Lady Lynda Explained

Lady Lynda
Cover:Lady_Lynda_artwork.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Beach Boys
Album:L.A. (Light Album)
B-Side:Full Sail
Released:June 1979
Recorded:July–November 1978
Genre:
Length:3:58
Label:Brother/Caribou/CBS
Producer:Bruce Johnston
The Beach Boys
James William Guercio
Prev Title:Good Timin'
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:It's a Beautiful Day
Next Year:1979

"Lady Lynda" is a song written by vocalist/guitarist Al Jardine and touring keyboardist Ron Altbach for American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on the band's 1979 album L.A. (Light Album). Its melody is based on "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J. S. Bach.

The opening harpsichord is played by Sterling Smith. The lyrics to the song refer to Jardine's then-wife, Lynda Jardine. After the two divorced, the song was rewritten as "Lady Liberty", a tribute to the Statue of Liberty.

Record World said it has "a big production sound and liberal synthesizer/string textures."[2]

The song peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] It also reached No. 39 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart.[4] The song was edited for single release with the single version dropping the harpsichord introduction present on the album version.

Personnel

Credits from Craig Slowinski[5]

Lady Lynda

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians

Full Sail

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians

Notes and References

  1. Book: Christgau, Robert. Robert Christgau. 1981. . Ticknor & Fields. 089919026X. Consumer Guide '70s: B. https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=B&bk=70. September 17, 2023.
  2. Record World. August 25, 1979. 2023-02-11. Single Picks. 16.
  3. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 48.
  4. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research . 29.
  5. Slowinski. Craig . Spring 2015 . THE BEACH BOYS' - L.A. (Light Album). 109. Endless Summer Quarterly Magazine . Charlotte, North Carolina. David. Beard.
  6. Web site: Lady Lynda: A Masterpiece. smileysmile.net.