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Lucky Number

I remember 'Lucky Number' from its time as a UK #3 hit single in 1979 (outsold at its peak only by Elvis Costello's 'Oliver's Army' and 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor). I was only ten, but just beginning to take more of an interest in the chart's upper reaches.

I suspect its success then had a lot to do with the quirkiness of the performance: with Lovich looking like something out of '20s German expressionist cinema and sounding like no-one else. It is, meanwhile, a strong song that still holds up well. The 7", on Stiff Records, was part of a lucky discovery at my local charity shop last year.

The B-Side, 'Home', has also withstood the test of time, and sounds great. A few months after buying 'Lucky Number', I picked up a copy of the disco classic 'Supernature' by Cerrone, also on 7", and was surprised to learn when I looked it up that Lovich had, without being credited on the record, written its lyrics.

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