David Lindley & El Rayo-X - Win This Record! (1982)

Following up their excellent debut and a season of intense touring, David Lindley and his crack band (now named El Rayo-X) recorded their second Elektra album. It turns out that they actually bettered the near perfection of the first. Opening with an excellent version of Etta James classic "Something's Got a Hold on Me," this track proves how tight the band had became. Lindley's slide guitar work is impressive as always. As an added bonus, the band's vocal harmonies are extremely tight and a welcome addition. A version of the Cajun classic "Brother John" held great significance at the time shortly after John Lennon's death -- and again contains some of Lindley's best slide work to date. A rambling, fun record, Win This Record is one of the finest rock records of the '80s.