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Lou Post subject: Is it really all Tony Hicks?
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Joined: 06 Jun 2005
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Hi my name is Lou I mostly lurk here Laughing

I had a life altering experience in the early 1980s when the Hollies played
at Soldier Field in Chicago. I knew I had just heard one of the very best bands
ever and became an instant diehard fan. I was especially impressed with
Tony Hicks totally original guitar style. I collected ALL the albums which
isn't easy in the USA(just try finding a copy of Out On The Road Rolling Eyes )

I started to wonder...

When you hear a great Lead Guitar passage on a Hollies record,
on tunes like "Hard,Hard Year" "Narida","Rubber Lucy(wow)",
"When Your Lights Are On","Too Young Too Be Married(from Confessions of a ...)"
"Frightened Lady(double wow)..."The Hollies(1965 album)"....and many others.

Is it alwaysTony Hicks himself playing the lead because I rarely ever
hear him mentioned among the monsters of the genre.
....?

Yet some of the solos credited to Tony Hicks are impressive displays of technique
and feel.Don't you agree?And on the live album he rips it up on The Air That I Breathe
with that decending triplet run.

You are the experts here,and I only got to see/hear them once
(it changed my life forever,but it was still only once)
is it always in every single case the man himself on lead?

Otherwise my man needs WAY more press. Cool

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PostPosted:Tue Aug 23, 2005 16:14 pm
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Baz Post subject:
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Joined: 14 Aug 2005
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Location: Liverpool

Well said Lou!

I have always believed that Tony Hicks is a vastly under-rated guitarist and you ae right that his talents rarely gets the recognition it deserves. I do however believe that he is held in high regard within musicians - like a musicians musician if you know what I mean.

It is heartening to know that Bobby Elliott has received many plaudits for his work yet again, I think he's still under-rated. Its interesting that Bobby and Tony are now pretty much the heart of the band since both of them have been there through all the many changes since late 1963.
PostPosted:Tue Aug 23, 2005 18:01 pm
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DistantLight Post subject:
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Joined: 10 Apr 2004
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Hi Lou!

Maybe there's a guest guitarist one some recordings but the solos are always played by Tony Hicks, that's for sure.
I'm a musician, too and I also think that he is a great guitarist, in fact he's my favorite one. "Frightened lady" is perfect just like the playing on so many other songs. But on some songs and albums he is in my opinion "underused" (Sing Dylan?).
PostPosted:Wed Aug 24, 2005 16:03 pm
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Baz Post subject:
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Been thinking following my post earlier on Tony Hicks as a guitarist...

One main reason why he is often overlooked is that Tony Hicks has not made a big display of his talents in the manner that guitarists like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton et al have. Hicks has never felt the need to go into lengthy guitar solos, showing off how good he is.

One major reason I respect and love his work is because he is playing as part of the band - not beside or outside it. He simply gets on with what he needs to do and thats partly why some of his work is rather understated, yet in my opinion, thats the sign of a great guitarist. I always felt that no matter how brilliant guitarists are technically when they begin playing long solos, it feels like their egos are taking over. One only has to glance at CSNY for evidence! Was all that excessive noodling Stills and Young indulged in onstage really necessary? Did it really add to the song? I think not! It bores me chronic!

Tony Hicks could very easily have gone down that route since The Hollies were around when the "guitar hero" became popular but at the end of the day, he has always had the integrity to know what kind of band The Hollies are and so keeps within his chunk of the dartboard (to paraphrase Mickie Most talking to Graham Nash after the failure of "Midas") Tony never forgets that the Hollies are a band and a band is made up of several components to produce what they do. The fact that he has produced quality work over the years within the Hollies framework and not go off on ego trips is the sign of a true guitarist.

A truly great lead guitarist knows when to shut up and when not to play and thats one of the reasons why Tony Hicks' work stands out for me and partly explains why he isn't regarded in higher esteem in the overall scheme of rock history.
PostPosted:Wed Aug 24, 2005 16:39 pm
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MichealC Post subject:
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You've made a very good point about guitarists in general and Tony Hicks in particular. He's not a show- off, he's tasteful and does what is appropriate for the song. Many of his licks sound great even if they are not all the most complicated. H never seemed to want to impose himself on the material.

Somebody pointed out before that it was Tony who brought back He Ain't Heavy and said they do it even though there is no guitar on the record.

A lot of people don't seem to get it's the emotion and aesthetic of the guitar not just what sounds really complex.

Micheal
PostPosted:Wed Aug 24, 2005 19:46 pm
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Baz Post subject:
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Thanks for your comments Michael. It was indeed Tony who "discovered" "He Ain't Heavy". He found it in a publishers office when he went out looking for suitable songs for The Hollies - its interesting to note that Tony Hicks was prepared to do this.

The legend goes that one publisher played him all these songs but passed over one thinking it wasn't suitable for The Hollies. Tony insisted he played the song, and there it was... and the rest is, as they say, history. So its Tony Hicks we have to thank for finding the song...
PostPosted:Wed Aug 24, 2005 20:04 pm
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MichealC Post subject:
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Yeah. It's nice to think the guitarist would push a record without any guitar on it. It shows he was looking out for the band.

Micheal
PostPosted:Wed Aug 24, 2005 20:07 pm
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Lou Post subject:
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MichealC wrote:
You've made a very good point about guitarists in general and Tony Hicks in particular. He's not a show- off, he's tasteful and does what is appropriate for the song. Many of his licks sound great even if they are not all the most complicated.

Micheal


Oh it is definitely a case of
It's not what he's saying,
it's how he's saying it.

He has his moments of musical wizardry
thats for sure.

I WISH, I WISH ,I WISH TH would put out
some solo guitar oriented material.
Not necessarily solo (one)guitar ,just solo
from the group.
Cool

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PostPosted:Fri Aug 26, 2005 22:10 pm
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Ozzy Post subject:



Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 14
Location: Adelaide, South Australia

What we are saying here, is that Tony is not an egotistical lead guitarist I guess ? Wink
I have been a huge Hollies fan since the 60's, & in particular due to that distinctive guitar lead of Tony's that enhances the Hollies harmonious vocals.

They have soldiered on through losing some real Hollies image members, but Tony's guitar has held it together.

I believe If Tony decided to call it a day, the Hollies would be history Sad

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PostPosted:Fri Aug 26, 2005 22:51 pm
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brandy Post subject:
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Joined: 16 Jan 2004
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"The notes you DON'T play are just as important as the ones you do."
Bruce

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PostPosted:Mon Aug 29, 2005 15:14 pm
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Hope2005 Post subject:
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Joined: 24 Oct 2005
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Tony is a genius and should get more credit in all those guitarist polls. His playing is always a joy to listen too one of my favorite solos is the one on Stand By Me.

Live he is just as good so keep up the good work Tony you are the very best.

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PostPosted:Sat Oct 29, 2005 17:41 pm
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