Things Ain't What They Used to Be is an album by the First Annual Prestige Swing Festival featuring two all-star groups, one including Coleman Hawkins, Hilton Jefferson, Jimmy Hamilton and Joe Newman and the other led by Al Sears with Buddy Tate, Pee Wee Russell and Joe Thomas. It was recorded in 1961 and first released on the Swingville label as a double album before being reissued as two single discs with Hawkins's name displayed prominently: Things Ain't What They Used to Be and Years Ago.Prestige Records discography. Retrieved March 15, 2013Coleman Hawkins Discography. Retrieved May 9, 2019 All tracks were also reissued as Jam Session in Swingville which was credited to Hawkins and Russell.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "The music, which is performed by two all-star groups with arrangements by either Jimmy Hamilton or Al Sears, is generally modern swing ... Nothing all that memorable or innovative occurs, but the performances are enjoyable".

Track listing Disc One: Things Ain't What They Used to Be (SVLP 2024) "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" (Mercer Ellington, Ted Persons) – 6:48 "Spring's Swing" (Vivian Hamilton) – 7:55 "Phoenix" (Al Sears) – 7:16 "Love Me or Leave Me" (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) – 7:16 "I May Be Wrong But I Think You're Wonderful" (Henry Sullivan, Harry Ruskin) – 6:33 "Vic's Spot" (Vic Dickenson) – 3:56

Disc Two: Years Ago (SVLP 2025) "So Glad" (Al Sears) – 5:33 "Cool Sunrise" (Esmond Edwards) – 10:41 "I Want to Be Happy" (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar) – 2:44 "Jammin' in Swingville" (Hamilton) – 9:32 "Years Ago" (Dan Jones) 10:02

Personnel Disc One, tracks 2 & 4 and Disc Two, tracks 2 & 4 Coleman Hawkins – tenor saxophone Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, arranger Joe Newman – trumpet J. C. Higginbotham – trombone Hilton Jefferson – alto saxophone Claude Hopkins – piano Tiny Grimes – guitar Wendell Marshall – bass Billy English – drums Disc One, tracks 1, 3, 5 & 6 and Disc Two, tracks 1 & 5 Al Sears – tenor saxophone, arranger Joe Thomas – trumpet Vic Dickenson – trombone Pee Wee Russell – clarinet Buddy Tate – tenor saxophone Cliff Jackson – piano Danny Barker – guitar Joe Benjamin – bass J. C. Heard – drums Disc Two, track 3 Cliff Jackson – piano Joe Benjamin – bass J. C. Heard – drums

References