2008-06-14 -- 5/5:: Not for everybody, but
Even though I given this a Five Star rating, I know that not everyone has the capacity to like Satchmo. However, for those music lovers who love the blues, love classics, and love pioneers of great music, this is an awesome collection from a great artist.

The majority of adults that I know have heard "What a Wonderful World". Even if it was a remake version, it is a great song.

His duet with Bing Crosby, "Gone Fishin'", is one of my favorite summer songs.

Speaking of summer,"When it's Sleepytime Down South.', is a wonderfully relaxing addition as a live cut.

Classic versions of, "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Cabaret", and :Hello Dolly" add incredible excitement.

I could go through the entire CD and give glowing reviews to each cut. The bottom line is that if you like when music was real and required talent, try this CD.

`Nuff said.

2008-06-03 -- 5/5:: Louis Armstrong At His Best!
Of all the CDs I have purchased through Amazon.com, this is by far one of the top two or three I have enjoyed the most. It's Louis at his best. Anyone who even "likes" Armstrong would have a hard time denying this might be his best album ever. You won't be disappointed.

2008-03-14 -- 1/5:: Corny baloney
For someone purported to be one of the best jazz artist (innovative, versatile) this disk is hokey and corny. "Definitive" fluff la la la la la bull craap.

2008-03-07 -- 1/5:: The (Far From Being) Definative Louis Armstrong
It's an OK album of his later stuff, but in NO WAY is it definative (to have a REAL greatest hits album, you'd need to put it on at least 6 discs). The people at Hip-O had a lot of nerve calling this "Definative". This doesn't even come close to defining Satchmo. Where's his stuff from King Oliver days, his Dreamland material, his hot 5's & 7's material, his duets with Ella Fitzgerald (Both Decca, and Verve), his material with Louis Jordan, his material with Fletcher Henderson, his material with Bessie Smith, and any of his 30's material. How many people know that Satch was one of those rare master musicians that continued to be a successful working musician through both the depression, and WW2?

To take a historical Icon like Louis Armstrong who had so many great songs with so many people, slap his last works on one disc, and have the nerve to call it definitive is a slap in the face.

Actually, Sony / Legacy's The Essential Louis Armstrong is a better selection disc wise if you want a slightly better definition of Satch, but I still say that a 6 disc Box Set would be more definitive.

2008-02-25 -- 5/5:: MUST HAVE
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.