Dick Dale - Live on the Santa Monica Pier

  by Carl Bookstein

published: 29 / 7 / 2016

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Review

With 'Live on the Santa Monica Pier', Dick Dale puts forth a double CD set recorded at concerts on the iconic California pier. On 'Shredded Heat', Dick Dale, a true king of surf guitar, comes out rocking from the get go, with stinging technique and a vibrato effect. Dale creates visions of rolling waves and rip curls, shredding flurries of notes on Los Angeles’ famed Santa Monica Pier. 'Nitro' is another powerhouse number, with fierce guitar leads and a steady drum beat backing him up, recreating the sound that arose in the early 1960's - California surf music. Everyone knows the Beach Boys, but instrumental surf guitar and Dick Dale are another important California phenomenon. 'The Trail of Tears' is a subtle, tasteful and poignant electric guitar serenade. 'Fish Taco' brings to mind my own California Dreams, when I once lived in L.A. in days gone by - remembering both talented surfers and brilliant taco stands by the Pacific Ocean beach. 'Take It or Leave It' is another forceful guitar lead. 'Ghost Riders in the Sky', an absolute classic, showcases Dale’s powerhouse playing on heavy gauge guitar strings, thick like piano wire. Playing an upside down Fender Stratocaster, left handed, Dale defines the high volume, high energy surf guitar instrumental sound. 'Miserlou' is a prodigious, killer riff - territorial and menacing, with Dale commanding the stage in this first rate live rendition, rollicking along every step of the way. 'Calling Up Spirits' continues to propel forward, Dale’s very nature being powerful momentum - a truly ageless phenomenon and talent. 'Shake ‘n’ Stomp' closes the first disc - upbeat and positive, reminiscent of happy times. The second disc’s take on 'Caterpillar Crawl' is a smoking rendition and 'Rumble' too is pure electric guitar heat. Most of the tracks on the second disc are alternate versions of those on the first, but still it all makes for compelling listening. A brilliant Dale version of Jimi Hendrix’s 'Third Stone from the Sun' takes it home - soulful and evocative. This whole collection capturing this surf guitar virtuoso, somehow still in his prime.

Track Listing:-

1 Shredded Heat (Live)
2 Nitro (Live)
3 The Trail of Tears (Live)
4 Fish Taco (Live)
5 Take It or Leave It (Live)
6 Ghost Riders in the Sky (Live)
7 Caterpillar Crawl (Live)
8 Rumble (Live)
9 Miserlou (Live)
10 Calling up Spirits (Live)
11 Window (Live)
12 Nitrus (Live)
13 The Wedge Paradiso (Live)
14 Let's Go Trippin' (Live)
15 Shake 'N' Stomp (Live)
16 Shredded Heat (Alternate Version) (Live)
17 Nitro (Alternate Version) (Live)
18 The Trail of Tears (Alternate Version) (Live)
19 Caterpillar Crawl (Alternate Version) (Live)
20 Rumble (Alternate Version) (Live)
21 Fish Taco (Alternate Version) (Live)
22 Fever (Live)
23 Shake 'N' Stomp (Alternate Version) (Live)
24 Ghost Riders in the Sky (Alternate Version) (Live)
25 Jungle Fever / Tribal Thunder (Live)
26 Miserlou (Alternate Version) (Live)
27 Peter Gunn (Live)
28 Speardance (Live)
29 Let's Go Trippin' (Alternate Version) (Live)
30 Third Stone from the Sun (Live)

Band Links:-

http://www.dickdale.com/

Label Links:-

http://www.floatingworldrecords.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/floating.worl
https://twitter.com/floatingwrecord