Here’s the first of a few of CB’s favorite solos. I’ve had this idea floating around for a long time and one of the solos that keeps speaking to me is Sid (Symphony Sid) Paige’s great violin work on Dan Hick’s ‘I Scare Myself’. I have other violin solos I like but I’ll start with this one.
I think you know that I’m a huge Hicks fan. Whether its with the Hot Licks, Acoustic Warriors etc. Whomever. He always had top notch players. I would have dug this song no matter what but when Sid does his thing it takes it to a special place for me. I love the violin/fiddle and Paige’s solo on that instrument is just candy for my ear. You hear him throw out a few teasers then two and half minutes in he does his magic. CB was gonesville. Who needs drugs when you can take a trip like this.
CB’s mantra for his takes is “Music or Movies that move him”. Sid’s solo does that big-time.
Here’s the version I first heard. The Hot Licks cook on this but Paige takes the spotlight. The other link is from an Austin City Limits broadcast. Hicks combines two of his bands for a live take with Sid taking the lead.
If you like Django and Grappelli you should dig this. Scare yourself with Sid
Phil Strawn on Tonio K and Max | |
cincinnatibabyhead on Tonio K and Max | |
Phil Strawn on Tonio K and Max | |
cincinnatibabyhead on Tonio K and Max | |
Jim S. on Tonio K and Max |
Phil Strawn on Tonio K and Max | |
cincinnatibabyhead on Tonio K and Max | |
Phil Strawn on Tonio K and Max | |
cincinnatibabyhead on Tonio K and Max | |
Jim S. on Tonio K and Max |
I’ve never heard this CB…this is really cool. He totally sets a mood. I’ll have to check him out.
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Hicks is someone I have been listening to for years. He’s worth checking out for sure. Yeah this tune has a certain mood for sure. I love it.
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I will give this a go. I do like Stephan Grappeli tho’…..
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Should be right up your alley.
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Great song that I hadn’t heard in a long while. I never knew Sid’s name before. You’re right about his solo. It’s something else.
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Sid’s solo got me from day one. Like we have said Neil, it picked me. It really does send me. I even play a little “air violin”
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🎻
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The comedy songs from Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks were a subtle alternative to the existentialism overkill from the Doors in the late 60s and early 70s. David La Flame also played the violin there before he joined It’s A Beautiful Day.
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There’s a clip of David joining Hick’s and the band for this cut. I might have to give La Flame a listen today.
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At some point I lost sight of Dan Hicks. Sometimes I listened to “Old Cowhand from the Rio Grand” or to “I Scare Myself” again. And then came the news of his death. Liver cancer in his seventies. I would have wished him a few more years.
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Being a musician you would appreciate The Hot Licks, licks.
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Dan Hicks always said that he would be a humble person until his last breath. “But on my dying day I will explain to the world how lucky they have been to be alive the same time as me.”
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That’s Dan
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I have a recording where he apologizes to the audience for taking time to tune his guitar, he said something like he just wasnt as good as the Grateful Dead, being able to play hours without tuning.
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Too much work, too little otherworldly joys. Thats why the breaks between his records were getting longer and longer.
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Having heard more Bill Hicks than Dan, I was curious to listen to this one, CB. Interesting solo – full of interesting twists and turns. Cool.
Now, when will Jerry Goodman appear?
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I dont know how familiar you are with Hicks’s music but Sid was a huge part of the sound. David Cross, Goodman, Grech, Creach ,… all stuck in my head with great solos. Plus more than a few jazz/bluegrass people.
Enlighten me on Bill Hicks.
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Ah, sorry CB. I was being a smart-arse. Link to BH:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hicks
Actually, that’s the first Dan Hicks I’ve heard.
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No problem. Always looking for a chuckle. Dan was pretty funny.
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This is pretty cool. I enjoyed both versions!
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Glad you enjoyed it. Dan was a task master as a leader. His musicians were always top notch. Sid being one of the best.
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I was just listening to DH the other day. Never gets old. This is one of my buddy Steve’s favorite tunes.
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Dan was a pretty demanding band leader from what I gathered. He expected perfection from the Licks and he got it, especially from Sid
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Suited me down to the bone. #grapelli etc
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Great. It has a really haunting erotic sound.
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I’ve listened to Dan Hicks records for 50 years. I finally worked up Traffic Jam for open mics. Dan at his paranoid best, with Sid noodling around him, over the chugging guitar and bass. Did Sid play his violin like a mandolin part of the time?
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Very cool. A long time Hicks fan. Dont know the answer to the Sid question but i would guess he did.
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