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David Lindley — Mercury Blues
Album: El Rayo X
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2291









Released: 1981
Length: 3:32
Plays (last 30 days): 0
If I had money, I tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown and buy a Mercury or two
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

The girl I love, I stole her from a friend
He got lucky, stole her back again
'Cause she knew he had a Mercury
She knew he had a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

Hey now mama, you look so fine
Ridin' 'round in your Mercury 49
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

My baby went out, she didn't stay long
She bought herself a Mercury, come a-cruisin' home
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road

If I had money, I tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown and buy a Mercury or two
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road
I'm gonna buy me a Mercury and cruise it up and down the road
Comments (202)add comment
Fantastic guitar tone.
 kingart wrote:
He recently passed. David Lindley (musician) - WikipediaWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › David_Lindley_(mus...David Perry Lindley (March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2023) was an American musician who founded the rock band El Rayo-X and worked with many other performers ...Years active: 1962–2020Born: March 21, 1944; San Marino, California‎, ...‎Occupation(s): Musician, songwriter, producer, ...Died: March 3, 2023 (aged 78)


Have loved him since "Moving on Empty" the first time I heard his magnificent slide guitar.  Have followed him every since and whenever he was in Colorado I made sure I was at his show.  Losing him took a big part of my life and certainly many others'.
Funny that all the Mercurys around my town are bottom barrel drug dealer cars.
 dc_zee wrote:

Dear Crazy Shirley (from our Houston days waiting tables), I hope you are still able to tear it up to this one!




Wouldn´t mind hearing the stories behind this! 
 kingart wrote:
He recently passed. David Lindley (musician) - WikipediaWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › David_Lindley_(mus...David Perry Lindley (March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2023) was an American musician who founded the rock band El Rayo-X and worked with many other performers ...Years active: 1962–2020Born: March 21, 1944; San Marino, California‎, ...‎Occupation(s): Musician, songwriter, producer, ...Died: March 3, 2023 (aged 78)



May he REST IN PEACE!!
He recently passed. David Lindley (musician) - WikipediaWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › David_Lindley_(mus...David Perry Lindley (March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2023) was an American musician who founded the rock band El Rayo-X and worked with many other performers ...Years active: 1962–2020Born: March 21, 1944; San Marino, California‎, ...‎Occupation(s): Musician, songwriter, producer, ...Died: March 3, 2023 (aged 78)
 cc_rider wrote:

Wiki:
"Mercury Blues" is a song written by rural blues musician K. C. Douglas and Robert Geddins, and first recorded by Douglas in 1948. The song, originally titled "Mercury Boogie," ...

The more you know...
c.




Thank You for the info!
 RazzCat wrote:
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury


My dad had a white '51 which is the same as '49 except 4-door. Had copper and cream tuck & roll upholstery. That was our family car while I was growing up. Always got tons of attention driving around with me and my sisters all loaded in especially when we all went to church. 
 idiot_wind wrote:

sounds like a young  lucinda williams after few cups of coffee


How would you know something like that:)
Lindley is such a maestro.  Orchestral behind some of the big names he plays with but love his own stuff.  Just great.
sounds like a young  lucinda williams after few cups of coffee
 RazzCat wrote:
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury


Yes indeed!
some serious chair-dancing happening here!
Can't believe I haven't rated this song before now.
Love Mr. Dave and his wiki photo rocks.
Wiki:
"Mercury Blues" is a song written by rural blues musician K. C. Douglas and Robert Geddins, and first recorded by Douglas in 1948. The song, originally titled "Mercury Boogie," ...

The more you know...
c.



Yes...more Mr. Dave please!!!

Totally Cool!!
 RazzCat wrote:
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury


No wonder he is reminiscing about the '49: here's one that's more contemporary with Lindley's 1981 song (a 1980 Mercury Antser):
1980-Mercury-Antser-04
Hot Rod Lincoln...Mercury Blues. Possible to follow up with Red Barchetta or Baracuda? ;)
 acolt wrote:

So we just went from Hot Rod Lincoln to Mercury Blues? I think Bill needs a new used car.



Turns out E major I IV V is the perfect key for songs about a V8 engine
 RazzCat wrote:
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury


A chopped & lowered Merc 49 to be exact
 s_miles7 wrote:

Finally!....a song that makes me proud to drive a Mercury!....Jaguar can't say that now can they?...at least to my knowledge...but I'm quite sure if there's a song with Jaguar in the title someone will let me know right away...until then I'll be jamming to my new car song! Footnote 5/24/2004----my Mercury is on the fritz...perhaps I'm not so crazy about a Mercury afterall

There's a Jag in Jan and Dean's Dead Man's Curve but it doesn't make

it to the end of the song...;-(

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



 bpemby wrote:

I want it!


Sex on wheels. 
I really need to hire that guy who mixed the drums.
 tonyinnj wrote:
Could be worse...How 'bout "Beep Beep" circa 1960 about road race
The Playmates - www.youtube.com/watch?v=2skGMkxB6Ng

 RazzCat wrote:
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury

I want it!
 acolt wrote:

So we just went from Hot Rod Lincoln to Mercury Blues? I think Bill needs a new used car.

Could be worse...How 'bout "Beep Beep" circa 1960 about road race

between a Cadillac and a Nash Rambler...

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



So we just went from Hot Rod Lincoln to Mercury Blues? I think Bill needs a new used car.
This is why blues based RnR can't ever really be gentrified.  Somebody will come along, beat the crap out of tin cans and abuse a guitar to the point that it sounds wicked cool and the crowd will go wild.  
if you don't think it can be played faster....go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Ahh real men playing real instruments!
And this set is just getting better for this winters Sunday Arvo here in Brisvegas. Thanks Bill
Grandad worked for Ford for god know how long, always bought Mercury's.
As a young married man of nineteen, in Berkeley, I had a job in the public works department making sidewalks and sewers. One my friends on the crew was K C Douglas. He wrote this song.
 Phlegmaticman wrote:
Nice to still see him cruising up and down the road.
 
Wanna see a Mercury in action? Youtube up some clips from Stallone's "Cobra"
flic...So bad it's good movie but the star of the movie is the '50 Mercury lead-sled...
Complete with NOX boost for when you just gotta ketch those bad guys...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Just terrible and annoying 
Wikipedia:  The final Mercury automobile, a 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis, rolled off the assembly line on January 4, 2011.
A staple played every Thurs night at The Vic bar Sault Ste Marie, Ontario... place would explode when this came on...
Somethin stoopid about hot cars and rock and roll.  Love these songs, and great segue into ACSS. 
 desertbecca wrote:
 dmiklitz wrote:
Nice segue from Commander Cody's Hot Rod Lincoln! Another of the many reasons I love RP!
Its the same playlist today - looks like. Good mix.

 
Crawling From the Wreckage by Dave Edmunds would be good too. 
 dmiklitz wrote:
Nice segue from Commander Cody's Hot Rod Lincoln! Another of the many reasons I love RP!
Its the same playlist today - looks like. Good mix.

Fantastic song; could hear this every day!

From another great dance tune:

"Move that muscle and shake that fat.
Bite your lip, get up, get up and dance."

(Bite your Lip would be an excellent transition after this song.)
Nice segue from Commander Cody's Hot Rod Lincoln! Another of the many reasons I love RP!
Hell yeah - two car songs in a row!
nice guitar. Foot stomping.
Steve Miller’s version is great too
Oh what a perfect segue from Commander Cody's "Hot Rod Lincoln".  Good move guys!
 Kaisersosay wrote:
I had a 1974 metallic Pea Green Mercury Comet , 8 cylinder. It had air conditioning,,,, I had a lot of fun in that ugly ass machine..... 

Was it like this one? 
Amazing and underrated guitarist.  Bill, you are making my work day most enjoyable!
At a wedding & this song comes on......What to do?
Get the F off ure keyster, find a chikkie babe & go for it.
Rare that I'm on here looking at my old comments. Was just looking at my few years old comment on this song. And lo, you play the song. I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket.
Nice Segue from Elvis' Pump it Up to this.

Elvis pumps it up, and David keeps it floored!

BillG is rocking my afternoon!!!
An amazing guitarist - I've always thought his distinctive playing gave the albums he worked on with Jackson Browne their general excellence.
My buddy drove a Mercury Bobcat in high-school... didn't run very well but made up for it in style. Had a doorknob on the steering-wheel LoL.
This one has been catching my ear.  :)

Rockin' album!


 RazzCat wrote:
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury
 
Really does exude extravagant bad-assed-ness. With no fex given. And skirts, yet!
https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/square_small/3/33913/1909405-ss_muppet_animal001.jpg
"She know'd he had a Mercury"...

On the LP you can hear the drummer throw his sticks on the floor after the last crash. I guess the song was too hot and they were burnin' his hands! Sort-of his version of "IVE GOT BLISTAS ON MY FINGAS"!! {#Drummer}
 Just bought a 1989 Mercury Colony Park Wagon..white with wood grain sides; getting ready to export it  Typesbad wrote:
My one Mercury was '80 Zephyr, so I'm having trouble relating.

 

My one Mercury was '80 Zephyr, so I'm having trouble relating.
This freaks me out. The vocals sound like a young Lucinda Williams and the guitar work like a young Bo Ramsey.  
So, back in 83 this Danish band called Shubidua made a cover of the Mercury Blues, only problem: Hardly anyone in the Nordics knew what a Mercury was; instead the song became an tribute to the WV bug. Have a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1OXNnw7qJc
 
Danish lyrics here. https://www.zolex.dk/lyrics/lyrics.asp?ID=14869
Warning: Do not attempt to google translate! Lyrics will be hilariously mangled.
This is a terrific album, buy it!
 RazzCat wrote:
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury

Nice ride!

 


Great to hear this again. I'll dig out my LP and play it again!  Thanks RP!
 
The mighty Ian Wallace on drums.
Mercury '49:
Image result for 1949 mercury
Nobody sang love songs to their cars like The Beach Boys
I had a 1974 metallic Pea Green Mercury Comet , 8 cylinder. It had air conditioning,,,, I had a lot of fun in that ugly ass machine..... 
 {#Guitarist} yes! let us bathe in the splendor. Slam wrote:

Yet here it is in all its splendor! Great album as well.

 


 joelbb wrote:
This cut has no reason to exit.
 
FTFY.
 1wolfy wrote:
I liked the Mercury Cougar in its day

 
Had a really sweet 1967 back in the day.  
That car suffered a terrible fate when a drunk driver hit me from behind while I was stopped at stoplight back in '83.
Walked away with just a stiff neck.  Car was totaled.

That Cougar was my favorite of the 3 -1967 models I've owned. 

The other were a Olds Cutlas and I still have the Chevy Camaro.  
I liked the Mercury Cougar in the 1960s- 70s
Timeless !    I can name this tune in the first 3 drum beats.   Crazy about this tune!
 ncollingridge wrote:
Sorry to all you guys who love this version of this song for some reason, but for me it has removed all the character that Steve Miller gave to it.

 
So...'Tutti Frutti', Little Richard or Pat Boone?
Sorry to all you guys who love this version of this song for some reason, but for me it has removed all the character that Steve Miller gave to it.
I am in the process of installing a built-to-the-hilt 390 4v in my 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7-G
RP firing on all cylinders!  Oh,yeah!
X-ELLENT ROCK!!! WOOOOO-HOOOOOOO
Nice to still see him cruising up and down the road.
David L

Hearing this again caused me to look up the drummer, who was Ian Wallace. His bio includes a 'who's who' list of work relationships.  Too bad his time with us was shortened so... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Wallace_(drummer).

RIP Ian; you gave me quite a bit of joy with your work.


Dear Crazy Shirley (from our Houston days waiting tables), I hope you are still able to tear it up to this one!


 On_The_Beach wrote:

Adulterated brilliance and proud of it.

 
Point taken.
 
Quarter of a man....another great cut from this album!
7 to 9! Keep the pace! Don't let it come down to Mark K.
Godlike !
 
Ahhhh. the guitarist for Jackson Browne.

Sounds like a young Lucinda Williams singing.
 
I once saw Meat Loaf and his band play this as an encore song.   Forget who was in the band at the time but it kicked ass.

 
 joelbb wrote:
This cut has no reason to exist.

 
Yet here it is in all its splendor! Great album as well.
Lindley's work with Terry Reid is just wonderful.

Take a look at their live performance together at Glastonbury Fayre, filmed in 1971, on youtube.

With future Yes skinman Alan White on drums no less. 
me at work right now {#Music}{#Cheesygrin}{#Dancingbanana_2}
 
Steve wrote:


 



We should get David to tour with Lucinda Williams. It be a natural!
 Steely_D wrote:
Unadulterated brilliance.
 
Adulterated brilliance and proud of it.
Take a look at the shoe on his webpage....pure DL.
Unadulterated brilliance.
This is just awesome.

Seen him twice and can't wait for #3. He also has a wicked finger left to skewer you with when he's playing.

He is the real deal.


 fiddler wrote:
Saw David Lindley open for Joe Walsh in '81. It was a really fun evening!..dang i miss that.

 
Me too!  I'd never heard of him, but was blown away! I've been a fan ever since - even (sorta) learned to play the slide guitar cuzza Mr. Dave...
Always enjoyed this song for some reason...
El Rayo-X is a great album, I just hate how he says "Merkery".

Hey Bill, play "Your Old Lady" sometimes man!
{#Dancingbanana_2} —BADASS— {#Dancingbanana_2}
Perhaps the worst song ever?
I made out with my future wife in Mercury Topaz.{#Kiss}
When did I ever rate this? Much less an 8? 
R.I.P. Mercury…..
Kaleidoscope, the best  band to  ever record " Ghost Riders in the Sky "
This number rocks man!!!  
 msymmes wrote:
Time to crank it up.  
 
Lotsa fun, this one.
 joelbb wrote:
This cut has no reason to exist.

 
Someone doesn't know how to cut loose. Fortunately, David Lindley DOES. {#Dancingbanana_2}
 joelbb wrote:
This cut has no reason to exist.

 
it is far more entertaining than you......
Saw David Lindley open for Joe Walsh in '81. It was a really fun evening!..dang i miss that.
wack
10 for some reason, I love it 

I was going to guess Dave Edmunds...
Now this one Rocks!
nice sequence, reminds me of KROQ , rock of the eighties
 
well play the steve miller version too dang it