Search - Louis Armstrong :: Greatest Hits

Louisiana's Famous son

Judy K. Polhemus | LA | 12/06/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Bing Crosby once said of his friend Louis Armstrong, "He is the beginning and the end of music in America...." True or not, Satchmo certainly takes the listener down a nostalgic road of early jazz, blues, bebop, show tunes, rockabilly, and no telling what else on this "Greatest Hits" CD.



Accompanying Louis are his best buddy--his trumpet, and his good friend, Bing Crosby. (I enjoyed Trumpet, but could have done without Bing. This is, after all, Louis's greatest hits.) Their two voices do blend rather well, hitting similar low notes, especially in "The Preacher," the last tune on the CD.



An American icon, Armstrong was born July 4, 1900, and died July 6, 1971. His popular song, "What a Wonderful World," hit charts again as the lead song for the movie "Good Morning, Viet Nam," not long before his death. He was like a colossus, straddling the two worlds of America's involvement in war beginning with the wars to end wars and the war to divide. His birthday and death day are so symbolic, but his music always served as a means of trumpeting the important things of life: happiness in love--"Hello Dolly," young love--"Blueberry Hill (Louis sings a haunting ballad, unlike Fats Domino, who added just a tinge of lust in his version laced with the halting dance rhythm of the stroll).



Two side-notes here. "What a Wonderful World" was the anthem of the highly praised magnet school where I worked for four years. The founding principal, a native of Spain, loved Louis Armstrong and urged the first student body to adopt "World" as its very uplifting theme song. They did! Second note: As a child I could imitate Louis Armstrong's raspy voice and entertained many visitors with my version of "What a Wonderful World." Just thought I would add that bit of lagnaippe.



I gave this CD four stars because it features the voice and trumpet of Louis Armstrong, one of Louisiana's very famous sons. I want to say this delicately: I can burn a new CD minus a couple of songs that don't suitably (for me) emphasize Mr. Armstrong. Bing sings six out of eleven songs with Louis, while Louis sings only five, but at least all of those are solo! Ah, but those are the gems! I have also discovered that I need to seek out a new Armstrong CD. Three stars? Nah.... Well, maybe. Let me think on it...."

Louis Armstrong Greatest Hits CD

Faith | 10/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellant quality! So glad they made a CD of

such an old recording. My cassette copy of

Louis Armstrong's Greatest Hits was wearing out.

The other nice feature of this particular CD, is

that it includes Bing Crosby singing with Armstrong,

along with some verbal commentary.

Definately a treasure!"