I say Misirlou.

You say Dick Dale.

Maybe you say Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino, or a frantic surf-rock fever dream.

Maybe you think of the earliest Greek rebetiko musicians.

Today, however, we are saying Misirlou by The Cardinals.

Misirlou by The Cardinals

The Cardinals were an American R&B and doo-wop group from Baltimore. They originally formed in 1946 under the name The Mellotones, cutting their teeth by singing harmonies on the corner of Gay Street and Forest. Heavily influenced by groups like The Ink Spots, The Fortunes, and The Ames Brothers, they ground their way through local bars and nightclubs.

Eventually they signed to Atlantic Records in 1951 and had mixed fortunes.

But I have gone for this specific version for the 1000 Songs project because I love its smoothness, especially when contrasted against the famous surf-rock recording.

But I also think it stands in its own right.

This version still utilises that traditional rebetiko scale. It gives the track that Eastern edge, creating a beautiful contrast when wrapped up in the harmonies of the band.

This marks the first appearance of the song on the blog. But don't worry, I will, of course, be putting Dick Dale’s definitive version in the project later down the line too!