"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. It was released as the B-side to the group's 1986 single of "California Dreamin'".
Record World said it has "a big production sound and liberal synthesizer/string textures."
The song peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached No. 39 on the U.S. adult contemporary 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 Al Jardine – lead and backing vocals, 12-string guitar Bruce Johnston - backing vocals; possible Fender Rhodes Mike Love - backing vocals Brian Wilson - possible backing vocals Carl Wilson - backing vocals Dennis Wilson – co-arrangement
Additional musicians
Murray Adler - violin Arnold Belnick - violin Samuel Boghossian - viola Jimmy Bond - 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 - flutes Ray Pizzi - bassoons Jack Redmond - French horn William Reichenbach - French horn Lyle Ritz - 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 Bruce Johnston - backing vocals Mike Love - backing vocals Carl Wilson - lead and backing vocals, Fender Rhodes
Additional musicians
Murray Adler - violin Arnold Belnick - violin Samuel Boghossian - viola Jimmy Bond - 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 - bass guitar Raymond Kelley - cello Jerome Kessler - cello William Kurasch - violin Marvin Limonick - violin Charles Loper - French horn Arthur Maebe - French horn Gary Mallaber - drums, timpani Jack Redmond - French horn William Reichenbach - French horn Lyle Ritz - double bass Jay Rosen - violin David Schwartz - viola Harry Shlutz - cello Linn Subotnick - viola Herschel Wise - viola Tibor Zelig - violin
References