COLEMAN HAWKINS – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 634 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Hawkins returns home from his five-year stay in Europe. However, this disc's chronicling of his first combo and big-band dates in New York pales in comparison to collections featuring future triumphs from the mid-'40s. Yes, the classic "Body and Soul" is here but, with the majority of the material caught somewhere between swing's last hours and the no man's land paving the way to bebop, things never really take off. This is not to say there aren't any solo fireworks: Hawkins and guests like Benny Carter and trombonist J.C. Higginbotham all find their spots. Unfortunately, it's not enough to make this a must-have collection, an argument made even stronger by the dubious sounding transfers here. Fans looking for post-Europe Hawkins should check out this material on various RCA discs, while definitely looking into the excellent 1943-1948 material through fine titles like Capitol's Hollywood Stampede. Stephen Cook
Tracklist :
1     Meet Doctor Foo 2:32
Coleman Hawkins    
2     Fine Dinner 2:32
Coleman Hawkins    
3     She's Funny That Way 3:14
Neil Moret (Chas. N. Daniels) / Richard A. Whiting
4     Body and Soul 3:00
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
5     It's Tight Like That 2:37
Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey / Hudson Whittaker
6     Easy Rider 3:19
Shelton Brooks    
7     Scratch My Back 3:16     
Leonard Feather    
8    Save it, Pretty Mama 3:20
Buddy DeSylva / Robert Katscher
9     When Day Is Done 3:20
Buddy DeSylva / Robert Katscher
10     The Sheik of Araby 2:59
Harry Beasley Smith / Ted Snyder / Francis Wheeler
11     My Blue Heaven 2:48
Walter Donaldson / George A. Whiting
12     Bouncing with Bean 3:05
Coleman Hawkins
13     How Long, How Long Blues 3:14
Leroy Carr / J. Mayo Williams    
14     Shake It and Break It 2:57
Grant Clarke
15     A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody 2:51
Irving Berlin    
16     Pom Pom 3:10
Benny Carter    
17     Dedication 2:49
Leonard Feather    
18     Passin' It Around 3:13
Coleman Hawkins    
19     Serenade to a Sleeping Beauty 3:02
Edgar Sampson    
20     Rocky Comfort 3:08
Coleman Hawkins    
21     Forgive a Fool 2:54
Kay Werner / Sue Werner