Dann Huff: A Legend And A Master Gives It Up

[LightWingStudios]

Almost 30 years ago...STILL KILLER yet humble.

[toomanycats]

Thanks for highlighting this guy. I've heard his name in passing before, but didn't know anything about him as he was outside the orbit of the well know late 80s/early 90s gunslingers. A really phenomenal player. He sounds like a combination between Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, and Raised on the Radio era Neal Schon. So precise, controlled, in the pocket, and tasty as heck, yet exciting, wild, and spontaneous sounding at the same time. I've already taken the liberty of stealing that killer lick at 9:02.

[LightWingStudios]

Thanks for highlighting this guy. I've heard his name in passing before, but didn't know anything about him as he was outside the orbit of the well know late 80s/early 90s gunslingers. A really phenomenal player. He sounds like a combination between Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, and Raised on the Radio era Neal Schon. So precise, controlled, in the pocket, and tasty as heck, yet exciting, wild, and spontaneous sounding at the same time. I've already taken the liberty of stealing that killer lick at 9:02.

Here's a more recent couple of videos, six years ago, with him.

[Rollin Hand]

Thanks for highlighting this guy. I've heard his name in passing before, but didn't know anything about him as he was outside the orbit of the well know late 80s/early 90s gunslingers. A really phenomenal player. He sounds like a combination between Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, and Raised on the Radio era Neal Schon. So precise, controlled, in the pocket, and tasty as heck, yet exciting, wild, and spontaneous sounding at the same time. I've already taken the liberty of stealing that killer lick at 9:02.

Apparently he is on Whitesnake's 1987 album in places.

And he performed one of my fave solos (and ballads) of the 80s.



He also played a lot on Shania Twain albums, IIRC. Hope he got a cut of the money....

[bleys21]

That Giant album is just pure gold. How it never hit it big, I'll never know, as its as perfect example of songwriting, music, playing and production as you'll ever see.

[sabasgr68]

Almost 30 years ago...STILL KILLER yet humble.

Bookmarked to watch later. Seems interesting!

[toomanycats]

That Giant album is just pure gold. How it never hit it big, I'll never know, as its as perfect example of songwriting, music, playing and production as you'll ever see.

I'm thinking that in the context 1989 it may have been difficult to market these guys. They didn't fit neatly into any of the little boxes the music industry had adopted. They're not the type of band you'd see on Headbanger's Ball alongside Crue, G&R, Faster Pussycat, Cinderella, and so on.
Maybe it's because they weren't pretty enough, didn't have the right image, and couldn't be pitched to the teen girls.
While their talent is beyond question, the adult contemporary vibe of the single "I'll See You In My Dreams" may have disenfranchised the hard rock community in the same way Winger got a bad rap, even though both bands had stellar musicians.

I cannot believe Dan Huff played on Chaka Khan's I Feel For You album. The list of people this guy has played for is truly astounding.

[mickey]

I cannot believe Dan Huff played on Chaka Khan's I Feel For You album. The list of people this guy has played for is truly astounding.

Nashville is like that. The "hired guns" play for cash. The genre, etc. doesn't matter. They are too good to be believed!

For example:
Brent Mason
And he is a genuinely nice guy to boot!

[LightWingStudios]

I cannot believe Dan Huff played on Chaka Khan's I Feel For You album. The list of people this guy has played for is truly astounding.

Nashville is like that. The "hired guns" play for cash. The genre, etc. doesn't matter. They are too good to be believed!

For example:
Brent Mason
And he is a genuinely nice guy to boot!

Been a fan for years...he's beyond phenomenal.

BTW, that Tele he's playing? It has a GIBSON Mini Humbucker in the Neck Position!

[LightWingStudios]

"I'll See You In My Dreams"...

GIANT: LIVE AFTER 25 YEARS 2017!

[andrewsrea]

Dan huff was on countless tracks. From what I understand loads of uncredited in the 70's and 80's.

[Rollin Hand]

That Giant album is just pure gold. How it never hit it big, I'll never know, as its as perfect example of songwriting, music, playing and production as you'll ever see.

I'm thinking that in the context 1989 it may have been difficult to market these guys. They didn't fit neatly into any of the neat industry had adopted. They're not the type of band you'd see on Headbanger's Ball alongside Crue, G&R, Faster Pussycat, Cinderella, and so on.
Maybe it's because they weren't pretty enough, didn't have the right image, and couldn't be pitched to the teen girls.
While their talent is beyond question, the adult contemporary vibe of the single "I'll See You In My Dreams" may have disenfranchised the hard rock community in the same way Winger got a bad rap, even though both bands had stellar musicians.

I cannot believe Dan Huff played on Chaka Khan's I Feel For You album. The list of people this guy has played for is truly astounding.

I don't know about the adult conteporary thing. LOTS of hard rock bands had song just like that. Heck, Sheriff had a huge hit after being broken up for years, and it was a ballad.

And that, to my view was the problem: how were they different from all those other bands?

I would also blame their album cover.

Giant_last_of_the_runaways.jpg (26.99 KiB) Viewed 1494 times

For all you can tell from this, they might be a country band.

[LightWingStudios]

I would also blame their album cover.

Giant_last_of_the_runaways.jpg

For all you can tell from this, they might be a country band.

Throwback to an actual MOVIE called "Giant" that starred Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and...JAMES DEAN.

Basically about Texas Oil Barons hence the Well in the pic and Cowboy Boots.

[Rollin Hand]

I would also blame their album cover.

Giant_last_of_the_runaways.jpg

For all you can tell from this, they might be a country band.

Throwback to an actual MOVIE called "Giant" that starred Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and...JAMES DEAN.

Basically about Texas Oil Barons hence the Well in the pic and Cowboy Boots.

Well aware. But it does not tell you what the band is about in the slightest, nor does it give any indication of their genre or their sound. They might as well have used a publicity shot of the Scorpions.