El Rayo-X is David Lindley's debut studio album, released in 1981.[4][5] The album spent 18 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 83 on July 16, 1981.[6]
| El Rayo-X | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Studio | Record One, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 39:31 | |||
| Label | Asylum[1] | |||
| Producer | Jackson Browne and Greg Ladanyi | |||
| David Lindley chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[3] |
Reception edit
The album generally received favorable reviews.
Boo Browning, of The Washington Post, wrote:
El Rayo-X is not this year's greatest album, but there's very little to compete with it for well-executed let-the-good-times rock. Coming from a fellow who's spent the last few years contemplating Jackson Browne's elbow, it's a delightful surprise -- sort of like rounding the corner at the Haunted House and bumping into a six-foot Goofy.[4]
In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Matthew Greenwald stated:
Lindley scored a contract with Elektra Records and put together an excellent band that was able to keep up with his eclectic vision. Combining blues, rock & roll, Cajun, Zydeco, Middle Eastern music, and other elements, his debut album is an absolute joy.[2]
Track listing edit
- Side 1
- "She Took Off My Romeos" (Bob "Frizz" Fuller) – 3:00
- "Bye Bye Love" (Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant) – 2:50
- "Mercury Blues" (K. C. Douglas, Bob Geddins) – 3:33
- "Quarter of a Man" (Bob "Frizz" Fuller) – 3:45
- "Ain't No Way" (Bob "Frizz" Fuller) – 3:42
- "Twist and Shout" (Phil Medley, Bert Russell) – 2:44
- Side 2
- "El Rayo-X" (Jorge Calderón, David Lindley) – 2:53
- "Your Old Lady" (Elmo Glick, O'Kelly Isley, King Curtis) – 4:14
- "Don't Look Back" (Smokey Robinson, Ronald White) – 3:55
- "Petit Fleur" (Solomon Feldthouse, Nancy Lindley) – 3:11
- "Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues" (Huey "Piano" Smith) – 2:14
- "Pay the Man" (David Lindley, George "Baboo" Pierre) – 3:30
Personnel edit
Musicians edit
- David Lindley – bass (track 8), fiddle, guitar, violin, guitar (electric), vocals, whistle (human), slide guitar, bandurria, divan saz
- Bob Glaub – bass (all tracks except 6, 8, 10–11)
- George "Ras Baboo" Pierre – percussion, timbales, vocals, (all tracks), accordion on "Pay the Man"
- William D. "Smitty" Smith – organ, keyboards (tracks 1, 5–7, 11–12)
- Ian Wallace – drums
- Reggie McBride – bass (tracks 6, 10–11)
- Curt Bouterse – hammer dulcimer on "Petit Fleur"
- Jackson Browne – vocals on "Bye Bye Love", "Twist and Shout" and "Don't Look Back"
- Jorge Calderón – vocals on "Twist and Shout"
- Garth Hudson – horn, keyboards on "El Rayo-X"
- Bill Payne – organ, keyboards on "Bye Bye Love"
Technical edit
- Greg Ladanyi – engineer, producer
- Jackson Browne – producer
- George Ybara, Jamie Ledner – assistant engineers
- Doug Sax, Mike Reese – mastering
- Jimmy Wachtel – art direction, design
- Gloria Von Jansky – lettering
- Kaz Sakamoto – photography
Awards and Charts edit
Billboard charts edit
| Year | Chart | Single | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Pop Albums | 83 | |
| 1981 | Mainstream rock | Mercury Blues | 34 |
RPM charts edit
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Pop Albums[7] | 28 |
References edit
- ^ Hatlo, Jim (January 1, 1989). Hot Licks. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780881889109 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Greenwald, Matthew. El Rayo-X at AllMusic. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "David Lindley - El Rayo-X". Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Browning, Boo (May 15, 1981). "David Lindley And His 'El Rayo-X'". Retrieved June 24, 2021 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ Prown, Pete; Newquist, Harvey P. (December 28, 1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780793540426 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Billboard 200 - David Lindley". Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ "RPM Magazine - August 29, 1981 - page 8" (PDF).
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