David Lindley and El Rayo-X, his band during the 1980s, released Very Greasy in 1988. It's very much a party album with a world beat flavor. The bands first two albums, El Rayo-X (1981) and Win This Record! (1982) had more of a straight ahead rock feel. You may remember their big hit "Mercury Blues" from that time. 'Very Greasy' is more what you put on to get people dancing.
It starts off with "Gimme Da' Ting", a cover of a Lord Kitchener song. He was a big part of Calypsonian music in the 60s and 70s. Almost all of the songs on "Greasy" are covers and normally I'd say that's a bad thing - why can't artists do their original music? But in Lindley's band's case, they are taking the originals to a new place. A hip-shaking, head-bobbing place.
The second track is "I Just Can't Work Here No Longer", which has a great guitar solo by Lindley. This song was done by Billy Butler & The Chanters in 1965, The Persuasions (acapella) and even live by Frank Zappa in 1971 (Carnegie Hall).
Next up is the old fifties hit "Do You Wanna Dance?", originally done by Bobby Freeman. This is a case of the song answering why you would want to play this album.
The next one is one of my favorites on the album "Talk About You". It signifies how I feel about finding that perfect person in your life. Check out these lyrics:
'You've given me love/Like I've never known
I was lonely/You gave my heart a home'
Simple and to the point.
The last track on side one is the cover of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and was the album's first single. You don't release a single of such a well-known song if you don't bring your A-game to it. David and friends knock it out of the park.
Flip the album and side two starts with another popular cover "Werewolves of London", written by his frequent collaborator, Warren Zevon. David's version switches up some lyrics, but it's still a great play.
The next song is the first of three written by Bob "Frizz" Fuller - Texas Tango. This is country swing and features, of course, an accordion.
"Never Knew Her" was written by band member, Bernie Larsen, who's gone on to have a prolific musical career. He's recorded with Melissa Etheridge, Jackson Browne and even Public Enemy. His current band is Cry on Cue, a soul reggae group.
The album ends on two more tracks by Frizz Fuller and they tone it down a step, but are still sweet and melodic. 'Talkin' to the Wino Too' is a stripped down song, featuring a bouzoukis (Greek mandolin) solo. 'Tiki Torches at Twilight' has a Hawaiian flavor with the great lyric "Let's get normal at the luau!"
'Very Greasy' got to #174 on the US charts and was produced by Linda Ronstadt. To give context, the big artists of that year were U2, Jane's Addition, Sonic Youth and REM. A very alternative time for music. A compatible album from 1988 would be the Traveling Wilburys' first release and I would say that 'Greasy' is just as good for a party, dancing record.
Check it out.
