Louis Armstrong - where to start?

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So, I've heard some Louis Armstrong performances that I really love, and I'd like to pick up a reasonably priced collection that has more of the stuff that I liked on it. There seem to be a million Louis Armstrong records out there. Can anyone recommend a collection that has more good stuff along the lines of "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead)You Rascal You" and "Kiss to Build a Dream on" and very little aged-past-his-prime or schmaltzy material like "What a Wonderful World" and "Blueberry Hill"?

― Chris F. (servoret), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I think a lot of responses will be get the 'Hot 5s and 7s' box.
That's what i listen to regularly.

― Pete S, Wednesday, 26 November 2003 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Anything the guy did before 1935 or so was gold, and there's plenty of great stuff after that too. Definitely start with the Hot 5s and 7s on the JSP label -- better sound and cheaper than the other sets

And go here, as we've done this before:
S&D: Louis Armstrong

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks! So, what sets would you recommend for the Decca stuff, specifically? And is there anything later than the Hot 5's and 7's that's really essential?

― Chris F. (servoret), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

His duets with Ella Fitzgerald are a lot of fun.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

They released the Complete Hot 5's and 7's in single disc remasters fairly recently. I like the last one (Vol. 3) a lot, it's got Monday Date, St. James Infirmary, Basin Street Blues, etc. And yeah, the Ella stuff is really nice (with Buddy Rich on drums!).

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

And Oscar Peterson on piano!

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The single-disc Hot 5/7 remasters seconded (Columbia/Legacy). All of 'em. They sound terrific.

― southern lights (southern lights), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The Louis plays WC Handy record is terrific, with the best 'St Louis Blues' I've heard -- get the recent reissue, not the eighties version.

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

For late Louis singing, there's a nice disc (there's also a two-disc set, but that's not really necessary) of Armstrong backed by Duke Ellington and a small group from circa 61/62--I forget the title, but the first song is "Duke's Place" and the last is "Azalea"

Hardly groundbreaking, but nice

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I've always followed that most anyone worth searching is worth starting from the beginning; Start with the King Oliver and Kid Ory recordings before you get into the Hot Fives & Sevens.

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

The theree Hot Fives and Sevens CD compilations - the JSP remasters sound great! Essential.

― mentalist (mentalist), Thursday, 27 November 2003 04:01 (twenty-two years ago)

nine years pass...

I wish I hadn't bought the Hot 5's & 7's box cuz I'm missing all his stuff from 1929-33. Watching the Ken Burns documentary finally and I was reminded I was missing those. This looks like it covers all of it:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Columbia-Victor-Recordings-1925-1933/dp/B008S80PPG/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1

― Fastnbulbous, Thursday, 14 February 2013 22:59 (thirteen years ago)

when visiting NYC....

http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/

― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:17 (thirteen years ago)

seven years pass...

thinking about tracking down the 10xCD okeh / RCA victor / columbia and diving deep into early louis

― budo jeru, Saturday, 5 December 2020 01:03 (five years ago)

lord knows i need more listening projects to feel bad about not keeping up with

― budo jeru, Saturday, 5 December 2020 01:03 (five years ago)

The JSP Big Band Recordings 1930-1932 set is really good. Controversial opinion alert: I listen to it more than the Hot 5s and 7s.

― o. nate, Saturday, 5 December 2020 03:10 (five years ago)

In addition to the Hot Five and Seven stuff, I have Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy from 1954, Satch Plays Fats from 1955, and a CD with Duke Ellington called The Great Summit that combines two albums from 1960 and 1961.

― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 5 December 2020 03:22 (five years ago)

very cool. for the later stuff, don't sleep on the collaborations with ella fitzgerald! i used my $100 ILX gift card to poll them here:

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: a poll of the three classic albums on Verve

― budo jeru, Saturday, 5 December 2020 03:32 (five years ago)

two years pass...

100 YEARS AGO TODAY Louis Armstrong made his very first recordings as a member of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band! To celebrate the centennial of these historic sides, we've gone all out on our "That's My Home" site with rare audio of Armstrong talking about the recordings, photos from his collection, collages he designed, new transfers of the nine Gennett sides, six hours of radio broadcasts devoted to Oliver, and more!

https://virtualexhibits.louisarmstronghouse.org/2023/04/05/i-always-played-pretty-under-him-the-king-oliver-creole-jazz-band-centennial-celebration/

― birdistheword, Thursday, 6 April 2023 03:49 (two years ago)

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