Performer Notes

Personnel: Dan Hicks (vocals, guitar); Paul Robinson (guitar); Stevie Blacke (mandolin, fiddle); Jim Boggio (accordion, piano); Alex Baum (acoustic bass); Bob Scott (drums).
Recorded live at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Los Angeles, California.
All songs written by Dan Hicks.
Personnel: Dan Hicks (vocals, guitar); Paul Robinson (guitar); Stevie Blacke (mandolin, fiddle); Jim Boggio (accordion, piano); Bob Scott , Bobby Scott (drums).
Audio Mixer: Joel Moss .
Recording information: McCabes Guitar Shop, Los Angeles, CA (1994); McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA (1994).
Photographer: Henry Diltz.
In an ideal world, Dan Hicks would be headlining huge sports arenas. But in the real world, someone that hard to categorize is a marketing person's nightmare. Is he Western swing, country-rock, folk, or rock & roll? Hicks is a variety of things. But his followers love him just the way he is; those are the people who will savor Shootin' Straight, which was recorded live at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Los Angeles in 1994. Backed by his Acoustic Warriors band, the singer/songwriter is totally uncompromising during his inspired set. Hicks is as humorous and eccentric as ever, and his McCabe's appearance is extremely difficult to categorize. The material owes a lot to pre-bebop jazz, but it also owes a lot to country, rock, folk, and blues. From a marketing standpoint, that's extremely frustrating -- from the standpoint of Hicks' small but enthusiastic group of followers, that's what makes him special. If you're the sort of eclectic, adventurous listener who holds Django Reinhardt, Bob Wills, Hank Snow, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Pete Seeger in equally high regard, you can't help but admire the adventurous spirit that Hicks brings to McCabe's. Although excellent, Shootin' Straight isn't Hicks' most essential release. But it's an album that his confirmed fans will find to be consistently rewarding. ~ Alex Henderson

Professional Reviews

Musician (3/95, pp.84-88) - "...The 14 `new' originals on this live set are up to the standard of his early-'70s output. The moods swing from a stark monologue by a female barfly...to a goofball take on space travel.... As ever, Hicks treats his subjects with equal respect and no apologies..."

Jazziz (1/95, p.89) - "...The songs still have all the charm, humor, and warmth that earned him a cult following. He's long been one of those guys enjoyed by everyone who hears him, though they won't find him on radio..."

Sing Out! (11-12/94-1/95, p.136) - "...it's obvious that Hicks in his comeback is good, or even better, than he was the first time around. His lyrics are witty and hip as ever and Hick's singing continues to sound effortless..."

Album: Shootin' Straight
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Intro
2)	Up! Up! Up!
3)	Shootin' Straight
4)	Hell I'd Go
5)	Bottoms Up!
6)	Texas Kinda Attitude
7)	Willie
8)	Savin' My Lovin'
9)	13-D
10)	Barstool Boogie
11)	Magician
12)	Who Are You?
13)	Level With Me Laurie
14)	Rounder
15)	$100,000

Album: Shootin' Straight
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Intro
2)	Up! Up! Up!
3)	Shootin' Straight
4)	Hell I'd Go
5)	Bottoms Up!
6)	Texas Kinda Attitude
7)	Willie
8)	Savin' My Lovin'
9)	13-D
10)	Barstool Boogie
11)	Magician
12)	Who Are You?
13)	Level With Me Laurie
14)	Rounder
15)	$100,000