Lucky Number (song)

"Lucky Number" is a song by English-American 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 in 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"
7-inch single cover (1979)
Single by Lene Lovich
from the album Stateless
B-side"Home"
Released1979
Recorded1978
GenreNew wave[1]
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
7-inch single cover (1982)

"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 alive… 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.[2]

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 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 a guitar ostinato and rapid vocal shouts from backup singers, gave the song and Lovich a sound that would define her next several records and, according to Rovi, "the hundreds of bands that followed."[3]

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

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Pleasently Antagonistic: New Wave". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 454. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  2. Juneau, Jason. "Innovation in New Wave:Lene Lovich", Perfect Sound Forever, September, 2001.
  3. ROVI. "Lene Lovich- "Stateless" Review". iTunes. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  4. Lucky Number (UK 7-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1979. BUY 42.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Lucky Number (UK 12-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1979. 12 BUY 42.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. Lucky Number (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1979. 9-50725.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. Lucky Number (UK 7-inch Single liner notes). Lene Lovich. Stiff Records. 1982. BUY 149.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Lene Lovich – Lucky Number" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  10. "Lene Lovich – Lucky Number" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lucky Number". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  13. "Lene Lovich – Lucky Number" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  14. "Lene Lovich – Lucky Number". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  16. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 10 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  17. "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  18. "Top 100—Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  19. "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  20. "End of Year Charts 1979". RIANZ. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  21. "Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 22 December 1979. p. 27.
  22. "British single certifications – Lene Lovich – Lucky Numbers". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
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