David Perry Lindley (March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2023) was an American musician who founded the band El Rayo-X, and worked with many other performers including Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Warren Zevon, Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton. He mastered such a wide variety of instruments that Acoustic Guitar magazine referred to him not as a multi-instrumentalist, but instead as a “maxi-instrumentalist.”
The majority of the instruments that Lindley played are string instruments, including violin, acoustic and electric guitar, upright and electric bass, banjo, lap steel guitar, mandolin, hardingfele, bouzouki, cittern, bağlama, gumbus, charango, cümbüş, oud, and zither.
Lindley was a founding member of the 1960s band Kaleidoscope, and worked as musical director for several touring artists. In addition, he occasionally scored and composed music for film.
Lindley died on March 3, 2023, at the age of 78, of an undisclosed illness. (wikipedia)
And here´s his second solo album:
David Lindley is the consummate musician’s musician. A much-respected session player, Lindley has added his melodic string playing to albums by a lengthy list of artists, including Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, Rory Block, Ry Cooder, Warren Zevon, Terry Reid, David Blue, James Taylor, David Crosby, and Graham Nash. From 1971 until 1981, Lindley played a guiding role on Jackson Browne’s recordings and concert performances. Lindley’s eclectic approach provided the foundation for his own bands, Kaleidoscope (1967 — 1970) and El Rayo X (1981 — 1990). (by Craig Harris)
Following up their excellent debut and a season of intense touring, David Lindley and his crack band (now named El Rayo-X) recorded their second Elektra album. It turns out that they actually bettered the near perfection of the first. Opening with an excellent version of Etta James classic “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” this track proves how tight the band had became. Lindley’s slide guitar work is impressive as always. As an added bonus, the band’s vocal harmonies are extremely tight and a welcome addition. A version of the Cajun classic “Brother John” held great significance at the time shortly after John Lennon’s death — and again contains some of Lindley’s best slide work to date. A rambling, fun record, Win This Record is one of the finest rock records of the ’80s. (by Matthew Greenwald)
By far my favorite of the two studio El Rayo X albums. There is an energy and lyrical path to this album that captures the fun, the lame and the whacky of that time (yet timeless). But beguilingly the lame and getting lamer political forest we had entered as a nation (along with Britain). I’m sure much of that positioning was David’s on his own but it helps to have longtime friendships with Jackson Brown and David Crosby – two men who never backed down from a poli-fight.
I saw El Rayo X in Sacramento around the time of Win This Record’s release and like all unfair things in life, most start with a lack of respect or response. The club was barely a 1/3 full. Everybody loved it but c’mon, 1/3 full? Ouch. For a legend no less. Jackson should have thrown David more shoutouts during the crowd banter on the Running On Empty album, because that’s nearly a Lindley sonic landscape as much as a JB one.
But back to El Rayo, every genre they take on on WTR produces a great song. The treatments are all of a similar cloth but one that keeps getting ripped up to add a new texture.
Fun Record. Thoughtful record. I would Win this record if I were you. Listen to this record and you’ll WIN! I know, dorky, but true. (Roger F.)
Personnel:
Jorge Calderón (bass, percussion, background vocals)
Bernie Larsen (guitar, percussion, background vocals)
David Lindley (guitar, slide-guitar, vocals, baglama, guitorgan)
Ian Wallace (drums, percussion, guitar, background vocals)
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Booker T. Jones (organ on 02.)
William Smith (organ on 06.)
Tracklist:
01. Something’s Got A Hold On Me (Woods/James/Kirkland) 2.48
02. Turning Point (Graham, Jr.) 4.47
03. Spodie (Lindley) 5.01
04. Brother John (Neville) 5.50
05. Premature (Hibbert) 4.05
06. Talk To The Lawyer (Lindley) 5.01
07. Make It On Time (Lindley) 3.23
08. Rock It With I (Brevitt/Dowe) 5.08
09. Ram-A-Lamb-A Man (Lindley) 4.19
10. Look So Good (Lindley) 1.38
More from David Lindley:
The official website:
Ryland Peter “Ry” Cooder (born March 15, 1947) is an American musician, songwriter, film score composer, record producer, and writer. He is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known for his slide guitar work, his interest in traditional music, and his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.
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