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This recording was not only Louis Armstrong's finest record of the 1950s but one of the truly classic jazz sets. Armstrong and his All-Stars (trombonist Trummy Young, clarinetist Barney Bigard, pianist Billy Kyle, bassist Arvell Shaw, drummer Barrett Deems, and singer Velma Middleton) were clearly inspired by the fresh repertoire, 11 songs written by W.C. Handy. Their nearly nine-minute version of "St. Louis Blues" -- with witty vocals, roaring Young trombone, and a couple of long majestic trumpet solos -- is arguably the greatest version of the oft-recorded song. Other highlights include "Loveless Love," "Beale Street Blues," and a romping version of "Ole Miss Blues." Essential music for all serious jazz collections. [Some reissues also include rehearsal versions of three songs, Louis Armstrong telling a joke, and a brief George Avakian interview with W.C. Handy.]
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Velma Middleton, Vocal - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Performer - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - George Avakian, Producer - Louis Armstrong, Performer - Velma Middleton, Performer
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - C. Smith, Composer - C. Smith, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Barrett Deems, Drums - G. A. Norton, Composer - G. A. Norton, Lyricist - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W.C. Handy, Composer - W.C. Handy, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - W. C. Handy, Composer - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet - W. Hirsch, Composer - W. Hirsch, Lyricist
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Performer - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - W. C. Handy, Composer - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - D. Elman, Composer - D. Elman, Lyricist - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - W. C. Handy, Composer - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
Originally released 1954. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Spoken Word, Lyricist - Spoken Word, Composer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
(P) Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - W. C. Handy, Composer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
(P) Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - W. C. Handy, Composer - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
(P) Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Spoken Word, Composer - Spoken Word, Lyricist - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
(P) Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Velma Middleton, Vocal - Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars, Performer - Mark Wilder, Mastering Engineer - Barrett Deems, Drums - Louis Armstrong, Vocal - Louis Armstrong, Trumpet - Mason Coppinger, Recording Engineer - Arvell Shaw, Bass - Trummy Young, Trombone - Rene Arsenault, Assistant Producer - W. C. Handy, Lyricist - W. C. Handy, Composer - C. Smith, Composer - C. Smith, Lyricist - Billy Kyle, Piano - George Avakian, Producer - Barney Bigard, Clarinet
(P) Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
This recording was not only Louis Armstrong's finest record of the 1950s but one of the truly classic jazz sets. Armstrong and his All-Stars (trombonist Trummy Young, clarinetist Barney Bigard, pianist Billy Kyle, bassist Arvell Shaw, drummer Barrett Deems, and singer Velma Middleton) were clearly inspired by the fresh repertoire, 11 songs written by W.C. Handy. Their nearly nine-minute version of "St. Louis Blues" -- with witty vocals, roaring Young trombone, and a couple of long majestic trumpet solos -- is arguably the greatest version of the oft-recorded song. Other highlights include "Loveless Love," "Beale Street Blues," and a romping version of "Ole Miss Blues." Essential music for all serious jazz collections. [Some reissues also include rehearsal versions of three songs, Louis Armstrong telling a joke, and a brief George Avakian interview with W.C. Handy.]
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:16:30
- Main artists: Louis Armstrong & His All Stars
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Legacy - Columbia
- Genre: Jazz Traditional Jazz & New Orleans
(P) Originally Released 1954 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
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