Homer & Jethro were known for their hilarious, uniquely corny style of musical comedy, but they outdid themselves on Ooh, That's Corny!. The title track features an exchange of one groaner after another. "The Charms of the City Ain't for Me" is self-explanatory, as is "She Made Toothpicks of the Timber of My Heart." One indulgence is "Don't Go in the Lion's Cage Tonight," which almost seems to be an outtake, as there are a number of pauses in the music filled by banter, at one point cracking up their backing musicians. But the treasure of the date is easily "I've Got Tears in My Ears From Lying on My Back in Bed Crying Over You" (a boogie number with a growling trombone), a favorite of the late Southern humorist
Lewis Grizzard. At times, one longs to hear more of the instrumental skills of the two musicians, but musical comedy is what brought the duo stardom, so go with the flow. Like nearly all of
Homer & Jethro's RCA Victor albums, Ooh, That's Corny! will be somewhat difficult to find. ~ Ken Dryden