Very Greasy is an album by the American musician David Lindley, with El Rayo-X, released in 1988.[2][3] It was Lindley's third studio album with the band.[4]
| Very Greasy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by David Lindley & El Rayo-X | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Label | Elektra[1] | |||
| Producer | Linda Ronstadt | |||
| David Lindley & El Rayo-X chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 174 on the Billboard 200.[5] Lindley supported it by touring with the Wagoneers, before serving as the opening act on Jackson Browne's 1989 tour.[6][7]
Production
editThe album was produced by Linda Ronstadt, who was alarmed that Lindley had been dropped by Warner Bros. Records; Ronstadt and Lindley are distant cousins.[8][9][10] Lindley played a bouzouki on "Talkin' to the Wino Too".[11] "Gimme Da'Ting" is a cover of the Lord Kitchener song.[12]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [14] |
| Houston Chronicle | [15] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [16] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [17] |
The Chicago Tribune praised the "refreshing rhythmic sensibility that handily encompasses ska, Tex-Mex, highlife and other lively world styles."[18] The Washington Post opined that, "best of all is a ska version of Warren Zevon's 'Werewolves of London', which digresses into a discussion of the grease content in Lindley's own hair."[19] The San Francisco Chronicle concluded that "this fine, frothy blend of polyethnic rock stylings plays like a wacked-out dream, madly mixing African, reggae and rock music on a variety of oddball choices."[20]
The Toronto Star determined that, "on one hand Lindley's music is iconoclastic with respect to certain shaky pop conventions, and on the other resonant and deferential to the traditions that remain close to his heart."[21] The St. Petersburg Times deemed Very Greasy "party music on the verge of going out of control, but only superficially, because underneath everything is nailed down tight."[22] The Houston Chronicle called it "a spotty, if charming, series of jokes."[15]
AllMusic wrote that Lindley "and his cohorts explore a myriad of lighter, more Caribbean rhythms and textures, rendering a very pleasing album."[13] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide considered the cover of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" to be the "funkiest [tune] in the Lindley canon."[16]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gimme Da'Ting" | |
| 2. | "I Just Can't Work No Longer" | |
| 3. | "Do You Wanna Dance?" | |
| 4. | "Talk About You" | |
| 5. | "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" | |
| 6. | "Werewolves of London" | |
| 7. | "Texas Tango" | |
| 8. | "Never Knew Her" | |
| 9. | "Talkin' to the Wino Too" | |
| 10. | "Tiki Torches at Twilight" |
References
edit- ^ Duffy, Thom (4 Sep 1988). "Music". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 6.
- ^ Abrahams, Andrew (Dec 5, 1988). "Picks & Pans: Song: Very Greasy". People. Vol. 30, no. 23. p. 27.
- ^ Boehm, Mike (22 Aug 1988). "Lindley Playfully Cruises a Wide Musical Ocean". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
- ^ Milward, John (22 Sep 1988). "Pop". USA Today. p. 6D.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 461.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan (11 Oct 1988). "Two Offbeat Evenings at the Chestnut Cabaret". Features Tonight. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 52.
- ^ MacCambridge, Michael (5 Aug 1989). "Browne delivers mixed messages". Austin American-Statesman. p. F9.
- ^ Lewry, Peter (September 8, 2021). Linda Ronstadt: A Life in Music. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 9781849892476.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (April 14, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050.
- ^ Ansorge, Rick (21 Oct 1988). "Lindley proud to be a 'cult' figure". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D5.
- ^ Burliuk, Greg (3 Dec 1988). "Sliding on the Blue Strings". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
- ^ Marymont, Mark (September 23, 1988). "'Very Greasy' David Lindley & El Rayo-X". USA Today.
- ^ a b "Very Greasy". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 248.
- ^ a b Racine, Marty (August 28, 1988). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 674.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 425.
- ^ Heim, Chris (19 Aug 1988). "Long-Absent Musical Stars Shine Again on Comeback LPs". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 78.
- ^ "Lindley El Rayo-X Easy, Breezy 'Greasy'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ Selvin, Joel (October 2, 1988). "David Lindley & El Rayo-X: Very Greasy". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 44.
- ^ Quill, Greg (2 Sep 1988). "Ska's the limit with Lindley's oldies". Toronto Star. p. D12.
- ^ Jones, Malcolm (25 Sep 1988). "Why isn't this man rich and famous?". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.