KID THOMAS & HIS ALGIERS STOMPERS - New Orleans : The Living Legends, Vol. 1 (1961-1994) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1 That's A-Plenty 3:16
Ray Gilbert / Lew Pollack / Bert Williams
2 Girl of My Dreams 5:11
Sunny Clapp
3 Dinah 3:14
Harry Akst / Sam M. Lewis / Joe Young
4 Smile, Darn You, Smile 3:20
C. O'Flynn, J. Meskill, M. Rich
5 Confessin' (That I Love You) 7:34
Doc Daugherty / Al J. Neiburg / Ellis Reynolds
6 Kid Thomas Boogie Woogie 3:40
 T. Valentine
7 Algiers Strut 5:09
 T. Valentine
8 Gally House Blues 5:17
 T. Valentine
9 Sing On 2:51
 T. Valentine
Traditional
10 Panama 3:07
William Tyers
11 Mack the Knife 4:36
Marc Blitzstein / Bertolt Brecht / Kurt Weill
12 Ja-Da 2:09
Bob Carlton
Credits:
Banjo – Homer Eugene
Bass – Joseph Butler
Clarinet – Albert Burbank, Emil Barnes
Drums – Samuel Penn
Piano – Joe James
Trombone – Louis Nelson
Trumpet – Kid Thomas

KID THOMAS & HIS ALGIERS STOMPERS - New Orleans : The Living Legends, Vol. 2 (1961-1994) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is the only entry in Riverside's The Living Legends series (which has been reissued on CD in the OJC series) that is not recommended. Trumpeter Kid Thomas Valentine's playing is very erratic and the ensemble (which includes clarinetist Emile Barnes and trombonist Louis Nelson) is rarely in tune. Their renditions of the basic material ranges from raw to feeble and is a major disappointment. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Big Lunch Blues 5:59
Joseph Butler
2 Some of These Days 3:30
Shelton Brooks
3 When My Dreamboat Comes Home 4:57
Dave Franklin / David Franklin / Cliff Friend
4 China Boy 2:56
Phil Boutelje / Dick Winfree
5 It's a Long Way to Tipperary 3:00
Jack Judge / Harry Williams
6 Hindustan 2:59
Dave Wallace / Harold Weeks
7 I Can't Escape from You 3:03
Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting / Hank Williams
8 Bye and Bye 2:39
Traditional
9 Down by the Riverside 3:32
Paul Barnes / Traditional
10 I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now? 5:34
Will M. Hough / Joe Howard / Joseph E. Howard / Harold Orlob
11 Big Milk-Cow Blues 5:23
Kid Thomas Valentine
Credits:
Bass – Joseph Butler
Clarinet – Emile Barnes
Drums – Samuel Penn
Piano – Joe James
Trombone – Louis Nelson
Trumpet – Kid Thomas

LOUIS ARMSTRONG - Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy (1954-1999) SACD / DSF-WV STEREO

This recording was not only Louis Armstrong's finest record of the 1950s but one of the truly classic jazz sets. Armstrong and his All-Stars (trombonist Trummy Young, clarinetist Barney Bigard, pianist Billy Kyle, bassist Arvell Shaw, drummer Barrett Deems, and singer Velma Middleton) were clearly inspired by the fresh repertoire, 11 songs written by W.C. Handy. Their nearly nine-minute version of "St. Louis Blues" -- with witty vocals, roaring Young trombone, and a couple of long majestic trumpet solos -- is arguably the greatest version of the oft-recorded song. Other highlights include "Loveless Love," "Beale Street Blues," and a romping version of "Ole Miss Blues." Essential music for all serious jazz collections. [Some reissues also include rehearsal versions of three songs, Louis Armstrong telling a joke, and a brief George Avakian interview with W.C. Handy.] by Scott Yanow 
Tracklist:
1. St Louis Blues 8:52
W.C. Handy 

Vocals – Louis Armstrong, Velma Middleton

2. Yellow Dog Blues 4:17 

Vocals – Louis Armstrong

W.C. Handy 

3. Loveless Love 4:29 

Vocals – Louis Armstrong, Velma Middleton

W.C. Handy 

4. Aunt Hagar’s Blues 4:58
Tim Brymn / W.C. Handy 
5 .Long Gone (From Bowling Green) 5:10
W.C. Handy / Chris Smith 
6. The Memphis Blues (Or Mister Crump) 3:00
W.C. Handy / George Norton 
7. Beale Street Blues 4:57

Vocals – Louis Armstrong

W.C. Handy 

8. Ole Miss Blues 3:26 

Vocals – Louis Armstrong

 W.C. Handy 

9. Chantez Les Bas (Sing ‘Em Low) 4:49

Vocals – Louis Armstrong

W.C. Handy 

10. Hesitating Blues 5:21 

Vocals – Louis Armstrong, Velma Middleton

W.C. Handy 

11. Atlanta Blues (Make Me One Pallet On Your Floor) 4:34 

Vocals – Louis Armstrong

David Elman / W.C. Handy 

12. George Avakian’s Interview With W.C. Handy 2:45
David Elman / W.C. Handy 
13. Loveless Love (rehearsal sequence) 5:56

W.C. Handy 

14. Hesitating Blues (rehearsal sequence) 5:40 

W.C. Handy 

Vocals – Louis Armstrong, Velma Middleton

15. Alligator Story 0:47 

16. Long Gone (From the Bowlin' Green)

W.C. Handy / Chris Smith

Credits:

Bass – Arvell Shaw

Clarinet – Barney Bigard

Drums – Barrett Deems

Piano – Billy Kyle

Trombone – Trummy Young

Trumpet, Vocals – Louis Armstrong

Vocals – Velma Middleton

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ALL STARS - Satch Plays Fats : A Tribute To The Immortal Fats Waller (1955) lp / 24-192 / FLAC (tracks), lossless

In 1955, Louis Armstrong, along with vocalist Velma Middleton, got into the studio to pay tribute to the late Fats Waller. All the standards are here: "Honeysuckle Rose," "Squeeze Me," "Ain't Misbehavin," rendered in fine and mellow but gently, genially swinging fashion. Armstrong's trumpet is superb and his voice carries the good-time spirit of Waller's music.
Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller only worked together twice, briefly in 1925 in Erskine Tate's band and four years later in the New York revue Connie's Hot Chocolates. But Waller made an indelible enough impression for Satchmo to record the tribute album Satch Plays Fats: The Music of Fats Waller in 1955, when such ideas were new. The nine tracks feature Armstrong ably supported by his All-Stars on such classics as "Honeysuckle Rose," "Squeeze Me," and "Ain't Misbehavin'." The mid-'50s was a fertile time for Armstrong, and this makes for a stellar package. by Cub Koda
Tracklist
A1     Honeysuckle Rose    2:53
    Written-By – Razaf, Waller
A2     Blue Turning Grey Over You    4:53
    Written-By – Razaf, Waller
A3     I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby    4:26
    Written-By – A. Hill, Waller
A4     Squeeze Me    5:04
    Written-By – C. Williams, Waller
A5     Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now    3:20
    Written-By – Razaf, Waller
B1     All That Meat And No Potatoes    5:14
    Written-By – Kirkeby, Waller
B2     I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling    3:10
    Written-By – B. Rose, Waller, Link
B3     (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue    4:37
    Written-By – Razaf, Waller, Brooks
B4     Ain't Misbehavin'    3:59
    Written-By – Razaf, Waller, Brooks

Credits
    Bass [String Bass] – Arvell Shaw
    Clarinet – Barney Bigard
    Drums – Barrett Deems
    Piano – Billy Kyle
    Trombone – Trummy Young
    Trumpet – Louis Armstrong
    Vocals – Louis Armstrong (tracks: A1, A2, A4 to B4), Velma Middleton (tracks: A1, A4)

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ALL STARS - Ambassador Satch (1955-2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

As Louis Armstrong traversed the globe, bringing jazz to every corner of it, live recordings became the norm. This reissue brings together 1955 concert recordings with the All-Stars from Milan and Amsterdam, buffeted with three previously unreleased bonus studio tracks recorded in New York and Hollywood. Both Satchmo and the All-Stars are in top-notch form here, playing with a real spirit of abandon. Another real good one to add to the collection. by Cub Koda
Tracklist:
1 Royal Garden Blues 5:10
Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams
2 Tin Roof Blues 4:30
George Brunies / Georg Brunis / Paul Mares / Walter Melrose / Ben Pollack / Leon Roppolo / Mel Stitzel / Melville Stitzel
3 The Faithful Hussar 6:11
Heinrich Frantzen / Hawkey Franzen
4 Muskrat Ramble 5:43
Ray Gilbert / Kid Ory
5 All of Me 4:16
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons
6 Twelfth Street Rag 4:59
Euday L. Bowman / J.S. Sumner
7 Undecided 3:41
Sydney Robin / Charlie Shavers
8 Dardanella 2:59
Felix Bernard / Johnny Black / Johnny S. Black / Fred Fisher
9 West End Blues  4:16
King Oliver / Clarence Williams
10 Tiger Rag 3:37
Harry Da Costa / Eddie Edwards / Nick LaRocca / Henry W. Ragas / Tony Sbarbaro / Larry Shields
- Bonus Tracks -
11 Clarinet Marmalade 2:14
Eddie Edwards / Nick LaRocca / Henry W. Ragas / Tony Sbarbaro / Larry Shields
12 Someday You'll Be Sorry 4:26
Louis Armstrong
13 When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along 2:05
Harry Woods
Credits:
Bass – Arvell Shaw
Clarinet – Edmond Hall
Drums – Barrett Deems
Piano – Billy Kyle
Trombone – Trummy Young
Trumpet, Vocals – Louis Armstrong

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND THE ALL STARS - New Orleans Nights (1957) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Verve's 2008 reissue of New Orleans Nights, a Louis Armstrong album originally released on Decca in 1957, is a compilation of recordings made in 1950 and 1954 by two different bands operating under the noble mantle of Louis Armstrong and the All Stars. "Panama," "New Orleans Function," "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It," and "Bugle Call Rag" testify to the integrity of the earlier group, with Armstrong leading Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Earl Hines, Arvell Shaw, and Cozy Cole, who is granted extra long drum breaks during the "Bugle Call Rag." On "Struttin' with Some Barbecue" and "Basin Street Blues," Tea is replaced by Trummy Young, Hines by Billy Kyle, and Cole by Kenny John. Tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman sat in on "Basin Street"; it's a pity that he didn't participate on "Barbecue," as the warmth and ease that characterizes this elegant update of Lil Hardin Armstrong's magnum opus would have fit Freeman's personality like a favorite pair of argyles. by arwulf arwulf
Tracklist:
1 Panama 5:04
Louis Armstrong
2 New Orleans Function: Flee as a Bird/Oh Didn't He Ramble/March/Parade a 6:40
William Hardy, Jr.
3 Struttin' with Some Barbecue 6:00
Louis Armstrong
4 Basin Street Blues 5:50
Spencer Williams
5 My Bucket's Got a Hole In It 3:42
Clarence Williams
6 Bugle Call Rag 8:45
Billy Meyers / Jack Pettis / Elmer Schoebel
Credits:
Bass – Arvell Shaw
Vocals – Jack Teagarden (tracks: 5), Louis Armstrong (tracks: 5)
Voice – Louis Armstrong (tracks: 2)
Chorus – Louis Armstrong (tracks: 4)
Clarinet – Barney Bigard
Drums – Cozy Cole (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6), Kenny John (tracks: 3, 4)
Piano – Billy Kyle (tracks: 3, 4), Earl Hines (tracks: 3, 4)
Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman (tracks: 4)
Trombone – Jack Teagarden (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6), "Trummie" Young (tracks: 3, 4)
Trumpet – Louis Armstrong

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND THE ALL STARS - New Orleans Nights (1957)

(2008) DECCA / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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