Crazy Rhythm

Hank Penny | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: July 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bloodshot Records
• ASIN: B00004U93J
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,254 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #76 in Music > Indie Music > Country > Traditional Country

Track Listings

1. Kiss Me Honey (But Take Your Time)

2. Wang Wang Blues

3. Rabbits Don't Ever Get Married

4. The Penny Opus No. 1

5. Hold the Phone

6. No Fuss, No Muss, No Bother

7. Won't You Ride in My Little Red Wagon

8. Progressive Country Music for a Hollywood Flapper

9. Don't Start Breathing Down My Neck

10. Mister and Mississippi

11. I'm Waiting Just for You

12. I Like the Wide Open Spaces

13. Flamin' Mamie

14. Cross Your Heart

15. I'm Not in Love (Just Involved)

16. Taxes, Texas

17. Peroxide Blond

18. Ship Of Broken Dreams

19. Things Are Gettin' Rough All Over

20. Big-Footed Sam

See all 30 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's tempting to dismiss a man with three measly hits and a fitful career as a bit player in country-music history. Yet Hank Penny's music says otherwise. He was a mere 17 when he was captivated by the salacious Western swing of idol Milton Brown in 1935, and by the following year, he'd established his own outfit, the Radio Cowboys--the first Western swing band to take root east of the Mississippi River. His buddy Merle Travis convinced him to move to Los Angeles in the mid-1940s, and along with Bob Wills and Spade Cooley, Penny was a significant figure in that decade's vibrant Western swing scene. Yet, while Penny's combativeness seemed to keep him from the success that the other two achieved (though Wills and Cooley were hardly passive gentlemen), his bands were stylish, finely honed ensembles, more akin in sound to Cooley's polish than Wills's power, capable of moving from sharp jazz instrumentals to peppy novelties to pop standards.

Penny and crew recorded these radio transcriptions in 1951, and they boast the full range of the repertoire. Penny's mellow, charismatic crooning shows the influence that Brown still had over his style 15 years after he'd died. Penny's musicians, meanwhile, were wonderful, led by guitarist Benny Garcia and Penny's longtime pal Noel Boggs on steel. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

Crazy Rhythm brings together 30 songs recorded for the Standard Transcription Service in 1951 and never released comercially until now. You get Hank's signature tune "Little Red Wagon," along with a grab bag of dancehall Western Swing, proto-rockabilly and a few ballads and novelty tunes thrown in for good measure.

Although he never achieved the fame he deserved, Hank's music remains as a dazzling example of one of country music's unheralded greats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Hank Penny" it's time to pay him his dues!, October 6, 2005

By 

J. F Kopeck "jkopeck9" (Parkville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crazy Rhythm (Audio CD)

Back in the 40's and 50's (even the 30's going back to Milton Brown and Bob)Western Swing was in a class all it's own. Either you loved it or not,in most cases there was no inbetween. Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys swore to Great Fame as did Bob's steel player Leon. Milton Brown who started it all would of ruled the roost if not for his early death in the late 30's. Spade Cooley was a real favorite even had a TV show and at one time was bigger then them all except he ended up doing time for a murder rap. He was the first to coin the phrase "Western Swing". Over the years there were many others like Curly Williams,Tex Williams,Elton Brittand Pee Wee King to name a few.But when I want to hear some of the finest Swing music from who I believe to be the Greastest Western Swing song writer as well as artist there is only one choice,"Hank Penny and his Radio Cowboys". Hank is about the most under rated Country and Western artist ever to go on the stage. His music is second to none and his lyrics can stop a coon in it's tracks! If you want to really get the best music that Hank ever put out it is essential to get this CD"Crazy Rhytm" along with his 2CD set "King of Hillbilly Bebop". Both of these sets will open a whole new world of Western Swing to any listener. If you never heard of Hank Penny or heard his music you are in for a treat. His lead female singer was the great Jaye P. Morgan who had great fame in the 50's and 60's as a crooner. I admit that this music is not for everyone and i would bet that only about 10% of todays so called Country Music enthusiasts will apperciate this goldmine of classics. Hits like "Flamin'Mamie" and "Peroxide Blond" are some of the best "Hillbilly" music that will ever be recorded. "Wide Open Spaces" and "Little Red Wagon" are classics that only Hank could pull off.This is the real thing if your love of music is like mine (my wife has adopted "Western Swing"as one of her favorite sounds also). Again please keep in mind if your idea of Country Music is watching some half baked,half naked, B-girl, bimbo on a perverted modern video that they now show on TV singing worthless songs that sound no more Country then Perry Como ,but just like pop hits from the 70's then this classic music ain't for you,believe me it ain't. If your idea of enjoying music is sitting back and listening to Ernest Tubb singing "I'm like Driftwood on the River of Regret" then I'm certain you will dig Hank!

"Enjoy" Joe Kopeck

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "exellent fusion of jazz and hillbilly", February 29, 2004

By 

rockabilly-swinger1957 (East Los Angeles,) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crazy Rhythm (Audio CD)

This is a cd of radio transcriptions of Penny's Western swing combos. This is a great fusion of small group hot swing with touches of hillbilly and jazz. Essential stuff.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes Taxes Fun, October 28, 2008

By 

Daniel Mcvicar (Los Angeles/Torino) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hank Penny: Crazy Rhythm: The Standard Transcriptions (MP3 Download)

This western swing is the best thing to listen to on the way to the accountant.