Dick Dale is the granddaddy of surf rock, and responsible for some of the most inexplicably catchy hooks and riffs to ever burst their way out of the Sixties in that infamous staccato picking.
Best known for the cult hit "Miserlou" -- Greek for "Egyptian Girl," a song about a man from Greece who falls in a rather taboo relationship with an Egyptian woman -- Dick Dale and his Del-Tones went on from their 1962 Deltones record release to pioneer the surf rock movement of the early '60's. Though it was a brief little shindig, a lot of modern items root themselves in its undeniable lineage.
This piece, from Surfer's Choice, entitled "Shake 'N' Stomp," really lays it out as it is. It's fast, wild, and almost unstoppable -- much like the furious waves that inspired it.
Fans of this would do well to pick up the album. Besides the obligatory "Misirlou" (two versions!), it contains a bunch of nifty tracks sure to make your day a more pleasant one. Some of the vocal stuff is a bit dated (and it shows), but nothing that won't at least put a big goofy grin on your face. The great thing about this song -- much like its mother album -- is its impeccable ability to really get you moving.
Best known for the cult hit "Miserlou" -- Greek for "Egyptian Girl," a song about a man from Greece who falls in a rather taboo relationship with an Egyptian woman -- Dick Dale and his Del-Tones went on from their 1962 Deltones record release to pioneer the surf rock movement of the early '60's. Though it was a brief little shindig, a lot of modern items root themselves in its undeniable lineage.
This piece, from Surfer's Choice, entitled "Shake 'N' Stomp," really lays it out as it is. It's fast, wild, and almost unstoppable -- much like the furious waves that inspired it.
Fans of this would do well to pick up the album. Besides the obligatory "Misirlou" (two versions!), it contains a bunch of nifty tracks sure to make your day a more pleasant one. Some of the vocal stuff is a bit dated (and it shows), but nothing that won't at least put a big goofy grin on your face. The great thing about this song -- much like its mother album -- is its impeccable ability to really get you moving.
And just because, here's "Misirlou" for those of you who've never heard it.
--Gus
