Checkered Flag [Vinyl]

Dick Dale | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (March 23, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sundazed Music
• ASIN: B00354NAZA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,363 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Scavenger

2. Surf Buggy

3. Hot Rod Racer

4. Mag Wheels

5. Big Black Cad

6. Ho-Dad Machine

7. Grudge Run

8. Motion

9. 426-Super Stock

10. The Wedge

11. It Will Grow On You

12. Night Rider

Editorial Reviews

In the half-century since he began his reign as King of the Surf Guitar, Dick Dale has remained one of rock's most innovative and influential axemen. A bold pioneer in the use of speed, volume and sonic texture, the charismatic Dale invented surf music, and in the process permanently altered the role of the electric guitar in rock 'n' roll. Of all the surf guitarists who would follow in Dale's wake, none could match his prodigious technique, his fierce showmanship or his restless inventiveness.

At the dawn of the 1960s, Dale's passion for the sport of surfing inspired him to create music that replicated the physical sensations of the surfing experience.

Although he began releasing singles on his own Deltone label in the late '50s, Dale made much of his most enduring music during his '60s stint with Capitol Records. In addition to carving out the surf sound on the landmark albums Surfers' Choice, King of the Surf Guitar and Summer Surf, Dale turned for inspiration to another all-American pursuit--drag racing--to create the hot-rod music genre on the LPs Checkered Flag and Mr. Eliminator. Now, Sundazed is making Dick Dale's reverb-soaked, genius LPs available once again, the way they were meant to be heard: on vinyl. Our vinyl restoration of the vintage Dale catalog features Checkered Flag. Checkered Flag is heavy with white-hot Dale instrumentals ("Night Rider," "Ho-Dad Machine") and vocal car tunes from the pens of pop's songwriters (Gary Usher, Gary Paxton, Carol Connors). Helping Dale stir up the nitro fuel are L.A. session stars Plas Johnson, Steve Douglas, Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer. Checkered Flag is tough stuff, an unyielding trophy-run down the asphalt aisle. This album has been mastered from the original analog tapes, and is packaged with the complete original cover art.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hidden Treasures, January 12, 2009

By 

James Taggart "The Bad Lt" (Akron, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Checkered Flag (MP3 Download)

While this album represents Dick Dale's attempt to follow the trends of the moment, which was a quick transition from surf music to songs about cars (see Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, etc.) there are still some pretty great gems to be found here. "The Wedge" in particular jumps out as a finely crafted example of Dick Dale surf music, and has remained a live show staple to this day. "Grudge Run" is another in the line of songs like "Dead Man's Curve," but it does stand the test of time and will keep your head bobbing. What the heck folks, they don't often make music like this anymore... spend the money and catch a wave (or rev' the engine as the case may be).

4.0 out of 5 stars His best "Vocal" album, but not his best guitar work, October 23, 2011

By 

Surf Guitar King - See all my reviews

This review is from: Checkered Flag (Audio CD)

This album includes some of Dick's best vocal tracks, which are a nice change from time to time. As the other review said, this is Dick (Or his producer) trying to cash in on the surf & car craze of pop music during that era. It's ironic that Dick invented authentic surf music, then became a trend follower with the generic stuff.

I have nothing against this album, I think it's great, it's just not his best guitar work. Obviously the Wedge is one of his best instro songs and that is represented here. A collector needs this album, a new fan needs to go to Surfer' Choice or his Greatest Hits album first, then revisit this album later.