Search - Louis Armstrong :: Gold

Great collection from a great artist

Edgar Olivares | New York City, NY USA | 11/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Satchmo's contribution to modern music & pop culture is legendary. He was a great trumpeteer & influential jazz singer. He was already 63 years old when he had his first and only #1 hit "Hello Dolly". He is also believed to have started what's known as scatting. The story is during the recording of "Heebie Jeebies" (the last track in this collection) the sheet music fell to the floor so he just started vocalizing without using actual words.



The set starts with his last and probably most popular hit "What A Wonderful World" which didn't become a hit until 1988, almost 17 years after his passing. The rest of the collection runs in reverse chronological order spanning four decades down to his years with the Hot Five and Hot Seven. There are also collaborations with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Louis Jordan, and Billie Holiday. There's one track previously unreleased in the US: "St. Louis Blues".



If you're new to Satchmo, then you found a great place to start. Even if you may have other collections from him, this is still highly recommended. It's just a great listen."

Forget 2012,you dog, you dog!

Jerry Dunham | kansas city | 04/05/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If it were a fair world then the year 2006 was the year our brains were sucked into transcendence. Another dimension of sound was just created by producer Andy McKai and his Hollywood crew. The remastering of these hits to make them sound fresh and alive and flowing from one to another is deserving of the highest praise. When you listen to this you are listening to the better part of the 20th century. You will understand what fueled our elders through decades of challenges. Listen up! ASV Living Era. Get a hold of this disc and learn, then start transferring.

The 28-page notes booklet is one of the most tastefully done, ever. It is straight forward with information....where and when these songs were recorded..by whom...what label...even the disc number is here. It is a virtual who's who of jazz artists...Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Oscar Peterson, Norman Granz... etc... etc.

The pictures are nice too. The man sure knew how to dress. I want this cd in my player in 2012...When the Saints Go Marching in...this immediate, happy sound has been what is missing since the eighties from pop music. This music grabs you. I dare you to sit down to this disc."