Dan Hicks etc. - where's his style from?

Subject: Origins: Dan Hicks etc.
From: fogie
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 03:53 AM

I guess this is a question for you American catters. It's sort of in the Origins of type thread.
I just bought Dan's latest CD and whilst waiting for it to arrive dug out the two LPs I have of his from the 70s Wheres the money and Last train to Hicksville (which I've always admired).
So my question is -where does Dans style come from. What are its predecessors? especially the fast-lyric songs like Long come a viper ?
Boogie woogie bugle boy springs to mind. I relise Dan's style is a mixture of all sorts of music types, like Hot Club Paris, the Andrews sisters, Talking blues, and I'm looking for artists that I might have missed -for instance some songs remind me of the Loving Spoonful. What else are you hiding?
ps Beatin the heat on first hearing sounds as if its got a good proportion of good stuff on it, it'll take a few plays to let it sink in.

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"Origins" is just for information on the origins of songs. Hope you don't mind that I changed the title tag.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: Dan Hicks etc.
From: Janie
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 08:11 AM

Texas swing, country, country rock, jazz--to name a few of his influences.

Subject: RE: Origins: Dan Hicks etc.
From: Janie
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 03:52 PM

If I remember correctly, and I may not, Dan Hicks was strongly influenced by that Texas swingman, Bob Wills.

Subject: RE: Origins: Dan Hicks etc.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 04:19 PM

Texas swing is indeed the closest musical style, and Bob Wills is an obvious musical influence. As an influence on Dan's humorous persona and lyrical approach (including at least one great "viper" song), I'd bet that he spent some time listening to folk revivalist Jim Kwesin and his Jug Band, whose female vocalist Maria Muldaur is an obvious predeccesor of Dan's girl singers.

Subject: RE: Origins: Dan Hicks etc.
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 04:50 PM

Most American music shows the influence of Black people. This is very obvious us people, on this side of the pond, when we hear EuroPop. It sounds like something is missing over there.

Dan Hicks is not the only Rock group based in Swing, rather than the usual Blues, Rock 'n Roll or Classical (as was Yes). Check out Asleep at the Wheel, Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen, and maybe Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys. The Commander's "Sleazy Roadside Stories" on Relix is more polite than it sounds, and has none of his drug songs.

Subject: RE: Origins: Dan Hicks etc.
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 05:33 PM

For the "fast lyric" sort of stuff, check out Slim Galliard/Slam Stewart--particularly the song "Flat Foot Floogie"--Also early Mills Brothers--Dan is from Marin County, and still lives and plays music there--it helps to remember that he's listened to and played everything from dixieland to Bola Sete, with some jug band music and bluegrass kicked in, in the Northern California fashion, which is to say, humorous and little bit of off the wall--

Subject: RE: Dan Hicks etc. - where's his style from?
From: fogie
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 03:43 AM

Thank you all, and for adding to the title. I note your recommendations, and have already seen a Jim Kwesin jug band CD which I will buy, I didnt know Maria Muldaur was with him, Ive got an LP by her with "camel" on it, but didnt note a connection.