Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
I Hate to Leave You Now - Louis Armstrong, Dick, Dorothy
You'll Wish You'd Never Been Born - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Medley of Armstrong Hits, Pt. 1: I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, ... [Me - Louis Armstrong, Erdman, Ernie
Medley of Armstrong Hits, Pt. 2: When You're Smiling/St. James ... [Med - Louis Armstrong, Akst, Harry
I've Got the World on a String - Louis Armstrong, Arlen, Harold
I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues - Louis Armstrong, Arlen, Harold
Hustlin' and Bustlin' for Baby - Louis Armstrong, Woods, Harry
Sittin' in the Dark - Louis Armstrong, Adamson, Harold
High Society - Louis Armstrong, Piron, Armand
He's a Son of the South - Louis Armstrong, Davis, Joe [Jazz]
Some Sweet Day - Louis Armstrong, Jackson, Tony [1]
Basin Street Blues - Louis Armstrong, Williams, Spencer
Honey, Do! - Louis Armstrong, Johnson, James [01]
Snowball - Louis Armstrong, Carmichael, Hoagy
Mahogany Hall Stomp - Louis Armstrong, Williams, Spencer
Swing, You Cats - Louis Armstrong, Randolph, Zilner
Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
Honey, Don't You Love Me Any More? - Louis Armstrong, Meadows, Fred
Mississippi Basin - Louis Armstrong, Foresythe, Reginald
Laughin' Louie - Louis Armstrong, Gaskill, Clarence
Tomorrow Night - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Dusky Stevedore - Louis Armstrong, Johnson, J.C. [Comp
There's a Cabin in the Pines - Louis Armstrong, Hill, Billy [1]
Mighty River - Louis Armstrong, Baskette, Billy
Sweet Sue, Just You - Louis Armstrong, Harris, Will J.
I Wonder Who - Louis Armstrong, Barbarin, Sid
St. Louis Blues - Louis Armstrong, Handy, W.C.
Don't Play Me Cheap - Louis Armstrong, Dial, Harry [1]
That's My Home [Alternate Take] - Louis Armstrong, Ellison, Ben
Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train [Alternate Take] - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
I Hate to Leave You Now [Alternate Take] - Louis Armstrong, Dick, Dorothy
You'll Wish You'd Never Been Born [Alternate Take][#] - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Medley of Armstrong Hits, Pt. 2: When You're Smiling/St. James Infirmar - Louis Armstrong, Akst, Harry
Mississippi Basin [Alternate Take][#][*] - Louis Armstrong, Foresythe, Reginald
Laughin' Louie [Alternate Take] - Louis Armstrong, Gaskill, Clarence
Tomorrow Night [Alternate Take][#] - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Standin' on the Corner [Blue Yodel No. 9] - Louis Armstrong, Rodgers, Jimmie [1]
Track Listings (19) - Disc #3
Long, Long Journey - Louis Armstrong, Feather, Leonard
Snafu - Louis Armstrong, Feather, Leonard
Linger in My Arms a Little Longer, Baby - Louis Armstrong, Magidson, Herbert
Whatta Ya Gonna Do? - Louis Armstrong, Lewis, Patrick
No Variety Blues - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Joseph 'n' His Brudders - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Back o' Town Blues - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
I Want a Little Girl - Louis Armstrong, Mencher, Murray
Sugar - Louis Armstrong, Alexander, Edna
Blues for Yesterday - Louis Armstrong, Carr, Lester
Blues in the South - Louis Armstrong, Carr, Lester
Endie - Louis Armstrong, Alter, Louis
The Blues Are Brewin' - Louis Armstrong, Alter, Louis
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? - Louis Armstrong, Alter, Louis
Where the Blues Were Born in New Orleans - Louis Armstrong, Carleton, Bob
Mahogany Hall Stomp - Louis Armstrong, Williams, Spencer
I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder - Louis Armstrong, Hutchinson, Daryl
I Believe - Louis Armstrong, Cahn, Sammy
Why Doubt My Love? - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Track Listings (18) - Disc #4
It Takes Time - Louis Armstrong, Korb, Arthur
You Don't Learn That in School - Louis Armstrong, Alfred, Roy
Ain't Misbehavin' - Louis Armstrong, Brooks, Harry
Rockin' Chair - Louis Armstrong, Carmichael, Hoagy
Back o' Town Blues - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Pennies from Heaven - Louis Armstrong, Burke, Johnny [Lyri
Save It, Pretty Mama - Louis Armstrong, Davis, Joe [Jazz]
St. James Infirmary - Louis Armstrong, Primrose, Joe
Jack-Armstrong Blues - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Rockin' Chair - Louis Armstrong, Carmichael, Hoagy
Some Day You'll Be Sorry - Louis Armstrong, Armstrong, Louis
Fifty-Fifty Blues - Louis Armstrong, Moore, Billy Jr. [A
A Song Was Born - Louis Armstrong, DePaul, Gene
Please Stop Playin' Those Blues, Boy - Louis Armstrong, Demetrius, Claude
Before Long - Louis Armstrong, Catlett, Big Sid
Lovely Weather We're Having - Louis Armstrong, Bushkin, Joe
Rain, Rain - Louis Armstrong, Stanley, Hal
Never Saw a Better Day - Louis Armstrong, Stanley, Hal
Louis Armstrong recorded for RCA Victor for two relatively brief periods in his long career, in the early days of his big band (1932 to '33) and in the period when he broke up the orchestra and returned to a New Orleans-st... more »yle smaller ensemble (1946 to '47). This four-CD set is evenly divided between the two periods. The early big bands--first drummer Chick Webb's and then the trumpeter's own--provide a comfortable setting for Armstrong, who simply reigned supreme among jazz soloists of the period, with peerless invention and a stunning flexibility. He was defining the jazz singer's art as well, his subtle phrasing transforming even casual songs as convincingly as his flamboyant horn. Purists have often mourned Armstrong's shift to large groups, but these are fine bands, driven along by potent drummers like Webb and Big Sid Carlett and manned by distinguished players like saxophonists Louis Jordan and Budd Johnson and pianist Teddy Wilson. The later recordings find Armstrong leading superb groups, with old associates like trombonist Kid Ory, clarinetist Barney Bigard, and drummer Zutty Singleton and classic repertoire like Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'" and Hoagy Carmichael's "Rockin' Chair." The Town Hall recordings from 1947, with Armstrong trading vocals and solos with trombonist Jack Teagarden, are among Louis's greatest work. The set also includes meetings with other musical icons. Armstrong provides bluesy trumpet accompaniment to country singer Jimmie Rodgers on a rendition of "Blue Yodel No. 9" and meets Duke Ellington on record for the first time on "Long, Long Journey." --Stuart Broomer« less
Louis Armstrong recorded for RCA Victor for two relatively brief periods in his long career, in the early days of his big band (1932 to '33) and in the period when he broke up the orchestra and returned to a New Orleans-style smaller ensemble (1946 to '47). This four-CD set is evenly divided between the two periods. The early big bands--first drummer Chick Webb's and then the trumpeter's own--provide a comfortable setting for Armstrong, who simply reigned supreme among jazz soloists of the period, with peerless invention and a stunning flexibility. He was defining the jazz singer's art as well, his subtle phrasing transforming even casual songs as convincingly as his flamboyant horn. Purists have often mourned Armstrong's shift to large groups, but these are fine bands, driven along by potent drummers like Webb and Big Sid Carlett and manned by distinguished players like saxophonists Louis Jordan and Budd Johnson and pianist Teddy Wilson. The later recordings find Armstrong leading superb groups, with old associates like trombonist Kid Ory, clarinetist Barney Bigard, and drummer Zutty Singleton and classic repertoire like Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'" and Hoagy Carmichael's "Rockin' Chair." The Town Hall recordings from 1947, with Armstrong trading vocals and solos with trombonist Jack Teagarden, are among Louis's greatest work. The set also includes meetings with other musical icons. Armstrong provides bluesy trumpet accompaniment to country singer Jimmie Rodgers on a rendition of "Blue Yodel No. 9" and meets Duke Ellington on record for the first time on "Long, Long Journey." --Stuart Broomer
An inestimable reissue : a landmark in 20th century's music
JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 01/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This extraordinary 4 cd set contains every track Louis recorded for the venerable RCA Victor Company between July 16,1930 and August 1,1956.First,just a glance at the musicians you'll meet through these 75 tracks: Chick Webb,Charlie Gaines,Edgar Sampson,Louis Jordan,Budd Johnson,Teddy Wilson,Sidney Catlett,Charlie Shavers,Jimmy Hamilton,Johnny Hodges,Billy Strayhorn,Don Byas,Lucky Thompson,Remo Palmieri,Sonny Greer,Chubby Jackson,Arvell Shaw,Barney Bigard,Jack Teagarden,Vic Dickenson,Zutty Singleton,Kid Ory,Red Callender,Al Casey,Cozy Cole,Johnny Guarnieri,and even Duke Ellington and...Jimmie Rodgers !
CD 1 and 2 includes 38 tracks recorded between 1930 and 1933.They are full of masterpieces,and Louis plays and sings at his highest level."That's my home","I hate to leave you now","you'll wish you'd never been born"(based on the chords of "you rascal you",an Armstrong hit),the two parts of the medley (you rascal you/when it's sleepytime/nobody's sweetheart/when you're smiling/St James infirmary/Dinah),"I've got the world on a string","sittin' in the dark","Mississippi basin","dusky stevedore","there's a cabin in the pines" and others are some of the greatest pieces ever played by Louis.The underrated Zilner Randolph (1899-1994) can sometimes be heard on trumpet.
CD 3 an 4 includes 1946-1956 material.CD 3 starts with the "Esquire All-American 1946 Award Winners",a band including Louis,Duke,Byas,Hodges,among others.Then,some pieces with a big band (tracks 3-7).Then,magnificent septet pieces (tracks 8-11 and 14-16).
CD 4,mostly devoted to the All Stars,is terrific: Louis and his old friend Teagarden play masterpiece after masterpiece ("Jack-Armstrong blues","please stop playin' those blues","back o'town blues","rocking chair","St James infirmary"...)."A song was born" is the theme from the movie;too bad,the two other versions recorded in Hollywood,August 1947,with Lionel Hampton,Benny Goodman,Tommy Dorsey don't appear here !
This complete edition of Louis' works for RCA Victor is a real must to have.You can complete it with the great 1947 Town Hall Concert,another RCA Victor gem.Hope you'll treasure this indispensable work of art,which proposes you some of the greatest music of all times."
The best.
James T. Gaynor III | Orlando | 03/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the best MP3 download of Armstrong's early work with some of the best jazz musicians of the 30's and 40's, maybe the best Jazz musicians of the 20th century. A must have for every Jazz fan."