Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy
Encyclopedia
Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy is a 1954 studio release by Louis Armstrong and His All Stars
, described by Allmusic as "Louis Armstrong's finest record of the 1950s" and "essential music for all serious jazz collections". Columbia CD
released the album on CD in 1986 in a much altered form, with alternative versions in place of many of the original songs, but restored the original with its 1997 re-issue, which also included additional tracks: a brief interview by the producer, George Avakian
, with W. C. Handy; a joke told by Louis Armstrong; and several rehearsal versions of the songs.
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, described by Allmusic as "Louis Armstrong's finest record of the 1950s" and "essential music for all serious jazz collections". Columbia CD
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
released the album on CD in 1986 in a much altered form, with alternative versions in place of many of the original songs, but restored the original with its 1997 re-issue, which also included additional tracks: a brief interview by the producer, George Avakian
George Avakian
George Avakian is an American record producer and executive known particularly for his work with Columbia Records, and his production of albums by Miles Davis and other notable jazz musicians....
, with W. C. Handy; a joke told by Louis Armstrong; and several rehearsal versions of the songs.
Side 1
- "St. Louis Blues" (HandyW. C. HandyWilliam Christopher Handy was a blues composer and musician. He was widely known as the "Father of the Blues"....
) - 8:50 - "Yellow Dog Blues" (Handy) - 4:16
- "Loveless Love" (Handy) - 4:28
- "Aunt Hagar's Blues" (Brymn, Handy) - 4:57
- "Long Gone (From Bowling Green)" (Handy, Smith) - 5:08
Side 2
- "Memphis BluesThe Memphis Blues"The Memphis Blues" is a song described by its composer, W.C. Handy, as a "Southern Rag." It was self-published by Handy in September, 1912 and has been recorded by many artists over the years.-"Mr. Crump":...
" (Handy, Norton) - 2:59 - "Beale Street BluesBeale Street Blues"Beale Street Blues" is a 1916 song by American composer and lyricist W.C. Handy. The title refers to Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, the main entertainment district for the city's African American population in the early part of the twentieth century, and a place closely associated with the...
" (Handy) - 4:56 - "Ole Miss Blues" (Handy) - 3:25
- "Chantez Les Bas (Sing 'Em Low)" (Handy) - 4:48
- "Hesitating Blues" (Handy) - 5:20
- "Atlanta Blues (Make Me a Pallet on the FloorMake Me a Pallet on the Floor"Make Me a Pallet on the Floor" is a blues/jazz/folk song now considered as a standard. The song's origins are somewhat nebulous and can be traced back to the 19th century. Various versions of the lyrics were first published in 1911 in an academic journal of ethnomusicology...
)" (Elman, Handy) - 4:33
1996 CD bonus tracks
- "George Avakian's Interview with W. C. Handy - 2:44
- "Loveless Love" (Handy) - 5:55
- "Hesitating Blues" (Handy) - 5:38
- "Alligator Story" - 0:47
- "Long Gone (From Bowling Green)" (Handy, Smith) - 7:53
Performers
- Louis ArmstrongLouis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
– trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, vocals - Barney BigardBarney BigardAlbany Leon Bigard, aka Barney Bigard, was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, though primarily known for the clarinet....
– clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed... - Barrett DeemsBarrett DeemsBarrett Deems was an American swing music jazz drummer born in Springfield, Illinois, probably best known for his work with jazz musicians Jimmy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong , Red Norvo, and Muggsy Spanier.Deems died of pneumonia in Chicago, in September 1998, at the age...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - W. C. HandyW. C. HandyWilliam Christopher Handy was a blues composer and musician. He was widely known as the "Father of the Blues"....
– performer - Billy KyleBilly KyleWilliam Osborne "Billy" Kyle was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Kyle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing the piano in school and by the early 1930s worked with Lucky Millinder, and later the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. In 1938, he joined John Kirby's band, but was drafted in...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Velma MiddletonVelma MiddletonVelma Middleton was an American jazz vocalist born in Holdenville, OK, best known for having sung with Louis Armstrong's big bands and small groups. Born in Oklahoma, Velma later moved with her parents to St. Louis, MO...
– vocals - Arvell ShawArvell ShawArvell Shaw was an American jazz double-bassist, best known for his work with Louis Armstrong....
– bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Trummy YoungTrummy YoungJames "Trummy" Young was a trombonist in the swing era. Although he was never really a star or a bandleader himself, he did have one hit with his version of "Margie," which he played and sang with Jimmie Lunceford's Time-Life Orchestra.-Biography:Growing up in Savannah, GA and Richmond, VA, Young...
– tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
Production
- Rene Arsenault – production assistant
- George AvakianGeorge AvakianGeorge Avakian is an American record producer and executive known particularly for his work with Columbia Records, and his production of albums by Miles Davis and other notable jazz musicians....
– producer, engineer, liner notes, reissue producer - Gina Bello – design assistant
- Steven Berkowitz – reissue series
- Jennifer Ebert – packaging manager
- Kevin Gore – reissue series
- Randall Martin – reissue design
- Patti Matheny – A&R, artist coordination
- Seth Rothstein – project director, project manager
- Cozbi Sanchez-Cabrera – art direction, reissue art director
- Mark Wilder – engineer, digital mastering
External links
- Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy, from The Louis Armstrong Discography by Scott Johnson with adaptations by Michael Minn, 1997–2007