Notes & Personnel Info |  | Full Title: The Best Of The Decca Years, Vol. 1: The Singer | | Personnel includes: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); George Dorsey (alto saxophone); Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone); Billy Butterfield (trumpet); Trummy Young, Jack Teagarden (trombones); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Al Klink (clarinet, tenor saxophone); George Duviver (bass); Barrett Deems (drums). | | Recorded in New York and Los Angeles between 1937-1956. Includes liner notes by Joe Goldberg. | | A compilation of Decca singles that span from 1937 to 1956, BEST OF THE DECCA YEARS-VOL 1 documents Louis Armstrong's transition from early jazz innovator to world-famous performer of popular songs. These startlingly clear, beautifully balanced recordings often employ rich orchestrations that swell and roll beneath Armstrong's distinctive vocal and instrumental stylings. There are several stand-out tracks, including the famous recording of "On the Sunny Side of the Street," the sly "I Surrender Dear" with its ragtime interlude, and Armstrong's oddly appealing collaboration with the Mills Brothers on "In The Shade of The Old Apple Tree." | | Inclusions such as the unfortunate choir on "That Lucky Old Sun" and over-the-top orchestrations on "It's All In The Game" are counterbalanced by the enthusiasm of Satch's performances (for example, the wonderfully mean-spirited "[I'll Be Glad When You're Dead] You Rascal You"). Subtitled "The Singer," the Decca collection showcases Armstrong more as a vocalist than an instrumentalist. The crystal clarity of the Decca recordings helps reveal Armstrong's voice for the true treasure it is--capturing even the finest nuances of his tone and timbre, as well as the subtleties of his expressive, conversational style. |
Musical Guests | | Bing Crosby | | Louis Jordan | | The Mills Brothers | | Earl Hines |
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