Dave Rickert
August 2001

Combing the Catalog
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By David Rickert

The successful musical My Fair Lady features a professor of linguistics who turns a poor Cockney girl into a successful upper class English debutante. At heart the story demonstrates that we should treat everyone like royalty regardless of their social standing, but it also illustrates that it isn't difficult to advance to a higher class provided that you present the appropriate persona.

Milt Glaser, working for the Decca label, was determined to serve as Professor Higgins to Louis Armstrong, transforming him from a jazz musician to a pop superstar a la Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. Gone is the Dixieland instrumentation of Armstrong's previous records, replaced by lush orchestration that emphasizes Louis' vocals over his trumpet playing. This isn't really what one would consider jazz, but often works as engaging pop music. Are these prime examples of Armstrong's work? It depends on what you ask from an Armstrong record. The trumpet solos, though accomplished, are sparse and the crackle and energy of the Hot Five and Hot Seven sessions are nowhere to be found. Armstrong's hard-nosed manager Joe Glaser, who was willing to forego artistic achievement if he could make money, was trying to move him from the black market to the more viable white market and these records document that successful attempt. To be fair, Armstrong always saw himself as an entertainer first and a musician second and embraced the wealth and fame that came his way. As his fellow jazz pioneers fell on hard times, these records document a period where Armstrong, at the height of commercial popularity, was more of an established figure making pop records rather than an innovator who continued to create adventurous music.

Louis and the Angels
Louis Armstrong
1957/2001

Louis and the Angels and Satchmo in Style are similar in their presentation, featuring Louis backed by glossy strings, a choir, and a rhythm section with little presence. Louis and the Angels is the superior of the two, mainly because of the selection of songs. Essentially a concept album in which every song features "angel" or "heaven" in the lyrics, the album illustrates just how many good songs were written using this motif, simply because redemption through love is such an irresistible lyrical subject matter. Songs like "When Did You Leave Heaven?" and "Fools Rush In" are gorgeous melodies which suit Sy Oliver's presentation well. Every song follows pretty much the same pattern; Louis introduces the tune on trumpet and then proceeds to sing with his trademark husky voice. It's a shame that Lucky Thompson and Phil Urso, who are featured in the orchestra, aren't permitted a few solos, but overall there's plenty of Louis to go around and Oliver does a good job of providing support for him without detracting from his inimitable style.

Satchmo in Style
Louis Armstrong
1949-1954/2001

Satchmo in Style, on the other hand, goes awry in several places. The string arrangements are straight from lite AM radio, emphasizing heavy reverb and pizzicato string passages, and the irritating choir accompaniment simply crowds out Louis on several occasions where we would simply prefer to hear more of him. The trumpet solos are sparse and Louis' vocals are often overwhelmed by drippy string swells and vocal crescendos. In the liner notes Gordon Jenkins is depicted as an ardent Louis admirer who openly wept at the chance to work with Louis, which may account for the overly sentimental and sappy feel of some of these songs. Still though, there are quite a few good tracks here, such as "Blueberry Hill" and "Listen To the Mockingbird", but the undisputed highlight is the last five. "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" is irresistible in both versions (due in part to the absence of the choir), as is the back and forth banter between Velma Middleton and Louis on three songs with no strings at all and a more traditional swing. Sadly these songs only show what might have been had Jenkins kept a tighter reign on the schmaltz. Worthy, but not as engaging as the first.

Louis and the Good Book
Louis Armstrong
1938, 1950, 1958/2001

Since jazz has such strong ties to gospel, it's a bit ironic that Louis and the Good Book seems like the biggest departure. Another concept album with Sy Oliver back at the helm, this album features Louis performing traditional hymns and spirituals backed by a gospel choir and church organ. Louis had always seasoned his performances with religious songs, but this was the first to delve exclusively into this type of performance. Sadly, the format grows tiresome quickly. Only "Nobody Know The Trouble I've Seen" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", which are more swing than gospel, generate much interest. Louis is in top form and seems to be enjoying himself, but it seems like everyone involved was trying to push him a niche market that most fans of Armstrong weren't likely to appreciate. There are five dispensable alternate tracks from the thirties at the end of the CD, two of which are mock sermons from alter ego Elder Eatmore. For completists only.

Despite Louis' success in the pop market, these records did not sell well. Many biographies of Louis skip over these recordings altogether, placing their focus on his jazz work instead. Despite their flaws, it's good to have this period of Louis' recording career available again.

Louis and the Angels
Tracks: 1. When Did You Leave Heaven?, 2. You're a Heavenly Thing, 3. I Married an Angel, 4. A Sinner Kissed an Angel, 5. Angela Mia, 6. Angel Child, 7. And the Angels Sing, 8. Fools Rush In, 9. I'll String Along With You, 10. Angel, 11. The Prisoner's Song, 12. Good Night, Angel.
Personnel: Louis Armstrong - trumpet, vocal, George Dorsey, Phil Urso - flute, alto saxophone, Lucky Thompson - tenor saxophone, Dave McRae - baritone saxophone, unknown - strings, Billy Kyle - piano, Everett Barksdale, George Barnes - guitar, Joe Benjamin, Sid Block - bass, Rudy Traylor - drums, unknown choir-vocal, Sy Oliver - arranger, conductor.

Satchmo In Style
Tracks: 1. Blueberry Hill, 2. It's All in the Game, 3. Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time), 4. Chloe (Song of the Swamp), 5. Indian Love Call, 6. Listen to the Mocking Bird, 7. That Lucky Old Sun, 8. The Whiffenpoof Song, 9. Trees, 10. Bye and Bye, 11. Spooks!, 12. When It's Sleepy Time Down South, 13. You're Just in Love, 14. If, 15. I Want a Big Butter and Egg Man, 16. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (alternate lyrics).
Personnel: Louis Armstrong - trumpet, vocal, Billy Butterfield, Charles Gifford, Chris Griffin, Bruce Hudson, Yank Lawson, Carl Poole, George Thow - trumpet, Red Ballard, Will Bradley - trombone, Romeo Penque - flute, woodwinds, Bob McCraken - clarinet, Hymie Shertzer, Wayne Songer, Milt Yaner - alto saxophone, Artie Drelinger, Dent Eckels, Stitz Ferguson, Eddie Miller, Tom Parshley - tenor saxophone, George Berg - woodwinds, unknown - strings, Charlie LaVere, Bernie Leighton, Marty Napoleon - piano, Carl Kress, Allan Reuss, Art Ryerson - guitar, Jack Lesberg, Arvell Shaw, Phil Stephens - bass, Johnny Blowers, Cozy Cole, Nick Fatool - drums, Velma Middleton, unknown choir - vocal, Gordon Jenkins - arranger, conductor.

Louis and the Good Book
Tracks: 1. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen, 2. Shadrack, 3. Go Down, Moses, 4. Rock My Soul, 5. Ezekiel Saw de Wheel, 6. On My Way, 7. Down by the Riverside, 8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, 9. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, 10. Jonah and the Whale, 11. Didn't It Rain, 12. This Train, 13. Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat, 14. That's What the Man Said, 15. Shadrack, 16. Going to Shout All Over God's Heaven, 17. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen, 18. Jonah and the Whale, 19. Elder Eatmore's Sermon on Throwing Stones, 20. Elder Eatmore's Sermon on Generosity.
Personnel: Louis Armstrong - trumpet, vocal, Trummy Young - trombone, Hank DeAmico, Edmond Hall, Dave McRae - clarinet, Nickie Tragg - organ, Harry Mills - organ, speech, Billy Kyle - piano, Everett Barksdale, George Barnes - guitar, Joe Benjamin, Mort Herbert - bass, Johnny Blowers, Barrett Deems - drums, The Sy Oliver Choir - vocal, Sy Oliver - arranger, conductor, Lyn Murray - arranger, conductor and unknown others.

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