The Complete Decca Studio Master Takes 1940-1949

• Artist: Louis Armstrong
• Rating:
• Release Date: February 13, 2001
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

The 43 tracks that make up the first part of the The Complete Decca Studio Master Takes 1940-1949 of Louis Armstrong are remarkable not only for the outstanding performances they reflect, but for the many settings Armstrong recorded in during the era. While none of this material will come as a surprise to collectors, those who are starting to check out Armstrong's post-New Orleans period would do themselves a favor in scoping this collection because the Decca years, even more so than his long tenure with Verve, showcase Armstrong at the pinnacle of American popular music, and that that music happens to be jazz is even more revelatory. Here are Satchmo sides with the Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sy Oliver, George Jenkins, and many others, as well as with the many bands he led during the period, with collaborators such as John Higinbotham, Cozy Cole, George Washington, Shelton Hemphill, Luis Russell, Joe Garland, and dozens of others. The sound on these transfers is 24-bit and the price is right. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Hep Cat's Ball	Louis Armstrong, Jack Palmer	Louis Armstrong	(3:20)
You've Got Me Voodoo'd	Luis Russell, Louis Armstrong, Jack Lawrence	Louis Armstrong	(3:00)
Harlem Stomp	J.C. Higginbotham	Louis Armstrong	(3:06)
Wolverine Blues	Jelly Roll Morton, Benjamin Franklin Spikes, John Spikes	Louis Armstrong	(3:16)
Lazy 'Sippi Steamer	Luis Russell, Louis Armstrong, Victor Selsman	Louis Armstrong	(3:23)
W.P.A.	Jesse Stone	The Mills Brothers, Louis Armstrong	(2:51)
Boog It	Cab Calloway, Buck Ram, Jack Palmer	The Mills Brothers, Louis Armstrong	(2:42)
Cherry	Don Redman	The Mills Brothers, Louis Armstrong	(2:52)
Marie	Irving Berlin	The Mills Brothers, Louis Armstrong	(2:29)
Sweethearts on Parade	Carmen Lombardo, Charles Newman	Louis Armstrong	(2:57)
You Run Your Mouth, I'll Run My Business	Louis Armstrong	Louis Armstrong	(3:04)
Cut off My Legs and Call Me "Shorty"	Don Raye, Edna Alexander	Louis Armstrong	(2:36)
Cain and Abel		Louis Armstrong	(3:05)
Perdido Street Blues	Lil Hardin	Louis Armstrong	(3:08)
2:19 Blues	Mamie Desdume	Louis Armstrong	(2:52)
Down in Honky Tonk Town	Trixie Smith, Chris Smith	Louis Armstrong	(3:02)
Coal Cart Blues	Louis Armstrong, Lil Hardin	Louis Armstrong	(2:55)
Ev'rything's Been Done Before	Harold Adamson, Charles E. King, Edwin Knopf	Louis Armstrong	(3:10)
I Cover the Waterfront	Johnny Green, Edward Heyman	Louis Armstrong	(3:19)
In the Gloaming	Meta Orred, Annie Fortescue Harrison	Louis Armstrong	(3:02)
Long, Long Ago	Thomas Haynes Bayley	Louis Armstrong	(2:55)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Hey, Lawdy Mama	Terry Shand, Jim Eaton	Louis Armstrong	(3:06)
I'll Get Mine Bye and Bye	Jimmie Davis	Louis Armstrong	(3:07)
Now, Do You Call That a Buddy?	W. Wilson	Louis Armstrong	(3:26)
Yes, Suh!	Andy Razaf, Edgar Dowell	Louis Armstrong	(2:28)
(When It's) Sleepy Time Down South	Leon René, Clarence Muse	Louis Armstrong	(3:19)
Leap Frog	Joe Garland, Leo Corday	Louis Armstrong	(3:06)
I Used to Love You (But It's All over Now)	Lew Brown, Albert Von Tilzer	Louis Armstrong	(3:06)
You Rascal You	Sam Theard	Louis Armstrong	(3:05)
(Get Some) Cash for Your Trash	Fats Waller, Ed Kirkeby	Louis Armstrong	(3:10)
Among My Souvenirs	Edgar Leslie, Horatio Nicholls	Louis Armstrong	(2:53)
Coquette (Lyrics)	Irving Berlin	Louis Armstrong	(2:43)
I Never Knew	Gus Kahn, Ted Fio Rito	Louis Armstrong	(2:52)
Jodie Man		Louis Armstrong	(3:24)
I Wonder	Cecil Gant, Raymond Leveen	Louis Armstrong	(3:05)
You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)	Larry Stock, Freddie James	Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Haggart, Louis Armstrong	(3:01)
The Frim Fram Sauce	Redd Evans, Joe Ricardel	Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Haggart, Louis Armstrong	(3:19)
Maybe It's Because (Lyrics)	Harry Ruby, Johnnie Scott	Louis Armstrong, Sy Oliver's Orchestra	(3:14)
I'll Keep the Lovelight Burning (In My Heart)	Bennie Benjamin, George David Weiss	Louis Armstrong, Sy Oliver's Orchestra	(2:59)
That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)	Haven Gillespie, Harry Beasley Smith	Louis Armstrong, George Jenkins	(3:13)
Blueberry Hill (Lyrics)	Al Lewis, Vincent Rose, Larry Stock	Louis Armstrong, George Jenkins	(2:58)
You Can't Lose a Broken Heart (Lyrics)	James P. Johnson, F.E. Miller	Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sy Oliver's Orchestra	(3:20)
My Sweet Hunk O' Trash (Lyrics)	James P. Johnson, F.E. Miller	Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sy Oliver's Orchestra	(3:20)

Credits

The Mills Brothers (Performer), Henry "Red" Allen (Trumpet), Will Bradley (Trombone), Buck Clayton (Trumpet), Ella Fitzgerald (Vocals), Budd Johnson (Sax (Tenor)), Yank Lawson (Trumpet), Luis Russell (Piano), Trigger Alpert (Bass), Joe Bushkin (Piano), Billy Butterfield (Trumpet), Cozy Cole (Drums), Bob Haggart (Bass), Horace Henderson (Piano), Carl Kress (Guitar), Bernie Leighton (Piano), Johnny Mince (Sax (Alto)), Sy Oliver (Arranger), Zutty Singleton (Drums), Norman Greene (Trombone), John Mills, Sr. (Bass (Vocal)), Wellman Braud (Bass), Bernard Addison (Guitar), Hayes Alvis (Bass), Louis Armstrong (Trumpet), Louis Armstrong (Vocals), Louis Armstrong (Main Performer), Everett Barksdale (Guitar), Sidney Bechet (Clarinet), Sidney Bechet (Sax (Soprano)), Joe Benjamin (Bass), Billie Holiday (Vocals), Wallace Bishop (Drums), Lee Blair (Guitar), Johnny Blowers (Drums), Dave Bowman (Piano), Big Sid Catlett (Drums), Henderson Chambers (Trombone), Rupert Cole (Clarinet), Rupert Cole (Sax (Alto)), Sid Cooper (Sax (Alto)), George Dorsey (Sax (Alto)), Pops Foster (Bass), Carl Frye (Sax (Alto)), Frank Galbreath (Trumpet), Joe Garland (Clarinet), Joe Garland (Sax (Tenor)), Shelton Hemphill (Trumpet), J.C. Higginbotham (Trombone), Charlie Holmes (Sax (Alto)), George Jenkins (Performer), Claude Jones (Trombone), George Koenig (Sax (Alto)), Billy Kyle (Piano), Jack Lesberg (Bass), Lawrence Lucie (Guitar), Bingie Madison (Clarinet), Bingie Madison (Sax (Baritone)), Bingie Madison (Sax (Tenor)), Donald Mills (Tenor (Vocal)), Harry Mills (Baritone (Vocal)), Herbert Mills (Tenor (Vocal)), Danny Perri (Guitar), Bernie Privin (Trumpet), Arthur Rollini (Clarinet), Arthur Rollini (Sax (Tenor)), Hymie Schertzer (Sax (Alto)), John Simmons (Bass), Bill Stegmeyer (Clarinet), Bill Stegmeyer (Sax (Alto)), George Washington (Trombone), James Whitney (Trombone), John Williams (Bass), Milt Yaner (Sax (Alto)), Wilbur DeParis (Trombone), Paul Ricci (Sax (Baritone)), Thomas Parshley (Sax (Tenor)), Jack Greenberg (Sax (Tenor)), Carl Poole (Trumpet), Prince Robinson (Clarinet), Prince Robinson (Sax (Tenor)), Jules Rubin (Clarinet), Jules Rubin (Sax (Alto)), Bernard Flood (Trumpet), Pat Nizza (Sax (Tenor)), Art Drellinger (Sax (Tenor)), Milton Schatz (Sax (Baritone)), Freddie Williams (Sax (Tenor)), J.G. Calvados (Editing), J.G. Calvados (Preparation), Sy Oliver's Orchestra (Performer), Ivor Lloyd (Trumpet), Artie Baker (Sax (Alto))