Hanky Panky is the fifth studio album by English band The The, released on 14 February 1995.[2][3] It consists of cover versions of country singer Hank Williams' songs.[4][5] It reached No. 28 on the UK Albums Chart.[6] Matt Johnson intended Hanky Panky to be the first of many albums he would record covering the work of iconic musicians.[7] Johnson provided the liner notes to Alone and Forsaken, a compilation of Williams demos that was also released in 1995.[8]
Hanky Panky | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 14 February 1995 | |||
Recorded | The War Room, Pittsburgh | |||
Label | 550 Music/Epic[1] | |||
Producer | Matt Johnson, Bruce Lampcov | |||
The The chronology | ||||
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Production
Johnson originally planned to record an EP, and then a standard tribute album, with many musicians interpreting songs, before settling on an album of covers.[9] Eric Schermerhorn played guitar on the album.[10] Some songs contain only voice and harmonium.[11] The band was more interested in retaining the meaning of the songs rather than producing musical copies of them.[12] "Your Cheatin' Heart" was performed in a rockabilly style.[13]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Calgary Herald | A[15] |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[17] |
The Indianapolis Star | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Orlando Sentinel | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USA Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Vancouver Sun | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Johnson internalizes Williams' '50s despair and coughs it up as modernist melancholy."[17] Trouser Press called the album "a tour de force tribute," writing that it "might have sunk to self-conscious gimmickry in less perceptive hands, but Johnson makes it work beautifully."[19] The Chicago Tribune stated that it "drones with the overmiked rasp, sometime monotonous echo, and bluesy guitars that are The The's trademark."[16]
The Independent determined that, "mostly, Hanky Panky demonstrates a misapprehension of Williams's art, the greatness of which lies, in part, in his ability to disguise darkness and loneliness in redemptively light settings."[20] The Guardian noted that "gloomy rock replaces the original relaxed melodies, and Johnson's baritone evokes only one colour from Hank's mixed palette of emotions."[21] The Calgary Herald concluded that "as has happened with the blues and rock in the '60s, it's taken a Brit to unearth the spirit, the soul, the songs of Hank Williams."[15]
Track listing
All tracks by Hank Williams; arrangements/re-arrangements by Matt Johnson and D. C. Collard
- "Honky Tonkin'"
- "Six More Miles"
- "My Heart Would Know"
- "If You'll Be A Baby To Me"
- "I'm A Long Gone Daddy"
- "Weary Blues From Waitin'"
- "I Saw the Light"
- "Your Cheatin' Heart"
- "I Can't Get You Off of my Mind"
- "There's a Tear in My Beer"
- "I Can't Escape from You"
Personnel
- Matt Johnson – vocals, guitar, bass
- Eric Schermerhorn – electric & slide guitar
- Gail Ann Dorsey – bass
- Reverend Brian McLeod – drums
- Gentleman Jim Fitting – harmonica
- D.C. Collard – treated melodica, arrangements