of the band the Diversions in December 1976, Lovich started searching for another band. She contacted a radio presenter Charlie Gillett and advertised herself as a sax player looking for a band. Gillett gave out her number but nobody called. Later, Lovich wrote him a letter providing more information about herself. This encouraged him to get her to record a demo of Tommy James and the Shondells' song "I Think We're Alone Now". He took the tape to Dave Robinson of Stiff Records, who liked it and decided to sign Lovich. He immediately proposed the song to be released as a single and wanted Lovich and Les Chappell to write and record a B-side.[1]

In July 1978, Stiff released the first limited quantities of "I Think We're Alone Now" with an early version of "Lucky Number". Lovich and Chappell went on to record her first album Stateless, which was released in October of the same year. "Lucky Number" gained recognition and was later re-released as a lead single from the album.

Composition

The song is composed in D major at 120 beats per minute. The chorus, perhaps unpredictably, consists of four dissonant notes sung in rapid succession. According to Lovich, she "didn't know anything about writing a song, so [the producer] just threw together a vocal line that sounded like a synthesizer." The chorus, coupled with the memorable guitar ostinato and rapid vocal shouts from backup singers gave the song and Lovich her distinctive sound that would define her next several records and, according to Rovi, "the hundreds of bands that followed."[2]

Track listings and formats
  • 7" single (UK)[3]
  1. "Lucky Number" – 2:47
  2. "Home" – 3:45
  • 12" single (UK)[4]
  1. "Lucky Number" – 2:47
  2. "Home" – 3:45
  3. "Lucky Number" (Version)
  • 7" single (US)[5]
  1. "Lucky Number" (Slavic Dance Version) – 4:32
  2. "Lucky Number" - 2:47
  • 7" single (UK)[6]
  1. "Lucky Number"
  2. "New Toy"

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Silver 250,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Juneau, Jason. "Innovation in New Wave:Lene Lovich", Perfect Sound Forever, September, 2001.
  2. ROVI. "Lene Lovich- "Stateless" Review". Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  3. Lucky Number (UK 7-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1979. BUY 42.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Lucky Number (UK 12-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1979. 12 BUY 42.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Lucky Number (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1979. 9-50725.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. Lucky Number (UK 7-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1982. BUY 149.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – Lene Lovich – Lucky Number" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Lene Lovich – Lucky Number" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lucky Number". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lene Lovich – Lucky Number" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  13. "Charts.nz – Lene Lovich – Lucky Number". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  15. "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  16. "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  17. "End of Year Charts 1979". RIANZ. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  18. "Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 22 December 1979. p. 27.
  19. "British single certifications – Lene Livich – Lucky Numbers". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 15, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Lucky Numbers in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.