miserlou

Bob I. Williams · From: Sun City West, Arizona, USA

I was in a coffee drinking discussion this morning. They were talking about a song called MISERLOU out of the 30 or 40's. I'm 64 and don't recall that one, but would like info on it, as to who wrote it and recorded it, and where I may find a copy. Thanks in advance BOB

Jason Stillwell · From: Caddo, OK, USA

"Miserlou" is a surf guitar instrumental associated with Dick Dale, though I'm not sure of its origin. It had a resurgence in popularity a couple of years back due to the movie "Pulp Fiction".

[This message was edited by Jason Stillwell on 14 November 2002 at 08:20 AM.]

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

From liner notes:

"Dick Dale and The Del Tones released three singles in 1962, two of which gave surf music a certain validity that had only been hinted at by earlier recordings such as "Let's Go Trippin'," "Bustin Surfboards," "Paradise Cove," and "Surfer's Stomp." The first was "Miserlou," which provided the sound that came to be accepted by both musicians and fans as the sound of surf music. The second was "Surf Beat," which served to give the musics driving rhythm and power a name.

"Miserlou" was the first widely popular record to feature the effect of a Fender Reverb Unit on the lead guitar....Released in May 1962, ...was based on a Greek folk tune of the 1940s that had been musically reinterpreted over the years. A popular version was by pianist Jan August in the early '50s. Since Dale's heritage was Lebanese, and he had a fondness for Middle Eastern melodies, it was a perfect vehicle for him to flex his muscles on guitar.
Dale reportedly incorporated "Miserlou" into his show after a fan asked him if he could play a melody on his guitar using only one string. He's been quoted as saying,"I still remember the first night we played it. I changed the tempo and just started cranking on that mother. And it was eerie. The people came rising up off the floor, and they were chanting and stomping. I knew I'd tapped into some sort of power, and that power was labeled surf music"

I got to hang, a bit, with Dick at an awards show where Davy Allen was getting a long overdue achievent award. I mentioned that I had heard him at the Santa Monica pier and how impressed I was that three guys could pump out so much energy. He then went into a discussion of the rymthic structures that the bass and drums had to do to make that happen and it wasn't garage band stuff.

Dave Birkett · From: Oxnard, CA, USA

When Dick Dale's record was out, I stumbled across a copy of the tune's sheet music sitting on our neighbor's organ, so it's older than Dick Dale.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

"Misirlou" can be heard on Jody Carver's,(& Johnny Cucci's) "HCOA" album,that was released back in the late '50's. (side 1,cut 1.)

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  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


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Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

I forgot to list the writers. Sorry 'bout dat. They are:
N. Roubanis
F. Wise
M. Leeds
K. Russell
Sorry,no copyright date.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

The Beach Boys had 'Miserlou' on an early album, also, [#4 or #5] along with other instrumentals, like 'Diamond Head'.

[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 14 November 2002 at 04:10 PM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Yeah...definitely a Greek-sounding song! Even when done by instrumental surf-rock groups (and they all did it). Xavier Cugat did it in the '50s, and it probably goes back much farther as a Greek line-dance song.

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

The copyright date is 1941. It's actually an old Mediterranean region folk dance tune that was adapted by the big bands in the 40's, popularized by Dick Dale in 1962, and was reintroduced to a new generation in the '90s as the Theme to Pulp Fiction

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Jason Stillwell · From: Caddo, OK, USA

quote:
The Beach Boys had 'Miserlou' on an early album, also, [#4 or #5] along with other instrumentals, like 'Diamond Head'.

"Miserlou" appears on the Beach Boys' Surfin' USA, released in 1963, which was their second album. It also contains the instrumentals "Let's Go Trippin'", "Honky Tonk", "Stoked", and "Surf Jam". Carl was a monster picker as a young teen. How unfortunate that his guitar work didn't seem to mature and improve with age the way his voice did.

"Diamond Head" originally appeared on the 1968 Friends lp and features some C6 pedal steel.

[This message was edited by Jason Stillwell on 15 November 2002 at 10:32 AM.]

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Here's my lap steel arrangement of miserlou inspired by Jody Carver's great version:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum8/HTML/001282.html

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Smiley-you right about Jody Carver Playing Miserlou. Good job too! We used to play that song around 1947, hotels, restaurants, stuff like that. I played on my D8 non pedal and that was the same year , I found a 6 pedal 1941 used Electra-Harp for sale . Oh happy days......al

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Thanks Jason....I knew those tunes were on their earlier albums somewhere. I was just ballparking.
Those songs, by most back then, sure encapsulated that classic Fender guitar/amp/reverb sound.

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