Title: Pennmanship
Product review: Like Jimmy Webb, Dan Penn will never get the credit he deserves. But unlike Webb, Penn's are the best interpretations of his own songs. This is in part because he sings like David Hidalgo. But unfortunately R&B; writers of his era were confined to Tin Pan Alley songsmithing--even after rock went through its singer-songwriter era, when writing and performing merged. If not for this, Penn might have been the soul version of Dylan. Rather than feel bad for him, think how tough it must have been for the singer listening to his demos with an ear toward re-recording them. Final versions are canned and dispassionate compared to Penn's.This live album is played on two instruments, so it's mellow. For more fleshed-out versions, buy "Do Right Man." Both are great--especially for dinner parties and good-vibe evenings at home.
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