Hot on the heels of last year’s The Complete Decca Singles 1949-1958, Verve Records/UMe released another ridiculous amount of material from the venerable Louis Armstrong.
Totaling 136 tracks from Armstrong’s first decade with Decca Records, this compilation is BEAUTIFUL. From a cover of “La Cucaracha” to the amazing “Dippermouth Blues” to well-known classics like “Pennies from Heaven” (with Bing Crosby) and “Jeepers Creepers” to one of Pops’ most well known hits, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” these records have something for everyone.
The decade from 1935 to 1946 saw the country go from the Great Depression to entering one of the worst wars in human history, and Louis Armstrong himself go from gang-infested jazz clubs, through divorces and money problems, but you’d never know it by listening to these tunes. Each one seems to penetrate the heart with the express intention of lifting up your spirits. Satchmo’s unique trumpet style and gravelly vocals keeps your attention throughout all 136 songs.
I could pontificate for hours on Louis Armstrong’s contributions to America, from his defining works in jazz, to the controversies involved with such a popular black figure in an America that was too dumb to deal with it, but I find myself wanting to wrap this up and keep listening to The Complete Decca Singles 1935-1946.
All six discs worth of The Complete Decca Singles 1935-1946 is available on iTunes, Spotify, and more HERE.