"Lucky Number" is a song by American-British recording artist

Lene Lovich Lili-Marlene Premilovich (born March 30, 1949), known professionally as Lene Lovich ( ), is an American-British singer. She first gained attention in 1979 with the release of her hit single "Lucky Number", which peaked at number 3 on the UK Sin ...

. Originally released as a

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...

for Lovich's cover of "

I Think We're Alone Now "I Think We're Alone Now" is a song written and composed by Ritchie Cordell that was first recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells. It was a major hit for the group, reaching number 4 on the US Hot 100 in April 1967. It finished at No. 12 on ' ...

", the song was re-released in 1979 by

Stiff Records Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London by Dave Robinson (music executive), Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007. Established at the outset of the p ...

as an A-side and became the

lead single A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. A similar term, "debut ...

of her debut studio album '' Stateless'' (1978). The song was written by Lovich and Les Chappell, who produced the song. "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 Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of ...

by German punk artist

Nina Hagen Catharina "Nina" Hagen (; born 11 March 1955) is a German singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her theatrical vocals and rise to prominence during the punk and Neue Deutsche Welle movements in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is ...

. The German version "Wir leben immer... noch" ("''We are alive... still''") was released on the album ''

Unbehagen ''Unbehagen'' is the second studio album by Nina Hagen Band, released on February 25, 1980 by CBS Records. It is the last album released by the band, before Nina Hagen decided to pursue a solo career. The band kept on performing under the name ...

'' (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 Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. The band has had two No. 1 singles in the U.S.: " Hanky Panky" (1966), the band's only RIAA Certified Gold record, and "Crimson and Clover" (1969). The ...

' song "

". He took the tape to Dave Robinson of

, 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

. 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 he producerjust threw together a vocal line that sounded like a synthesizer." The chorus, coupled with a guitar

ostinato In music, an ostinato (; derived from the Italian word for ''stubborn'', compare English ''obstinate'') is a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, frequently in the same pitch. Well-known ostinato-based pieces inc ...

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 TiVo Corporation, formerly known as the Rovi Corporation and Macrovision Solutions Corporation, was an American technology company headquartered in San Jose, California. Now operating as Xperi, the company is primarily involved in licensing ...

, "the hundreds of bands that followed."

Track listings and formats

*7-inch single (UK) #"Lucky Number" – 2:47 #"Home" – 3:45 *12-inch single (UK) #"Lucky Number" – 2:47 #"Home" – 3:45 #"Lucky Number" (Version) *7-inch single (US) #"Lucky Number" (Slavic Dance Version) – 4:32 #"Lucky Number" - 2:47 *7-inch single (UK) #"Lucky Number" #"New Toy"

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

* {{authority control Songs about luck 1978 songs 1979 singles Lene Lovich songs Stiff Records singles