El Rayo-X

El Rayo-X is David Lindley's debut studio album, released in 1981. The album spent 18 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 83 on July 16, 1981.

Reception
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." 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."

Track listing

 * Side 1
 * 1) "She Took Off My Romeos" (Bob "Frizz" Fuller) – 3:00
 * 2) "Bye Bye Love" (Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant) – 2:50
 * 3) "Mercury Blues" (K. C. Douglas, Bob Geddins) – 3:33
 * 4) "Quarter of a Man" (Bob "Frizz" Fuller) – 3:45
 * 5) "Ain't No Way" (Bob "Frizz" Fuller) – 3:42
 * 6) "Twist and Shout" (Phil Medley, Bert Russell) – 2:44
 * Side 2
 * 1) "El Rayo-X" (Jorge Calderón, David Lindley) – 2:53
 * 2) "Your Old Lady" (Elmo Glick, O'Kelly Isley, King Curtis) – 4:14
 * 3) "Don't Look Back" (Smokey Robinson, Ronald White) – 3:55
 * 4) "Petit Fleur" (Solomon Feldthouse, Nancy Lindley) – 3:11
 * 5) "Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues" (Huey "Piano" Smith) – 2:14
 * 6) "Pay the Man" (David Lindley, George "Baboo" Pierre) – 3:30

Musicians

 * 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

 * 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