Checkered Flag (album)

Checkered Flag
Studio album by Dick Dale
Released	1963
Recorded	September 1963
Genre	Hot rod rock
Label	Capitol
Producer	Jim Economides, Jim Monsour
Dick Dale chronology
King of the Surf Guitar (1963) Checkered Flag (1963) Mr. Eliminator (1964)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Checkered Flag is the third studio album by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, released in 1963. This was Dale's first entry into hot rod rock, which The Beach Boys, among others, were beginning to perform and record. Here, the style shifts somewhat and features slightly altered beats and some added sounds to give the impression of the energy of Hot-rodding (this is not always the case though). Dale's next album Mr. Eliminator is a follow-up to this, featuring more hot rod songs.

Chart performance

The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated December 14, 1963, peaking at No. 106 during an eleven-week run on the chart. ^[2]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Dick Dale; except where indicated

1. "The Scavenger" (Gary S. Paxton, Paul Nuckles) – 1:54
2. "Surf Buggy" – 2:07
3. "Hot Rod Racer" (Eddie Daniels, Jerry Capehart) – 2:19
4. "Mag Wheels" (Gary Usher, Richard Burns) – 1:58
5. "Big Black Cad" (Gary Usher, Roger Christian) – 1:40
6. "Ho-Dad Machine" – 2:06
7. "Grudge Run" (Gary Paxton, Paul Nuckles) – 3:05
8. "Motion" – 1:44
9. "426–Super Stock" (Gary Usher, Roger Christian) – 1:52
10. "The Wedge" – 2:01
11. "It Will Grow On You" (Carol Connors, Marshall Howard Connors) – 1:33
12. "Night Rider" – 1:47

Personnel

• Guitar: Dick Dale, Art Munson
• Bass: Bryan Dietz
• Piano: Billy Barber, Lincoln Mayorga
• Drums: Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, Earl Palmer
• Saxophone: Steve Douglas, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson ^[3]

References

1. Checkered Flag at AllMusic
2. Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top LPs, 1945–1972. Record Research. p. 40. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
3. "Checkered Flag". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2025.