Hicks may be a footnote now, but once upon a time his mug graced the fabled “cover of the Rolling Stone” that his contemporaries in Dr. Hook sung about in their eternal 1970s oldie. What Hicks does is hard to classify; there’s definitely no one like him on the scene now. His music is the kind of hippie reworking of cowboy folk, bluegrass and country-swing that could only have been devised in 1960s San Francisco. Tangled Tales finds Hicks’ sound pretty much unchanged after all these years. There’s still lots of old timey lead vocals (think Leon Redbone), high-pitched fiddles and chirpy female backup singers. His songwriting chops are still intact, though, on songs like the romantic “Savin’ My Lovin’” and the sentimental “Song for My Father.”
Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
Tangled Tales
Label: Surfdog
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8 Responses
| Bo Johansson, Sweden |
I think it's important to say that five of the so called new Hicks tunes on this album has been released before on the live-album "Shootin Straight" whick were released in 1994. "Who are you" "A magician" "13-D" "Savin my lovin" and "The rounder" were all included. So it? not a question of 8 new originals that were announced on Surfdogs homepage. I'm disappointed. |
| ceeray |
give the guy a break! he has been around forever. most people that have been in the business as long as him dont even give you 8 new song. At best you get 1 or 2 at the end of a "greatest hits" album. Dan Hicks is a legend so back off! |
| AtoZ |
Ceeray, I think Bo J was only sharing that this new album is not a 100% 'new chew' so let the buyer beware. This group needs to be enjoyed live in concert, as they are brilliant on stage. I'll spend my $35 for another concert but I'm not going to put $15 out for a recycled CD. This is not an album band but a visual escape that needs to be seen to be enjoyed as DH&THL truly delivers in concert. A great evening out on a dollar well spent with Hicks. |
| Bo J |
Ceeray So you think it's okay that the record company cheat you? |
| T. Brookes |
My initial impression is that this is a half hearted effort. I'm an old fan from the 70s when Dan really rocked. This, at least at first blush, seems phoned in. I hope with more listenings I will change my view. |
| Denis Murrell |
I've been one of their greatest overseas fans since the 70's. Got their first album when I lived in New Guinea. Imported it from LA. I'll buy and enjoy anything by Dan and the Hots. They could do an album of 26 different versions of 'Yes, We Have No Bananas' and I'd go out and buy it. |
| SeeDanPlay |
Dan and "the band" alway sign autographs and will talk with everybody before and after any show. He's a great showman damn fine musician and a nice approachable guy to boot. |
Horace Silver wrote "Song For My Father"...