A Look at David Lindley's Musical Closet: The "Mr. Dave" AlbumSep 23 '05 (Updated Feb 03 '07) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line This is the only place to hear these songs as none of them appear on other David Lindley albums either. Mr. Dave deserves better. David Lindley [b. 1944-] has a secret. Yes, the multi-instrumentalist has something in his closet (where free-range polyester abounds) few people know about or, perhaps, remember. No, it’s not like Lindley is embarrassed by his wardrobe or anything. I’m talking about his musical closet and his album Mr. Dave from 1985 on Warner Brothers. [The title is derived from his fans’ name for Lindley.] It’s an album that attempted to present Lindley in a different light as a solo, singer-songwriter outside of the quirky umbrella of his band El Rayo-X even though members of the band appear throughout it. As such, it didn’t work quite that way and the album was seemingly buried. It has never been released on CD in the US as far as I can tell, and the only way to find it is from a 1985 Japanese pressing on WEA International. I was smart enough to snap up a copy a number of years ago and have seen it listed on online auction sites for as much as $129.00 recently. Some online reviewers have been pretty harsh in their estimation of this album and it’s true that the album does contain some awkward attempts at making Lindley’s musical eccentricities translate into a pop format. But, get past some of the surface glossiness and sheen, and it’s a pretty solid record in keeping with Lindley’s career discography. It’s not an album that can be dismissed simply because so few people in the US have heard it. It’s clear from the opening track Pretty Girl Rules the World, that the album is in keeping with the El Rayo-X template, though it takes pains to present Lindley as a lead vocalist. The instrumentation includes touches of 1980s synthesizers and a few odd new wave/electronic touches, but ultimately the only thing missing is a few Bob “Frizz” Fuller tracks that Lindley covers so well. But beyond that are the six Lindley compositions; all have their strengths. Truly Do ranks with one of his best songs; a solid paean to a broken heart and the wiles of the female mind. Look Bad Feel Better and Hearts on Fire rock out in kinetic fashion with a touch of welcome absurdity. Hurts So Bad is one of his more atmospheric songs, a seeming environmental commentary with a strong vocal. There’s also a reggae influence throughout as Lindley believes every song can be made into reggae if desired. Fans of Mr. Dave, the artist, should hunt this down if at all possible if the price is right. But, the better idea is for Warner Brothers to re-release it here in the US. Mr. Dave is a solid album (three stars), and contains some of his better vocal efforts, including some of that famous falsetto (remember Stay from Jackson Browne’s Running on Empty album? That was Mr. Dave). In short, Mr. Dave contains all of the musical touches that Lindley is well known for incorporating into his work. The album's eclectic and varied, and Lindley touches on aspects of the human condition that remain universal (love, relationships, and the absurdities of life). So why not release it? The sad part is this is the only place to hear these songs for the most part as only one of them appears on other Lindley albums (Alien Invasion is on El Rayo-X Live). Why this album isn’t available whilst other Lindley albums from the time period are (1981’s El Rayo-X, 1982’s Win this Record and 1988’s Very Greasy) is beyond my comprehension, and I can only chalk it up to record company politics and shortsightedness. Everybody needs a little Mr. Dave in their life. Maybe not $129 bucks worth, but still....come on, Warner Brothers, let Mr. Dave go. Tracks Pretty Girl Rules the World (Greg Copeland) Truly Do (David Lindley) Look Bad Feel Better (David Lindley) Hearts on Fire (David Lindley) Walk to the Sun (Kevin McCormick) Hands Like a Man (David Lindley) Follow Your Heart (John Lucien) Hurt So Bad (David Lindley) Alien Invasion (David Lindley) Starting All Over Again (Leroy Mitchell) Total time: 38:21 Produced by Greg Ladanyi, Danny Kortchmar, and David Lindley. Musicians David Lindley (vocals, electric, acoustic, slide, and baritone guitars, banjo, mandolin, saz, harp, keyboards) Jorge Calderon (vocals, bass), Danny Kortchmar (bass, keyboards, drums, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals), James Cruce (drums), Ian Wallace (drums), Baboo (percussion), Bill Payne (keyboards), Philip Chen (bass), Kevin McCormick (bass, vocals), Scott Thurston (keyboards), Rick Marotta (drums), Efrin Toro (drums), Bob Glaub (bass), and Bernie Larsen (guitar, vocals). Sources www.davidlindley.com, www.allmusic.com [This is part of an occasional series on "Blasts from My Past."]  |
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