Universal Music 20th Century Masters (series)

The Best of Louis Armstrong

Product Description:

Personnel includes: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Bing Crosby (vocals); Gordon Jenkins' Orchestra and Choir; Sy Olivers' Orchestra; John Scott Trotter's Orchestra.

Producers: Milt Gabler, Bob Thiele, Michael Kapp.

Compilation producer: Andy McKaie.

Recorded between September 6, 1949 and August 16, 1967. Includes liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo.

Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (MCA Music Media studios, North Hollywood, California).

This is part of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series.

When dealing with Armstrong's long and varied career, re-issuers wisely focus on one facet or another of his musical personality. THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION concentrates on Armstrong's later career, when his reputation as jazz's first great pioneer was supplanted by the image which remains foremost in the public mind: that of the broadly smiling singer mopping his brow while punctuating his lyrics with gravelly chuckles and ingratiating asides. Armstrong's singing is exemplary and the material, recorded between 1949 and 1968, is uniformly wonderful. All of his signature songs are here, including "What A Wonderful World," "Hello Dolly!" and "A Kiss To Build A Dream On," as well as surprising choices like Kander and Ebbs' "Cabaret" and a 1949 rendition of "Blueberry Hill" that nearly equals Fats Domino's better-known 1955 hit. THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION, while limited in scope, is an excellent overview of Armstrong's vocal work.