I think this is an excellent album for someone who wants an easy-to-get-into introduction to jazz. It contains Louis' later hits, like Hello Dolly! which knocked the Beatles off the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 100 list in 1964 and made Louis the oldest man ever to have a number one hit single.

This album also contains some superb earlier work including a taste of Louis duetting with Ella Fitzgerald accompanied by Oscar Peterson, and some terrific numbers like I Want a Little Girl from 1946.

All in all it is an extremely enjoyable listen. If it inspires some people to take an interest in jazz, when they didn't before, then so much the better, and if it doesn't, well it is still enjoyable in its own right.

Considering that Louis was one of the seminal players who practically invented jazz in the 1920s, and a key figure in the history of twentieth century popular culture whom every one ought to know about, this album is a pretty fun place to start.

From here I would perhaps move on to listen to the Best of the Verve Years with the duets with Ella Fitzgerald, and then to some of the earlier stuff.

[Oh, yes, one more thing. You can hear in Hello Dolly! that he pronounced his own name Loo-iss and not Loo-ee!]

The songs on LOUIS ARMSTRONG * THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION generally follow a regression from 1968 to 1938. The album's liner notes conversely provide details of Armstrong's most influential years: the mid-Twenties until his lip broke, while touring Europe in the early 1930s. The writer glows about Satchmo's influence on ALL subsequent musicians and vocalists, from Benny Goodman to the Rolling Stones! Truly a hyperbolic overview.

But the music is what matters most. Armstrong adapted to the realities of losing his superhuman playing abilities by developing a more expressive style, and by concentrating on vocalization. This album documents well that second phase of his performing career. Source material is drawn from all major labels: DECCA, COLUMBIA, VICTOR, ABC-PARAMOUNT, KAPP and VERVE. Transfer quality is excellent. This collection is particularly recommended for newcomers to the music of Louis Armstrong.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 75:39

Naturally, if you are one of the vast numbers of Satchmo's pop followers, you'll find everything you need on this volume ("What a Wonderful World", "Cabaret", "Hello Dolly", "Blueberry Hill"...), but if you're more of a jazz fan and you buy this album, well...

As old Pops would put it - someday you'll be sorry...

Strictly for jazz beginners and pop fans; there's nothing definitive or essential abotu this album, although this is far from being bad music...

This is Satchmo at his best, performing the songs that made him famous. It's the perfect "first" Satchmo CD for any collection. Listen to this CD any you'll be hooked on Satch.

I ORDERED THIS AND THE ESSENTIAL LOUIS ARMSTRONG BOTH ARE A MUST HAVE FOR ANY ONE WHO IS A MUSICAL STANDERS FAN. EVERY BIG HIT AND RARE TRACKS AND EVERY THING IN BETWEEN IS ON THESE CDS. WELL WORTH THE MONEY. PERFECT.