Louis in London by Louis Armstrong (1 LP)

Louis in London by Louis Armstrong (1 LP)

Main Genre: Jazz

Style: Jazz

Verve | Vinyl | 12 inch | Standard Weight | Standard Edition | Non Exclusive | Individual unit | 2024

# of Tracks: 13

# of Discs: 1

Louis Armstrong made a greater impact on American popular music than any other single artist before or since. From redefining jazz with his revolutionary trumpet playing to singlehandedly inventing popular singing, Armstrong made his mark and then some.

In the summer of ’68, Louis travelled to England just weeks after knocking The Beatles off the number one spot in the UK charts with ‘What A Wonderful World’ and entered the BBC’s London studios to record a performance, full of vitality and joy, that manifested some of the most inspired singing and trumpet playing of his career.

Poignantly, this was to be his last great performance, and found him traversing his entire musical career. That performance, recorded at BBC studios, was captured in high fidelity audio and video, and we are proud to release this collection for the first time. LOUIS IN LONDON presents Armstrong delivering everything from the first composition he’s known to have played in public — W.C. Handy’s ‘Ole Miss’— to his chart‐topping ‘What A Wonderful World’, to incredible versions of worldwide hits like ‘Mack The Knife’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’. From the moment Armstrong received a copy of the 1968 London recording, he became determined for the world to hear this music. He affixed a note to the outside of the tape box. On it he wrote, ‘FOR THE FANS’. He made copies of the BBC concerts for his own pleasure; sent copies to friends; and whenever he received visitors he would play them the tapes — he could have chosen any of his recordings, including those with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, but instead he returned again and again to the recording from the BBC session in the summer 1968.

Five decades since his passing and knowing how badly he wanted this music heard, Verve is proud to present ‘LOUIS IN LONDON’ meaning these recordings will now be shared with the World.

LOUIS IN LONDON is released on vinyl (standard black and exclusive coloured vinyl), CD, and digital, and is accompanied by an endearing and detailed note by Armstrong’s biographer and Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Ricky Riccardi.
Armstrong once said he was here “in the cause of happiness,” and at a time when we need to be reminded that maybe it still is a wonderful world Louis continues to deliver his message.

Tracklisting:

Side A

When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

(Back Home Again) In Indiana

A Kiss To Build a Dream On

Hello, Dolly!

Mame

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Ole Miss

Side B

Blueberry Hill

Mack The Knife

Rockin’ Chair

The Bare Necessities

What a Wonderful World

When The Saints Go Marching In