{"title":"Dick Dale","description":"\u003cp\u003eDick Dale wasn't nicknamed \"King of the Surf Guitar\" for nothing: he pretty much invented the style single-handedly, and no matter who copied or expanded upon his blueprint, he remained the fieriest, most technically gifted musician the genre ever produced. Dale's pioneering use of Middle Eastern and Eastern European melodies (learned organically through his familial heritage) was among the first in any genre of American popular music, and predated the teaching of such \"exotic\" scales in guitar-shredder academies by two decades. The breakneck speed of his single-note staccato picking technique was unrivaled until it entered the repertoires of metal virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen, and his wild showmanship made an enormous impression on the young Jimi Hendrix. But those aren't the only reasons Dale was once called the father of heavy metal. Working closely with the Fender company, Dale continually pushed the limits of electric amplification technology, helping to develop new equipment that was capable of producing the thick, clearly defined tones he heard in his head, at the previously undreamed-of volumes he demanded. He also pioneered the use of portable reverb effects, creating a signature sonic texture for surf instrumentals. And, if all that weren't enough, Dale managed to redefine his instrument while essentially playing it upside-down and backwards -- he switched sides in order to play left-handed, but without re-stringing it (as Hendrix later did).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDick Dale was born Richard Monsour in Boston in 1937; his father was Lebanese, his mother Polish. As a child, he was exposed to folk music from both cultures, which had an impact on his sense of melody and the ways string instruments could be picked. He also heard lots of big band swing, and found his first musical hero in drummer Gene Krupa, who later wound up influencing a percussive approach to guitar so intense that Dale regularly broke the heaviest-gauge strings available and ground his picks down to nothing several times in the same song. He taught himself to play country songs on the ukulele, and soon graduated to guitar, where he was also self-taught. His father encouraged him and offered career guidance, and in 1954, the family moved to Southern California.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the suggestion of a country DJ, Monsour adopted the stage name Dick Dale, and he began performing in local talent shows, where his budding interest in rockabilly made him a popular act. He recorded a demo song, \"Ooh-Whee Marie,\" for the local Del-Fi label, which was later released as a single on his father's new Deltone imprint and distributed locally. During the late '50s, Dale also became an avid surfer, and soon set about finding ways to mimic the surging sounds and feelings of the sport and the ocean on his guitar. He quickly developed a highly distinctive instrumental sound and found an enthusiastic, ready-made audience in his surfer friends. Dale began playing regular gigs at the Rendezvous Ballroom, a once-defunct concert venue near Newport Beach, with his backing band the Del-Tones; as word spread and gigs at other local halls followed, Dale became a wildly popular attraction, drawing thousands of fans to every performance. In September 1961, Deltone released Dale's single \"Let's Go Trippin',\" which is generally acknowledged to be the very first recorded surf instrumental.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Let's Go Trippin'\" was a huge local hit, and even charted nationally. Dale released a few more local singles, including \"Jungle Fever,\" \"Miserlou,\" and \"Surf Beat,\" and in 1962 issued his (and surf music's) first album, the groundbreaking Surfer's Choice, on Deltone. Surfer's Choice sold like hotcakes around Southern California, which earned Dale a contract with Capitol Records and national distribution for the album. Dale was featured in Life magazine in 1963, which led to appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and the Frankie\/Annette film Beach Party. He also released the follow-up LP King of the Surf Guitar and went on to issue three more albums on Capitol through 1965. During that time, he developed a close working relationship with Leo Fender, who kept engineering bigger and better sound systems in response to Dale's appetite for louder, more maniacally energetic live performances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurf music became a national fad, with groups like the Beach Boys and Jan \u0026amp; Dean offering a vocal variant to complement the wave of instrumental groups, all of which were indebted in some way to Dale. But in 1964, the British Invasion stole much of surf's thunder, and Dale was dropped by Capitol in 1965. He remained a wildly popular local act, but in 1966 he was diagnosed with rectal cancer, which forced him to temporarily retire from music. He beat the disease, however, and soon began pursuing other interests: owning and caring for a variety of endangered animals, studying martial arts, designing his parents' dream house, and learning to pilot planes. In 1979, a puncture wound suffered while surfing off Newport Beach led to a pollution-related infection that nearly cost him his leg; Dale soon added environmental activist to his resumé. In addition to all of that, he performed occasionally around Southern California throughout the '70s and '80s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1986, Dale attempted to mount a comeback. He first recorded a benefit single for the UC-Irvine Medical Center's burn unit (which had helped him recuperate from potentially serious injuries), and the following year appeared in the beach movie send-up Back to the Beach. The soundtrack featured a duet between Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughan on the Chantays' surf staple \"Pipeline,\" which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental. In 1991, Dale did a guest spot on an album by the San Francisco-based Psychefunkapus, and a successful Bay Area gig got him signed with Hightone Records.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album Tribal Thunder was released in 1993, but Dale's comeback didn't get into full swing until \"Miserlou\" was chosen as the opening theme to Quentin Tarantino's blockbuster 1994 film Pulp Fiction. \"Miserlou\" became synonymous with Pulp Fiction's ultra-hip sense of style, and was soon licensed in countless commercials (as were several other Dale tracks). As a result, Tribal Thunder and its 1994 follow-up, Unknown Territory, attracted lots of attention, earning positive reviews and surprisingly strong sales. In 1996, he supported the Beggars Banquet album Calling Up Spirits by joining the normally punk- and ska-oriented Warped Tour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdding his wife and young drum-playing son to his band, Dale refocused on touring over the next few years. He finally returned with a new CD in 2001, Spacial Disorientation, issued on the small Sin-Drome label. Dale stepped away from his recording career after that release, but he continued to play out frequently, even as he struggled with myriad health problems, including diabetes, rectal cancer, and heart and kidney disease. Dale still had a busy schedule of concert dates on his schedule when he died on March 16, 2019, at the age of 81. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dick-dale-his-del-tones-surfers-choice-import","title":"Surfer's Choice [Import]","description":"TracksCredits\r\n1 Surf Beat\r\n2 Sloop John B\r\n3 Take It Off\r\n4 Night Owl\r\n5 Fanny Mae\r\n6 Misirlou Twist\r\n7 Jessie Pearl\r\n8 Del-Tone Rock\r\n9 Peppermint Man\r\n10 Surfing Drums\r\n11 Shake 'N' Stomp\r\n12 Lovey Dovey\r\n13 Death of a Gremmie\r\n14 Let's Go Trippin'\r\n15 Jungle Fever\r\n16 Misirlou\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 09\/9\/2014\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dick Dale \u0026 His Del-Tones","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582216663273,"sku":"UB3LSN-M4X1-00","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Dick-Dale-His-Del-Tones-Surfers-Choice-Import_HxC81_3199220b-1e93-4300-a8c6-6e6495d028d8.jpg?v=1741371679"},{"product_id":"dick-dale-at-the-drags","title":"At the Drags","description":"DESCRIPTION\r\nWhen Dick and his backing band The Del-Tones weren't surfing, they were racing cars. At The Drags collects twenty of Dick's dinest tunes about car culture from Dick's own Del-Tone and Capitol Records\r\n\r\n \r\nTracksCredits\r\n1 Wild Wild Mustang\r\n2 The Victor\r\n3 Mag Wheels\r\n4 Mr. Eliminator\r\n5 Blond in the 406\r\n6 Surf Buggy\r\n7 Taco Wagon\r\n8 Nitro Fuel\r\n9 The Scavenger\r\n10 Firing Up\r\n11 Hot Rod Racer\r\n12 426 Super Stock\r\n13 Big Black Cad\r\n14 Ho-Dad Machine\r\n15 50 Miles to Go\r\n16 My X-Ke\r\n17 Hot Rod Alley\r\n18 Flashing Eyes\r\n19 Night Rider\r\n20 The Lonesome Road\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 01\/15\/2013\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dick Dale","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582391578857,"sku":"FZM6DW-QF0R-00","price":25.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Dick-Dale-At-the-Drags_icrcH.jpg?v=1758864808"},{"product_id":"dick-dale-his-del-tones-surfers-choice-import-bonus-tracks","title":"Surfer's Choice [Import] (Bonus Tracks)","description":"Very few early rock \u0026amp; roll albums were true groundbreakers, but this is one: not only did it single-handedly establish the surf music genre (and Dick Dale's hegemony over it), but also sold the entire concept to mass America, where surfing in landlocked regions was only a state of mind. Largely recorded at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa Beach -- Dale's ruling home turf, where one can clearly hear the kids screaming in anticipation at the start of \"Surf Beat\" -- this lays out the vocal highlights from Dick's set list (\"Peppermint Man,\" \"Lovey Dovey,\" \"Night Owl,\" \"Fanny Mae,\" and \"Sloop John B.,\" sounding very odd here with overdubbed strings) up against the instrumentals that truly forged the style. \"Miserlou Twist\" -- a different version than the original Del-Tone single -- and the original, pre-reverb single version of \"Let's Go Trippin'\" appear to be the only studio tracks aboard. But the live takes on \"Surfing Drums\" (later retitled \"Tribal Thunder\" on one of Dale's comeback albums), \"Take It Off,\" \"Shake 'n' Stomp,\" and the lowdown stomp of \"Death of a Gremmie\" just as clearly delineate the wild, reverbed excitement of the new style in its native habitat. Without a doubt, surf guitar's finest hour, the genre's equivalent to Charlie Parker's Dial recordings. ~ Cub Koda\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 07\/21\/2017\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dick Dale \u0026 His Del-tones","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44588276416745,"sku":"8Z9ZD8-41GI-00","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/dick-dale-his-del-tones-surfers-choice-import-bonus-tracks_KunWj_2b9a9ba8-5d73-4795-ab48-83261cd199d7.jpg?v=1759396597"},{"product_id":"dick-dale-his-del-tones-king-of-the-surf-guitar","title":"| King of the Surf Guitar (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eUS LP pressing. Surf Guitar starts here! 20 essential tracks of ripping reverb from the man who invented a genre and the instruments to go along with it. Original recordings from Dick's own Del-Tone and Capitol Records from 1961-65. Musicians include Hal Blaine, Jerry Cole and Leon Russell. Dick continues to play and tour and his music has been used in countless films and commercials.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003e\u2028Tracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eA1        Miserlou\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA2        King Of The Surf Guitar\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA3        Let's Go Trippin'\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA4        Surf Beat\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA5        Shake N' Stomp\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA6        Riders In The Sky\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA7        Hava Nagila\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB1        The Wedge\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB2        Tidal Wave\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB3        Mr. Peppermint Man\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB4        Surfing Drums\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB5        Jungle Fever\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB6        A Run For Life\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB7        Surfin' Rebel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003e*Audio and\/or tracklist may vary slightly from the vinyl version.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eLabel: RKBT\u003cbr\u003e\r\nCatalog: 3145\u003cbr\u003e\r\nRel. Date: 01\/15\/2013\u003cbr\u003e\r\nUPC: 089353314521\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe allow=\"autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"450\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.music.apple.com\/us\/album\/king-of-the-surf-guitar\/1470557221\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat Detail: LP\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Surf\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 01\/15\/2013\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dick Dale \u0026 His Del-Tones","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44589899088105,"sku":"1O0RTA-LKPY-00","price":25.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Dick-Dale-His-Del-Tones-King-of-the-Surf-Guitar_SRBE6.jpg?v=1759355082"},{"product_id":"dick-dale-his-del-tones-surfers-choice-1","title":"Surfer'S Choice","description":"Very few early rock \u0026amp; roll albums were true groundbreakers, but this is one: not only did it single-handedly establish the surf music genre (and Dick Dale's hegemony over it), but also sold the entire concept to mass America, where surfing in landlocked regions was only a state of mind. Largely recorded at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa Beach -- Dale's ruling home turf, where one can clearly hear the kids screaming in anticipation at the start of \"Surf Beat\" -- this lays out the vocal highlights from Dick's set list (\"Peppermint Man,\" \"Lovey Dovey,\" \"Night Owl,\" \"Fanny Mae,\" and \"Sloop John B.,\" sounding very odd here with overdubbed strings) up against the instrumentals that truly forged the style. \"Miserlou Twist\" -- a different version than the original Del-Tone single -- and the original, pre-reverb single version of \"Let's Go Trippin'\" appear to be the only studio tracks aboard. But the live takes on \"Surfing Drums\" (later retitled \"Tribal Thunder\" on one of Dale's comeback albums), \"Take It Off,\" \"Shake 'n' Stomp,\" and the lowdown stomp of \"Death of a Gremmie\" just as clearly delineate the wild, reverbed excitement of the new style in its native habitat. Without a doubt, surf guitar's finest hour, the genre's equivalent to Charlie Parker's Dial recordings. ~ Cub Koda\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Rock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 02\/16\/2018\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dick Dale \u0026 His Del-tones","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44598798942441,"sku":"LJL2VX-028J-00","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/dick-dale-his-del-tones-surfers-choice_6zzwz.jpg?v=1759396522"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/collections\/FullSizeRender_f71b99db-3f9a-40e7-b761-05164faf4742.jpg?v=1726696323","url":"https:\/\/www.vibinvinyl.com\/collections\/dick-dale-his-del-tones.oembed","provider":"Vibin' Vinyl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}