Track Listing

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
21. That Mink on Her Back
22. Catch 'Em Young, Treat 'Em Rough, and Tell 'Em Nothin'
23. Crazy Rhythm
24. White Shotguns
25. You're Bound to Look Like a Monkey
26. You're So Different
27. We Met Too Late
28. Alabama Jubilee
29. I Want My Rib
30. September Song

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #166784 in Music
• Released on: 2000-07-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album 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.

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

Customer Reviews

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

WONDERFUL HANK PENNY RHYTHM
I am a friend of Hank's widow through a mutual friend and have seen Hank and Shari's daughter, Syd, grow up through pictures via the family friend. Hank's music is alway brought up and I've heard clips of his music, and was attracted to this album after listening to samples. I am so pleased to have purchased this album as it brinks Hank back to life. His song, Little Red Wagon, is a classic which should be played today, and surely is a legacy for his new grandson. This is an easy listening CD and is much enjoyed. Dennis Stiffler, Bremerton, WA