Beatin' the Heat

As of this morning (Wednesday September 6), this album is Number 97 on Amazon's Top 100, right behind the self-titled "Christina Aguilera."

In case you were trying to decide between the two, buy the Dan Hicks. Christina doesn't have the totally unique, jumping California-swing sound of the Hot Licks, the wry humor of Mr. Hicks lyrics and vocals, or the contributions of such stellar guests as Rickie Lee Jones, Elvis Costello Brian Setzer, Bette Midler or Tom Waits. Of course, Aguilera is probably getting more air play on MTV lately. Or is that Britney?

There can be no confusing Dan Hicks with anyone else. His batch of albums in the early 70's established his highly personal sound and unique lyrical perspective. Each of those albums remains timeless, highly listenable and a lot of fun.

For the last several years, though, about the only places you could hear Dan was on stage in small clubs with his Acoustic Warriors, and on cable in reruns of the movie...Read more

I had never heard of Dan Hicks until I saw him play on the Conan O'Brian show. The next day I bought the CD. It wasn't even the song that made me want to own the disc so badly, though it was good ("I Don't Want Love" - a comic jazz number about a man "who loves to eat" that features lines like "If love makes you give up onion rings/ I don't want love"). What really hooked me in was the absurd dance routine he did with his female back-up singers. He was so deadpanned and the music was so cool and then this absolutely ridiculous dance? I loved it.

So I got the disc, and it was no disappointment. Hick's deadpan delivery and humor carries it for sure, but the guy has chops too. He played drums on the show, but plays a mean guitar on most of "Beatin' the Heat." The sound borrows heavily from old jazz but feels somehow out of time altogether. Interesting arrangements and instrumentation abound - and so do guests appearances. Tom Waits, Brian Setzer, Elvis Costello and...Read more

I was a HUGE fan of Dan Hicks back in the '70's. I even was in a band or two which did some of his great material, which always provided us with the most fun we ever had on stage. Over the years I would occasionally pull out my well-worn albums and get a Hicks-fix every once in a while. Then, my brother, who is as big a fan as myself, gave me his newest CD, "Beatin' the Heat" for Christmas. And I am happy to say that I am back in Hicksville once again, listening to the absolute most original, funky, jazz-tinged folk-rock swing music I have ever known! And his sly, clever, sometimes corny, but always smile-inducing lyrics have only improved with age. THIS IS A GREAT CD!!! If you like quality, long-lived material, you MUST introduce yourself to the master. I played him for my husband who was totally unfamiliar, and even my 10-yr-old, and they are now converts.

Dan, we missed you! Give us another one soon!!