Search - Hank Penny :: Crazy Rhythm

"Hank Penny" it's time to pay him his dues!

J. F Kopeck | Parkville, Maryland United States | 10/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"

"exellent fusion of jazz and hillbilly"

rockabilly-swinger1957 | East Los Angeles, | 03/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."