"Lady Lynda" is a song written by vocalist/guitarist

Al Jardine Alan Charles Jardine (born September 3, 1942) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best known as the band's rhythm guitarist and for occasionally singing lead vocals on singles such as "Help Me, Rho ...

and touring keyboardist

Ron Altbach Ronald Steven Altbach (December 24, 1946 – February 21, 2023) was an American keyboardist and songwriter who co-founded French-American rock band King Harvest, and played the Wurlitzer electric piano intro on their single "Dancing in the Moonli ...

for American rock band

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...

. It was released on the band's 1979 album ''

L.A. (Light Album) ''L.A. (Light Album)'' is the 23rd studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on March 16, 1979, and their first issued through CBS Records. Recorded during a period of acrimony between the band members, it was a critical an ...

''. Its melody is based on "

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (or simply "Joy"; German: ''Jesus bleibet meine Freude'') is the most common English title of a piece of music derived from a chorale setting from the cantata ''Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben'', BWV 147 ("Heart and ...

" by

J. S. Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wo ...

. 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 The Statue of Liberty (''Liberty Enlightening the World''; French: ''La Liberté éclairant le monde'') is a List of colossal sculpture in situ, colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, in the U ...

. The song peaked at No. 6 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. It also reached No. 39 on the U.S.

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...

chart. 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

Lady Lynda

The Beach Boys *

– lead and backing vocals, 12-string guitar *

Bruce Johnston Bruce Arthur Johnston (born Benjamin Baldwin; June 27, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who is a member of the Beach Boys. Johnston also collaborated on many records with Terry Melcher (his bandmate in Bru ...

- backing vocals; possible

Fender Rhodes The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, th ...

Mike Love Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys with his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Characterized by his nasal tenor and occasional bas ...

- backing vocals *

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

- possible backing vocals *

Carl Wilson Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's ''de ...

- backing vocals *

Dennis Wilson Dennis Carl Wilson (December 4, 1944 – December 28, 1983) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best remembered as their drummer and as the middle brother of bandmates Brian and Carl Wilson. ...

– co-arrangement Additional musicians *Murray Adler - violin *Arnold Belnick - violin *Samuel Boghossian - viola *

Jimmy Bond Jimmy Bond is a fictional character in the American Fox television shows ''The Lone Gunmen'' and ''The X-Files'', two science fiction shows about government conspiracies to hide or deny the truth from the people. Portrayed by American actor ...

- double bass *Verlye Mills Brilhart - harp *Ed Carter - guitar, bass guitar *Isabelle Daskoff - violin *Jim Decker - French horn *Harold Dicterow - violin *Jesse Ehrlich - cello *Henry Ferber - violin *Bobby Figueroa – drums, tambourine, tubular bells *Richard Folsom - violin *James Getzoff - violin *Harris Goldman - violin * Dick Hyde - trombones and bass trombone *Raymond Kelley - cello *Jerome Kessler - cello *William Kurasch - violin *Marvin Limonick - violin *Charles Loper - French horn *Arthur Maebe - French horn *

Jay Migliori Jay Migliori (November 14, 1930 – September 2, 2001) was an American saxophonist, best known as a founding member of Supersax, a tribute band to Charlie Parker. Biography Migliori started playing the saxophone after he received one as a birthday ...

- flutes *Ray Pizzi - bassoons *Jack Redmond - French horn *William Reichenbach - French horn *

Lyle Ritz Lyle Joseph Ritz (January 10, 1930 – March 3, 2017) was an American musician, known for his work on ukulele and bass (both double bass and bass guitar). His early career in jazz as a ukulele player made him a key part of the Hawaii music scene ...

- double bass *Jay Rosen - violin *David Schwartz - viola *Bobby Shew - trumpets *Harry Shlutz - cello *Sterling Smith - harpsichord; possible Fender Rhodes *Linn Subotnick - viola *Herschel Wise - viola *Tibor Zelig - violin

Full Sail

The Beach Boys *

- backing vocals *

- lead and backing vocals, Fender Rhodes Additional musicians *Murray Adler - violin *Arnold Belnick - violin *Samuel Boghossian - viola *

- double bass *Verlye Mills Brilhart - harp * Geoffrey Cushing-Murray - backing vocals *Isabelle Daskoff - violin *Jim Decker - French horn *Harold Dicterow - violin *Jesse Ehrlich - cello *Henry Ferber - violin *Bobby Figueroa – backing vocals *Richard Folsom - violin *Steve Forman - percussion *James Getzoff - violin *Harris Goldman - violin *

Jim Guercio James William Guercio (born July 18, 1945) is an American music producer, musician, songwriter, and director. He is well known for his work as the producer of Chicago's early albums as well as early recordings of The Buckinghams and Blood, Sweat ...

- bass guitar *Raymond Kelley - cello *Jerome Kessler - cello *William Kurasch - violin *Marvin Limonick - violin *Charles Loper - French horn *Arthur Maebe - French horn *

Gary Mallaber Gary Mallaber (born October 11, 1946 in Buffalo) is a Los Angeles session drummer, percussionist and singer. He attended Lafayette High School, where he and Bobby Militello, along with other musicians, were mentored by saxophonist Sam Scam ...

- drums, timpani *Jack Redmond - French horn *William Reichenbach - French horn *

- double bass *Jay Rosen - violin *David Schwartz - viola *Harry Shlutz - cello *Linn Subotnick - viola *Herschel Wise - viola *Tibor Zelig - violin

References

1979 singles The Beach Boys songs Songs written by Al Jardine Song recordings produced by James William Guercio Song recordings produced by Bruce Johnston {{1970s-single-stub