by Jon Azpiri
After guitar legend Dick Dale's classic &Misirlou& was used in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, a new generation of listeners were introduced to Dale's influential and endlessly energetic brand of surf rock. With a renewed interest in his work, why would Dale release a featherweight album like Calling Up Spirits? If listeners wanted another tired retread of jazz standards like &Fever,& they'd buy a Kathie Lee Gifford album. Dale only manages to capture his manic energy on the cover version of Jimi Hendrix' &Third Stone From the Sun.& If Dale's new fans want to truly appreciate his musical gifts, they should check out some of his early work -- as represented by the 1989 Rhino compilation King of the Surf Guitar: The Best of Dick Dale for example -- and do their best to avoid Calling Up Spirits.