Very essential and overlooked music.
Cory L. Schwent | Bloomsdale, MO United States | 09/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hold your horses, this isn't a box of Hawk's King material. It is a set of his complete recordings for RCA and Columbia. 99.9% of these songs didn't even chart. But 100% of the songs are pure, classic honkytonk. Hawkins was probably one of the top 10 best honky tonk vocalists of all time.This box should be in your collection. It is now out of print, so grab it when you see it."
Hawk's Girl
Hawk's Girl | VA | 10/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of course I would rate my Daddy's songs as 20 Stars Plus...what else would you expect. I have this box set and it is great. If you can get it, you better get it now...it is no longer made and getting harder and harder to find. If you are a fan of my Dad's, you don't want to be without this set. You may contact me at: marlene@marlene.org"
The other side of Hawkshaw Hawkins
The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 08/14/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Despite his personality and talent, Hawkshaw Hawkins' contributions have mostly become forgotten. Indeed, his name is no where as recognizable as the woman who died with him in that 1963 plane crash. "Hawk" may seek to rectify this status-quo. This box set is done with the high level of quality that we've come to expect from the Bear Family. This release offers honky tonk infused Western songs, slow ballads, novelty songs and even some rockabilly. While "Hawk" is three discs, it is far from complete in that it only contains recordings from the RCA and Columbia years. Thus it lacks Hawkshaw Hawkins' early and later recordings with King. The drawback here is that most listeners would emphatically agree that Hawkins' King years were his most compelling. Songs that seem noticeably absent include 'Pan American,' 'Dog House Boogie,' 'I Love You A Thousand Ways,' and his other singles. The only expected song is Hawkins' signature tune, 'Sunny Side of the Mountain.' So where does this leave "Hawk?" Given the price and musical quality, this is only for completists. The vast majority of listeners will never need more than "The King Anthology, 1946-1963." That written, the music on "Hawk" is rewarding. Except for some material off the third disc, every song has that fantastic vintage sound. While almost never crossing that fine line between good to great, the songs on this box set are consistently good. This last point brings this review full-circle. "Hawk" affirms Hawkshaw Hawkins' humanity but also confirms why he never made the big time."
