again a single bought when it came out and Lene is and was an odd fish . . .the message of this and additional EP track 'Too Tender To Touch' sums up everything we think we know about her . . . . . . . in this peon to onanism and that the tracks bely that she may have certain issues around relationships but hey that's why we dug her . . . . . . . fascinating stuff but sadly destined to become pretty much a one hit wonder

On this day in music history: January 26, 1979 - “Lucky Number” by Lene Lovich is released. (US release date is in June 1979). Written by Lene Lovich and Les Chappell, it is the fourth UK and first US single release for the New Wave vocalist from Detroit, MI. Born Lili-Marlene Premilovich to an English mother and Serbian father, Lene’s mother relocates the family to the British Midlands city of Hull in the early 60’s, when her father begins having mental health issues. While living in Hull, Lovich meets Les Chappell, who shares her interests in music and art. The pair become a couple, eventually attending art school in London and starting a band. Chappell teaches her guitar, while Lovich also learns the violin and saxophone. By 1975, they join a disco/funk band called The Diversions, recording several singles and a full album without any success. After the band breaks up, Lovich reaches out to writer and DJ Charlie Gillett asking him for assistance in putting together another band. When no one responds, Gillett helps her record a demo tape which includes a cover version of Tommy James & The Shondells’ “I Think We’re Alone Now”. He takes the tape to David Robinson at the seminal British punk and new wave label Stiff Records. Robinson likes the tape and decides to sign Lene. “I Think We’re Alone Now” is released in July of 1978 in a limited pressing of 5,000 copies. On the B-side of the record is an early version of a Lovich/Chappell original titled “Lucky Number”, punctuated with her mimicking the sound of an English telephone dial tone throughout. “Lucky” ends up attracting much more attention than the A-side, with Stiff giving her and Les the green light to quickly record a full album. The album titled “Stateless” is released in October of 1978, re-recording “Lucky Number” in a tighter and more up tempo arrangement. It’s issued as an A-side in January of 1979, and the quirky and infectious song takes off quickly. Making a now famous appearance on Top Of The Pops, British audiences get their first glimpse of the singer. Wearing her hair in long braids and dressed in flowing black dresses and lace, she is a mysterious and charismatic presence from the outset. The record soars to number three on the UK singles chart on March 18, 1979, turning Lene Lovich into an instant pop star. The single and album are released in the US on the back of their UK success through CBS distributed Epic Records, who distributes the Stiff label stateside. Though neither charts, Lovich develops a loyal cult following in her home country, later hitting the US dance charts with “New Toy”, co-written with her tour keyboardist and future star Thomas Dolby. Acknowledged as a new wave classic, “Lucky Number” is also covered by German punk and new wave icon Nina Hagen, and is sampled and interpolated by Canadian DJ and electronic dance music artist Tiga on “I’m Having So Much Fun” in 2016.



thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves