Search - Louis Armstrong :: West End Blues: The Very Best of the Hot Fives and Sevens

Best single-CD collection of Hot Fives & Hot Sevens

R. Riis | NY | 01/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't want to spring for a pricey box set, or your interest only goes as deep as the most essential sides, this is the best single-disc collection of the 1920's Hot Five and Hot Seven material. The most famous recordings are here - "Heebie Jeebies" (the first "scat" recording), "West End Blues", etc. - and the sound is fresh and spacious (the tracks are licensed from JSP, whose audio restoration of this material is unparalleled). Indescribably important music in a nice package. Should be in every collection of American music."

You simply must have this music or turn in your ears

Tony Thomas | SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA | 01/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You need to have this music somehow. If not, you might as well turn in your ears. No matter what kind of music you listen to, but especially if you play, you must have Louis's great work from this period.



The West End Blues is simply the greatest single musical performance of the 20th Century. Serious people I know would even argue that it was the greatest achievement of any art in the 20th century.



You need to have it either in this or some other collection. If you don't you have diminished your life. Get this collection if you cannot afford the big box set, or if you do not have the music in some of the earlier collections like Portrait of the Artist as a young man.



These records are not just good because of their decisve historic importance. They would sound wonderful if they had been made last night by a bunch of teenagers in Idaho.



I protest that one cannot give this 5000 stars!"