David Lindley’s 10 Greatest Songs and Greatest Discs (Representative Songs and Hidden Masterpieces)

In this issue, we have created a ranking of David Lindley.

He was the guitarist in Jackson Browne’s band.

He is also well known for his work with Ry Cooder.

However, his solo album may be a clearer expression of the music he wants to play.

I have selected songs mainly from the period when he played with El Rayo-X.

This blog is an automatic translation of a Japanese blog into English.

Please understand that it may be difficult to read.
 

No.1「Don’t Look Back」(Album:El Rayo-X)

■Song Title：Don’t Look Back
■Album Name：El Rayo-X
■Video link：「Don’t Look Back」

This song is a cover of The Temptations.

Here’s a link to the original.

The Temptations – Don’t look Back

This song was written by Smokey Robinson.

David’s music seems to have a lot of cheerful tunes.

You can tell from the intro of this song that it is a fun song.

It seems to be encouraging a woman whose first love did not come true.

I’m sure she will be able to change her mind positively if she is told in such a cheerful way.

Other songs on this album include “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles and “Bye Bye Love” by The Everly Brothers.

However, all of these songs are in the same style and are very enjoyable.

No.2「Mercury Blues」(Album:El Rayo-X)

■Song Title：Mercury Blues
■Album Name：El Rayo-X
■Video link：「Mercury Blues」

This is an old song, first recorded by K.C. Douglas in 1948.

K.C. Douglas is a folk blues singer.

Incidentally, “Mercury” in “Mercury Blues” refers to the brand name of Ford cars.

This song is about Mercury’s longing for cars.

I looked up what kind of car it was, but I thought this car was the coolest.

It certainly makes me want one.

Now this song is relatively up-tempo for him.

The guitar playing may also mimic the sound of the car.

Ian Wallace’s drumming is also very attractive during this period.

Ian Wallace used to be the drummer for King Crimson.

His playing seems to be too different from that time, though.

No.3「Talk to the Lawyer」(Album:Win This Record!)

■Song Title：Talk to the Lawyer
■Album Name：Win This Record!
■Video link：「Talk to the Lawyer」

His solo albums have a cerebral, natural appeal.

The title of the song is “Talk to the Lawyer,” which makes me wonder if it is a playful consultation.

This guy used to play guitar in Jackson Browne’s band.

At the time, I didn’t think he was such an easy-going guy.

With his slide guitar, I think he stood out from the rest of the backing band.

It’s interesting to note that a fake Eastern and Western style phrase pops up at 2:19 in this song as well.

It’s true that it might have been difficult to show this side of himself in the backing of Jackson Browne, who was too serious.

No.4「Texas Tango」(Album:Very Greasy)

■Song Title：Texas Tango
■Album Name：Very Greasy
■Video link：「Texas Tango」

This is a song that could have been on Ry Cooder’s album.

This guy has participated in Ry Cooder’s albums and often plays live with him.

At the time, Ry Cooder was exploring various roots music, ahead of David.

In particular, his work on Mexican Tex-Mex was very successful.

I’m sure David must have been quite inspired by it.

By the way, Tex-Mex is music from the border of Texas and Mexico, sometimes called Tejano music.

Tex-Mex has a lot of cheerful accordion and polka-like tunes.

This song is like that, too.

At 1:32, the guitar is listed in the credits, but it sounds like a banjo.

No.5「She Took Off My Romeos」(Album:El Rayo-X)

■Song Title：She Took Off My Romeos
■Album Name：El Rayo-X
■Video link：「She Took Off My Romeos」

He was born in California and made a name for himself as a banjo player.

He later joined a band called Kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscope is a psychedelic roots rock band, which I don’t find very interesting.

Here’s one song for your reference.

Kaleidoscope – Egyptian Gardens

He then began playing guitar in the backing band of popular singer/songwriter Jackson Browne.

He rose to fame there and was able to make his solo debut.

This song is the first track on his debut album.

This album, with its introduction of reggae, is considered his best work.

No.6「I Just Can’t Work No Longer」(Album:Very Greasy)

■Song Title：I Just Can’t Work No Longer
■Album Name：Very Greasy
■Video link：「I Just Can’t Work No Longer」

As I will mention later, the last album was not good.

This album, however, is back to the sound of the first and second albums.

The producer for this album was Linda Ronstadt.

This album was produced by Linda Ronstadt, although I’m sure Linda didn’t produce her own album either.

But thanks to her, the album turned out to be wonderful.

This album was released in 1988, when cheap sound was still in its heyday.

However, the texture of this album has been greatly improved from the previous album.

Linda as a producer seems to have done a very good job.

No.7「El Rayo-X」(Album:El Rayo-X)

■Song Title：El Rayo-X
■Album Name：El Rayo-X
■Video link：「El Rayo-X」

He is a guitarist, so his vocal ability was unknown.

However, with his solo album, he has been singing wonderfully.

I think he sings cheerful songs that suit his own music.

His guitar and vocals both have one thing in common: their sound is very extended.

He named the Japanese title of this album himself.

If you look closely at the album jacket, you can see that he is wearing Japanese-style clothes.

No.8「Ram a Lamb a Man」(Album:Win This Record!)

■Song Title：Ram a Lamb a Man
■Album Name：Win This Record!
■Video link：「Ram a Lamb a Man」

This is a selection of songs from the second album.

The previous album was produced by Jackson Browne and had two songs written by himself.

This album, however, was produced by myself, and the number of songs I wrote has increased to five.

It may be that he is trying to pursue the music he wants to do more.

On this album, the bass player was replaced by Jorge Calderon.

Also, Bernie Larsen, a guitarist who can also play lead guitar, joined the band.

In particular, the addition of a single guitar is probably the most significant change.

No.9「Pretty Girl Rules The World」(Album:Mr. Dave)

■Song Title：Pretty Girl Rules The World
■Album Name：Mr. Dave
■Video link：「Pretty Girl Rules The World」

This year’s ranking was based on songs from the period when he performed with El Rayo-X.

The four original albums and the two live albums “El Rayo Live” and “Live At The Bottom Line, New York City, 1981” were included.

The live albums are also excellent, but I didn’t select any songs from the live albums, probably because I am more familiar with the studio recordings.

However, this album is the one that I have the least chance to listen to among the studio albums.

As you can hear, it has a cheap 1980s sound.

The guitar playing as well as the drums are not very good.

However, the presence of this song may have saved it a little.

No.10「Hana」(Album:A World Out of Time)

■Song Title：Hana
■Album Name：A World Out of Time
■Video link：「Hana」

This year’s ranking was based on songs from the period when he performed with El Rayo-X.

The four original albums and the two live albums “El Rayo Live” and “Live At The Bottom Line, New York City, 1981” were included.

The live albums are also excellent, but I didn’t select any songs from the live albums, probably because I am more familiar with the studio recordings.

However, this album is the one that I have the least chance to listen to among the studio albums.

As you can hear, it has a cheap 1980s sound.

The guitar playing as well as the drums are not very good.

However, the presence of this song may have saved it a little.