Dick Dale "Swingin' & Surfin'" on Ed Sullivan Show, 1963

This is great!

http://youtu.be/X8CnurLcxRY

 

Pretty ragin', huh? The Angels also appeared that night, as did Sonny Liston (who did nothing more than jump rope!).

Kennedy-era entertainment goodness!

 

Dick Dale is always great! Not everything in American pop in 1963 was tame. Did you notice how Ed Sullivan walked off camera to shake hands with Dick? Recently, I saw a clip of him telling David Letterman that it was previously unheard of for Ed to leave his post at the side of the stage - can't find it now.

 

Great clip!
An odd medley of Swingin' & Surfin/Miserlou/The Wedge/Maleguena!
He was calling to someone side stage. I wonder if his band was there and the entire performance was live? Live vocal & guitar, at least.

I must admit, although I like them, his vocal material is pretty cheesy & weak.

 

Just read that while he plays a left-handed Strat, it's actually strung for a right-handed player!

That means his chording, solos, everything, are upside down to what a leftie would see (small "E" string on the top, large "E" string on the bottom).

Plus he uses huge string gauges. Wow!

 

Dick just played Memphis. It happened to be his 75th birthday. Someone supposedly supplied a cake in his honor. Heard the show was fantastic.

 

So this is the same episode that The Angels did "My Boyfriend's Back"?

I wish complete episodes were available. It would be great Saturday night viewing