King of the Surf Guitar

When pop music wasn’t so overwrought and complicated, when nostalgia wasn’t as good, when the guitar was the quintessential phallic object. The opening track King of the Surf Guitar is an ego championing sexual submission on behalf of his singers (Darlene Love and the Blossoms),

Oh how he can pluck a string/ Oh how he makes you sing/ Listen, listen to the king

It’s a pompous introduction to what should be a simple rock’n’roll record. Today, there’s no reason for us to re-read these records for their blatant sexism. The guitar is after all an extension of manhood and Dick Dale was a master of his own guitar. ahem. For me this record reflects the sexual idolatry of early pop music.

Dale himself is currently recovering from rectal cancer and welcomes support, contact dick@dickdale.com if you feel sufficiently moved.