Beatin' the Heat

Dan Hicks

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 29, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 29, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Surfdog Records Ada
• ASIN: B00004WJ8B
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,369 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In his song about alien abduction, "Hell, I'd Go," Dan Hicks proclaims, "I'm travelin' light; my attitude's right." Attitude combined with swing is what has made Hicks the sui generis artist he is. Attitude and swing are in abundance on Beatin' the Heat, and both attributes are shared by special guests: Brian Setzer, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, Tom Waits, and Elvis Costello. Those seeking a working definition of cool should listen to the Hicks-Waits duet on the laid-back shuffle "I'll Tell You Why That Is." Only the essential genius of violinist Sid Page returns from the original Hot Licks, but the band's unique vocal and instrumental sound is still amply present, tastefully updated by producers Gary Hoey and Dave Kaplan--what could be more appropriate than a remake of "I Scare Myself" over a trance groove? Intentionally or not, Hicks has steered clear of the swing revival movement, opting to continue making his own brilliant brand of eclectic, jazz-inflected pop music. --Michael Ross

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still the Walkin' One and Only, September 6, 2000

By	Kevin Moriarty (Trenton, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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 "Class Action" with Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (in the party scene at Beach Chalet early in the movie, playing "Up"). Definitely only for the most devoted of fans.

Now those devoted fans (who am I kidding, WE devoted fans) and whole bunches of new audiences have a chance to listen to a new Hot Licks CD. As the song says, "Hey, that's pretty good. Turn it up."

Enjoy

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hicks is timeless, December 15, 2000

By	Joshua W Berk (Bethlehem, PA United States) - See all my reviews

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 Bette Midler all show up.

But it is Hicks that rules. OK, his voice is a little off-key sometimes, but when you have lines like "you're standing on the corner/ looking like a stupid loner/ waiting for the bus" does it really matter? Plus he does have a unique vocal ability to hold a note forever and to make it sound a little like a horn. It's strange and cool -- just like everything on this disc.

Personal favorites are the plaintive "Driftin'" which is actually rather serious and touching, a goofy cover of Waits' "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not me)" which is hysterical and the whacked out "Hell I'd Go" which features Martians on back-up vocals.

A final interesting note: the liner notes have a brief story by Dave Kaplan of Surfdog Records, who put out the CD, about how he has been a Dan Hick's fan ever since a certain bizarre performance on a late night talk show. It was Johnny Carson -- 1973. An almost exact experience to mine twenty-seven years later. Like I said, Hicks is timeless.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Danny Boy, we're glad we know ye., February 26, 2002

By	"swift_eddie" (Our Nation's Capital) - See all my reviews

A friend of mine used to break out his Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks LPs during our partying days in the 70s & 80s...I had never heard of the group, but always enjoyed the music, the lyrics, and the fun...at least I think I did. Then I heard a review of "Beatin' The Heat" on the radio (NPR?). Whoa...gotta get it. And I've been playing it over & over ever since. Gave a copy to another friend as a Christmas gift after he took two months to return my copy when I let him borrow it. If you like good tunes, lyrics that are at times intelligent, corny, and downright funny, and some fine musicianship...don't let this one slip through your fingers...GET IT NOW!