The “Golden Hits Of The 70s” 

Main MenuConcept Refinement The Author..Wayne JancikGolden Age Of The 50sGolden Age Of The 60s1970s and There After

 

CHI COLTRANE

“THUNDER AND LIGHTNING”

(CHI COLTRANE)

Columbia 45640

No. 17   November 18, 1972

.

.

.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin, on November 16, 1948, Chi began her classical piano studies at the age of

seven.   She sang in her church choir, and at the age of 12 gave her first public keyboard performance.

By high school graduation, Chi was singing in the bars and hot spots of the Badger State.   She attended

Salter School of Music in Los Angeles for two years, and led the first of her bands.   Shortly after, she

moved to the Windy City and formed the Chicago Coltrane.

.

While working the dub scene, Chi caught the atten­tion of talent scouts for Columbia Records.   Contracts

were signed, arrangements were made, and songs were recorded.   Upon hearing her debut/self-titled

album, a critic for the San Francisco Chronicle wrote: “Miss Coltrane has two things going for her

beyond talent­ an engrossing urgency in her voice and a distinctive presence and beauty…  She is, all in ll, the most impressive new girl singer.”

.

The verdict given by most listeners, however, was a shade less intense.  With the exception of her lone

tuffy, “Thunder and Lightning,” Chi’s LP featured only hum­ drum hoofers.   The package did place

modestly on Bill­board’s top pop albums chart (#148, 1972), and “Thunder” rumbled the airwaves, but

lightning did not strike twice for Chi.   A second album, Let It Ride and follow­ up 45s like “Go Like

Elijah,” “You Were My Friend,” and “Who Ever Told You” sank from sight as if with nary a spin.

.

Before her disappearance, Coltrane spoke through a publicist: “Listen to my lyrics–my songs tell more

about me than anything I could ever say.”