David Lindley is a guitarist of such renown that's it's difficult to imagine that he's not a household name. He's known to music fans for whom he has played with over the years, most notably Jackson Browne (that's David singing falsetto on Stay from the Running on Empty album, and he co-wrote Call it a Loan from the Boulevard album). He's also played with James Taylor, Ry Cooder (the classic Bop til You Drop), Bonnie Raitt, Henry Kaiser, and others.
He recently has been touring and recording with percussionist Wally Ingram (three albums together). He also did two superb live albums with percussionist Hani Naser in the 90s.
Mr. Dave took a break from all that when he formed a band with some compatriots (El Rayo-X), went into the studio with Jackson Browne and Greg Ladanyi producing, and emerged with El Rayo-X. Hard to believe this record is more than 20 years old!!
David Lindley is the kind of guitarist who can play virtually any instrument if it's a guitar or something that resembles a guitar. On tour, he pulls out all kinds of strange and wondrous sounding contraptions, all the time engaging the audience in his funny but weird bantering and wearing absolutely the coolest polyester available in 1972.
That said, I absolutely love this record. It's a goofy, relaxed record, with odd songs, mannerisms, and superb musicianship (Ras Baboo, Ian Wallace, Bob Glaub, William "Smitty" Smith, among others). The arrangements sparkle beyond the quirky lyricism.
Lindley is an afficionado of the weird songs lost in the recesses of our popular culture. Consequently, this album includes three chestnuts by probably Lindley's favorite writer of fringe tunes, Bob "Frizz" Fuller, who contributes She took Off My Romeos, Quarter of a Man, and Ain't No Way.
El Rayo-X also includes classics such as Your Old Lady, Mercury Blues, and who could forget Tu-ber-cu-lucas and the Sinus Blues.
In short, this album is an enjoyable romp among the weird treasures of our time. The musicianship is first-rate; the performances superb; it's just an all around terrific little record (clocks in at 39 minutes and change).
I submit El Rayo-X is a perfect party album, especially if beer, polyester, grass skirts, and tiki torches are involved.
Get this record! Visit Mr. Dave at www.davidlindley.com
If you go to the site, you might want to pick up El Rayo-X Live! a self-produced record that contains many of the songs here, plus others from the rest of the David Lindley & El Rayo-X catalog of albums: Win This Record and Very Greasy. It was recorded live in 1986 and 1997 and as usual, is full of FUN.
There is only one Mr. Dave.
[There's an album Mr. Dave by the way, but it's an ultra rare solo album from 1985 that is virtually impossible to track down. The Japanese CD shows up on auction sites from time to time for upwards of $100 dollars or so.]
Tracks: She Took Off My Romeos (Bob "Frizz Fuller) By Bye Love (Feklice and Boudleaux Bryant) Mercury Blues (K.C. Douglas) Quarter of a Man (Bob "Frizz Fuller) Ain't No Way (Bob "Frizz Fuller) Twist and Shout (based on "Shake it Up Baby" by Bert Ruissel and Phil Medley) El-Rayo-X (David Lindley and Jorge Calderon) Your Old Lady (O'Kelly Isley, King Curtis, and Elmo Glick) Don't Look Back (William Robinson, Jr., and Ronald White) Petit Fleur (Nancy Lindley and Solomon Feldthouse) Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues (Huey "Piano" Smith) Pay the Man (David Lindley and George "Baboo" Pierre)
[This is part of an occasional series on "Blasts from My Past."]
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