Record Rack

** 1/2 Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks, “Beatin’ the Heat,” Surfdog. More a revival of Hicks’ early-’70s group name than a real reunion of its personnel (violinist Sid Page is the key presence from that era), “Beatin’ the Heat” (due in stores Tuesday) should sizzle more than it does. Guest spots from Bette Midler, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Brian Setzer and Rickie Lee Jones, Hicks’ droll persona and his panorama of jump, swing, jazz and novelty all help, but the shtick isn’t exactly fresh, and his deadpan voice has thickened up and lost some agility since the days when Hicks (who headlines the Roxy on Thursday and the Galaxy Theatre on Sept. 20) and the Hot Licks combined comedy and musical energy into a popular package. Like many a class reunion, this get-together has its moments, but it’s never all you hoped for.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.