Search - Louis Armstrong :: Complete Collection

Great selection of hits from a true legend

Penumbra | Atlanta, GA USA | 09/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As Billie Holiday once remarked, "God bless Louis, he comes from the heart. Indeed he does. His music is exuberant and his joy is infectious.



This collection, while not really "complete," does include a good selection of his hits between 1939 and 1968. Most of these versions were made during the 50's.



The music has been cleaned up considerably, but the "remastered" tag might lead some to believe the recordings sound pristine by modern standards. They don't. Many of the songs sound a little noisy, especially around high notes during the trumpet solos. There is a trade off; eliminate too much of the hissing and scratching and risk distorting the music itself. The remastering on these disks was done cautiously and, in my opinion, they made reasonable decisions and did a pretty good job.



What can you say about Louis Armstrong? He was more than a superstar. He produced hit after hit. He made enormously big box office movies. All his success was richly deserved. At a time when the Beatles proclaimed themselves more popular than God, 63 year old Satchmo knocked them off the top of the charts with his version of "Hello Dolly!" But he was more than a performer. He was one of, if not THE, most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was almost singlehandedly responsible for moving jazz out of New Orleans gin joints and into the consciousness of the world.



This set should bring anyone out of a bad mood and leave them smiling. Recommended!"