Dick Dale and His Del-Tones “Mr. Eliminator” 1964. Today, May 4th, is Dick Dale’s birthday (b. Richard Anthony Monsour 1937). Pioneer of surf music and “The King of the Surf Guitar,” inspiration to garage-rockers, garage revivalists and punks alike, Dick Dale infused Eastern flavor and reverb into his single note staccato picking style (also influencing heavy metal guitarists).

Mr. Eliminator melds the hot rod frenzy of the early 60′s with surf culture and throws in some Bo Diddley beats for good measure (“50 Miles to Go”). The exotic Eastern sounds are particularly evident on “The Victor.”  There are a few stinkers on the LP: “The Squirrel” which is just bizarre – Allmusic labels this track “a lost cause.”

“There’s a boy driving around, the craziest driver in our town. The other day a squirrel was driving down the road just as fast as he could go. Then he spotted some chickies driving in a woody and he said ‘Why you drive so slow? I got a fuel injected engine and some brand new slicks, I can stop her on a dime.’ So he revved up his engine and he laid some rubber and he got a $50 fine. Here he comes now, here comes the squirrel, look at him driving down the street. Here he comes now, here comes the squirrel, every car he has to beat.”