Essential Collection

I like everything about this disc..it is my kind of music.

All 3 cds brilliant, if you have 3 cd changer, put all 3 on repeat, you wont get fed up !

Was'nt my taste

This 60 track collection has performances from a wide time span with CD1 covering 1938 to 1964; CD2 covers 1935 to 1958 and CD3 spans 1929 to 1957. The recordings are mainly mono but there are stereo and live performances too. The set also features duets with Ella Fitzgerald on 8 numbers and then there's Billie Holiday on 2 songs; Louis Jordan on 1 number; Bing on 1 number; Johnny Williams one number and Oscar Peterson on 1 track.This compactly packaged set has a total running time of approx 207 minutes and is most attractively presented including a photo montage and portrait shot of Louis Armstrong. The sound quality is very good throughout and the liner notes are by Michael Heatley. This is a real taste of the art that was Louis Armstrong. Another winner for Glenn Gretlund of Not Now Music.CD 1: 1. Mack The Knife/ 2. Jeepers Creepers/ 3. Ain't Misbehavin'/ 4. C'est si bon/ 5. When It's Sleepy Time Down South/ 6. A Kiss To Build A Dream On/ 7. Blueberry Hill/ 8. La Vie En Rose/ 9. Lazy River/10. That Lucky Old Sun/ 11. Makin' Whoopee/ 12. Chloe (Song Of The Swamp)/ 13. When You're Smiling / 14. A Fine Romance/ 15. Lazy Bones/ 16. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You/ 17. I'm In The Mood For Love/ 18. On The Sunny Side Of The Street/ 19. Stormy Weather/ 20. When The Saints Go Marching In.CD 2: 1. Takes Two To Tango/ 2. Dream A Little Dream Of Me/ 3. Georgia On My Mind/ 4. Sweet Lorraine/ 5. I Get A Kick Out Of You/ 6. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues/ 7. After You've Gone/ 8. I'm Shooting High/ 9. Bess, You Is My Woman Now/ 10. I Can't Give You Anything But Love/ 11. (Was I To Blame For) Falling In Love/ 12. Perdido Street Blues/ 13. Mahogany Hall Soup/ 14. Sugar/ 15. You Can't Lose A Broken Heart/ 16. Blues For Yesterday/ 17. Red Sails To The Sunset/ 18. Don't Get Around Much Anymore/ 19. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off/ 20. Do You Know What It Means.CD 3: 1. You Rascal You/ 2. I Ain't Got Nobody/ 3. I Want A Little Girl/ 4. Summertime/ 5. On A Coconut Island/ 6. St. Louis Blues/ 7. I'm Putting All My Eggs.../ 8. My Sweet Hunk O'Trash/ 9. Gone Fishin'/ 10. Top Hat, White Tie And Tails/ 11. Exactly Like You/ 12.Old Rockin' Chair/ 13. Harlem Stomp/ 14. Baby Won't You Please.../ 15. Willow Weep For Me/ 16. You Won't Be Satisfied/ 17. Where The Blues Were Born.../18. Stompin' At The Savoy/ 19. Alexander's Ragtime Band/ 20. We'll Be Together Again.

While I must agree with the other reviewer in terms of song selection, which obviously shows the true Satchmo, I respectfully disagree about the sound quality. I already own some of these pieces in various formats, and I can't help but noticing the abuse of digital noise reduction here. If it was only noise what has been reduced here! The vocal frequency range presents voracious cuts that make Louis sound underwater or, at the very best, with his head inside a plastic bag. I do not know what was the producer thinking. It is a shame that the overdone sound hampers enjoying an otherwise perfect package.Edit: I'm removing one star from my review. I've noticed that even some song titles appear shuffled.

Louis is amongst the best you’ll hear in jazz this is a great listen to the best.