Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 11
 My favorite musician December 31, 1998
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Man oh man... Got this collection for X-Mas, and it truly contains all the best stuff! Surf Beat, Surf Beat 97 (In-Liner), Riders in the Sky, and the immoral Miserlou are all in there, plus like 30 more tracks! If you can't stand his voice, there's plenty of instrumentals tucked in there too. 2 CD's full of awesome music plus a free bio to boot! Highly recommended to anyone who has even heard of Dick Dale.
The King of Surf Guitar kicks it off!! December 6, 2000
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
In my opinion, this is the best compilation of the King's pickin'. While his earlier releases touch upon his style, grace and energy, this box set encompasses ALL of his talents. He can write great songs. He plays his heart out. And he maintains a sense of the "fun" that is surf music. With each track on this set, I came to the realization that not only can Dick Dale play the guitar, but that he also has a great (stage) presence. And he has not gotten 'old' like some of the other early '60s instrumentalists. This is one heck of a wonderful compilation.
 Awesome August 4, 2005
Nicholas O. Kelly (Seattle)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Two CDs which contain a whole lotta shredding. A nice informative booklet fills you in on the fact the Dick Dale was a revolutionary force in rock and roll. Includes the song that Travolta and Thurman did "The Batman" to in Pulp Fiction.
If you own ONE Dick Dale title, this is the one! May 7, 2007
A. Powell (Fort Collins, CO)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The first three (and chronologically earliest) tunes on disc 1 are from Dale's pre-surf period in which he was a singer who also played guitar; they are a bit dated and only big fans of 50's music are likely to really enjoy them. Also, the sound on the first few cuts is not as full as the later cuts. However, they set the stage for where Dick Dale came from, making it even more impressive to know where he went.
Starting with Cut 4 (Let's go Trippin') you hear the emergence of the surf sound and Dick Dale's trademark fast picking is heard in early form. From there on, you quickly hear the historic development of the King of the Surf Guitar. Classics like Miserlou, Surf Beat, the Wedge and many more turn up in quick succession, all of them a bit better (in today's terms) than the one before.
If you're a guitar fan, there's a lot to like in Dick Dale's music. The emphasis is on fast multiple picking and relentless energy - just like the surf and sea he says he emulates in his music. The one common aspect across these cuts is the energy level which never drops.
The disc set is roughly chronological, although some early cuts appear later in the disc set. By the 7th cut on disc one (Miserlou) the quality of the recordings has generally improved and the fullness of the music can be heard more clearly. From there on, it's an energetic ride through some of the finest surf ever recorded. The ride includes Stevie Ray Vaughn in an unforgettable duet with Dale on Pipeline, much of the music Dale has written in the last 15 years, and even includes a nice re-make of Hendrix's Third Stone From The Sun, supposedly originally written as a tribute to Dick Dale when he was near death from cancer.
Those who enjoy the music will be pleased to hear that Dick Dale is still touring, and seeing him live is like hearing his recorded music magnified 100 times. His volume, energy and tireless attack are part of his mystique. He's an absolutely unique performer who bring more to his music than the notes. His website with tour schedule can easily be found online.
This is a highly recommended CD set, and if you only own ONE Dick Dale title, this should be the one.
Astonishingly Great October 10, 2003
This is simply a great, great collection of music. Dale's career is astonishing--he was ahead of the "curve" in the early 1960s, and is STILL putting out remarkable music. This 2-disk set by no means contains "everything" of importance, but it's THE essential place to start. Dale combines the "surf" sound with many other flavors and influences: the blues, Latin-American, Mideastern, and Native-American traditions, for example. What brings it all together is the sheer joy and energy of his playing. The sullen intensity of "Angry Generation" (recorded in 1965!) is a particular favorite.
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