Dick Dale and the reverb that birthed a genre

Not many people can claim they invented an entire genre. Joy Division can, as can Ornette Coleman (probably Chuck Berry, too). Guitar virtuoso Dick Dale would also find himself among that list. It isn't often that I find myself attracted to technical wizards, because more often than not they engage in the Guitar Center-wankery common among people who pop raging, mega-huge boners for boring white guys like Steve Vai.

I think it helped Dale was also a great songwriter, one who knew how to meld his six-string pyrotechnics with kickass songcraft instead of aimlessly noodling. He was also a sonic innovator of sorts, working closely with Fender to create bigger and louder amps (he was the first to use the then-flooring 100 watt amplifier), using heavier and heavier strings, playing his guitar upside down without restringing, incorporating Middle Eastern aural themes into rock'n'roll, and probably most important, slathering layer upon layer of reverb onto his recordings to make them sound "wet." All told, he pretty much singlehandedly invented surf rock.

What floors the most about Dick Dale, no matter how many times I listen to him, is how many sensible notes he manages to cram into short songs with ridiculous tempos. He never lets his skill do all the talking, going for bold hooks that instrumentalists of his caliber would shun. He;s also pretty tough, too - not even cancer or a pollution-cause infection that almost cost him his leg could keep him down. Dude's pushing 70, and he's still killing it onstage every night. See him while you have the chance.

Shake 'n' Stomp: http://www.mediafire.com/?f1nzizdcyg4

Take It Off: http://www.mediafire.com/?3myhxjzdemm

Hava Nagila: http://www.mediafire.com/?3k20dz0yzhy

Mr. Eliminator: http://www.mediafire.com/?8ynjie33mdy

The Victor: http://www.mediafire.com/?adoajmeffwd