Search - Louis Armstrong :: American Icon

An American icon

Gianmarco Manzione | Tampa, FL USA | 11/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not a jazz fan. I am chiefly a rock and folk freak, with a moody taste for raw blues of the 40's and 50's. Nonetheless, I always knew that an entire universe of music awaited me patiently, with a wise grin, whispering to me, I'll always be waiting for you. I occasionally dabbled in some Duke Ellington and maybe a paltry Louis Armstrong compilation, but my ears just weren't mature enough. That whisper, I now know, came from within the songs contained on this magnificent box set. I always knew that Louis Armstrong would wrap my ears in brass one day and hook me in, and finally he did. The flawless sound on each of these 3 CD's certainly helped to flutter my heart on each track. I expected the first CD to be fantastic, but even I was not prepared for the luscious moodscape of songs on this collection, from the heartbreaking horn solos on the first CD to the cacophonies of jazz explosions on later tracks like Hello Dolly and Mack the Knife. This collection's saving grave is that it was compiled not by fat n happy record execs beholden to contractual and monetary limitations, but by two of Armstrong's best known producers. That is why every single song on this set has something to offer. Whereas other collections focus on narrow facets of Armstrong's expansive career, An American Icon will inundate you in the full breadth of Louis's creative peak, from 1945 till the What a Wonderful World days of 1968. Make no mistake about it, no one in the world could possibly be disappointed by this box set. This was done the right way by the right people, and so if the price seems a bit exorbitant, buy it anyway and you will soon realize that you will never again spend a more rewarding fifty bucks."

5 star performances

Gianmarco Manzione | 04/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection features Armstrong's work post-1945 up to his death in 1971. As such, it showcases his very commercial, and hugely successful, recordings. Much of this work, though, is pretty saccharine stuff, and sometimes difficult to appreciate in a post-swing/jazz world. But Armstrong's genius shines through, and this beautifully packaged (the best, most economical I've yet seen) and exquisitely remastered (the sound is fantastic) collection is definitely worth investigating. At the very least it's the best summation of Armstrong's later career."

Incredible Collection of some of Armstrong's best known

J. B. Craigo | Tempe, Az United States | 02/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been an avid admirer of Armstrong's work (I can and have listened for years, with no tiring), I found this to be the best overall survey of Armstrong's career that I've yet found. It has select versions of many of Armstrong's most popular including an excellent rendition of Mack the Knife and an exquisite Blueberry hill, among many others. I have bought this for myself and used it to introduce several people to Armstrong with great success. You cannot lose with this collection!"