Louis Armstrong 30s & 40s recordings

[Bol]

I have the Legacy releases of Satchmo's Hot 5's & 7's. I would like to try some slightly later recordings -- 30's and early to mid 40's recordings. I don't know where to start. It seems that his Decca recordings are rather poorly packaged in the things available in the market. Am I wrong? Is there some compilation that would be a good place to start? I would prefer more small group recordings, and not big bands. How are the CDs on the French Classics label? Any responses would be appreciated.

[jazzbo]

Well, the RCAs are all collected in one nice package, and the sound is great. . . .Really, til you get to the second half of the forties there AREN'T too many small group recordings to get: this was the age of the big band and most Armstrong recordings were Pops fronting a big band. . . .

The GRP Decca cds are really quite good. . . . The sound is very good, the notes are solid, and they're well selected and presented, being pretty complete up to the cutoff date. Definitive has two multi-cd sets that will collect all the Decca masters. . . that's one way to go.

I've some of the Chronogical Classics and they too are great. . . going to have all the commercial recordings chronologically and encompass V-Disks and other items that fall between the cracks of some of the other series.

A decade or two ago I wasn't too crazy about the big band sides and these decades of Armstrong. But over time that has changed: I need Pops of all type and time. Your mileage may vary. . . . B)

[Bol]

Once again, Lon, thanks for being so helpful. By "GRP Decca", do you mean the 2-CD set put together by Keepnews?

[brownie]

Chronogical Classics released a very nice box a couple of years ago with the 6CDs they released on the Louis Armstrong records from 1932 to 1940. That was Volume 2. Volume 1 was a similar 6CD box with the Louis Armstrong Classics from 1927 to 1932.

These contained all the sides Armstrong recorded for the various labels he was attached to. No alternates takes, no broadcasts or film sountracks.

[jazzbo]

I guess by GRP I meant the "Decca Jazz" cds on GRP, "Rhythm Saved the World", "Heart Full of Rhythm" and "Satchmo at Symphony Hall". . . . The two cd highlights is a nice compilation that includes some of this material and later material. .. .

[montg]

There's a disc called Midnights at V-Disc (JUCD 2048) that came out a few years ago. Pops makes a guest appearance on a couple of sides that are really excellent. He was doing mostly big band stuff during the mid-40s I believe, so it's good to hear him jamming in a small group setting. Good Jack teagarden too. And great sound.

Live at the Hollywood Empire, 1949 (also from Storyville) has Pops in a smal group setting with, among others Tea and Earl HInes. Decent sound.

Pops appears on Jubilee sets--I don't have any of these, maybe someone else can speak to them. Also available from Storyville.

storyville records

Edited January 10, 2004 by montg