Louis Armstrong - Potato Head Blues - Crazy Jazz

[XxHelterSkleterxX]

Masterpiece, pure soul infused in this song.

[ahab345]

final trumpet solo simply revolutionary!!!



[jargin2]

this is absolutely beautiful.

[SatchmoSings]

FINALLY, a reasonably gutsy-sounding transfer of this! (though it is also a bit harsh)

And yes, it's one of the greatest records of all time.

[jelkica26]

arrangement...wow

[Freedom21stCenturi]

really uplifting music. shame this has 150,000 views over 2 years yet a new lady gaga song gets millions within a few days..

[Netchaiev]

@Freedom21stCenturi ... yeah... sure ... but who will still listening to Lady G eighty years later ?

[mknewstub]

classic, as an american cultural "archetype" and "icon"

[pinkieldred]

@shellyboy...I agree . Anyone who don't this or can listen to Satch and not hear this, literally does not have ears! Louis was all of what you say and more.

[Egriega]

Johnny Dodds is your madman clarinetist I think

[shellyboy9]

Let me get this straight. So among Louis's few and meager contributions to music were the trumpet glissando, his original trumpet phrasing, original improvisational ability, inventing scat singing, showing the world how to phrase a lyric, his class as a musician and as a human being, and his ability to cross generations and cultures with his music. Did I miss something this master did? Oh, and merely being the most important artist in this century. We miss you Louis. Thanks for the post.

[aerofredywr]

@shellyboy9 You are totally, completely and absolutely RIGHT !! you`s the best commentary about Satch I ever read !

[SatchmoSings]

@shellyboy9 Amongst people that really know MUSIC and not just Jazz, Armstrong's Sun just keeps ascending both shining and burning brighter all the time, as it should be.

He really was the greatest.

[goodfellacarlos89]

@shellyboy9 He never invented scat singing. But man, he sure raised scatting into an art form in itself. The greatest musician in American History bar none. Can you imagine a world in which Louis Armstrong never came along??

[shellyboy9]

@goodfellacarlos89 You're right. I stand corrected. Good to talk to another music lover.

[giuliamania]

Like if Woody Allen's 'Manhattan' brought you here.

[rayjr62]

@giuliamania My life long love affair with Pop's music brought me here, not that beady eyed, step-daughter-marrying turd.

[rimfa123]

@rayjr62 Lol, I heard something once about Frank Sinatra offering to break Woody Allen's legs when he had an affair with someone.

[vpo2g2]

I've saw an amoeba get up and dance when he heard this.

[marshallstak]

you just can't listen to this track without feeling instantly 'up'...the goddamn power of music!

[bluesborn]

I love how these old jazz numbers ended with the closed high hat.

[cleoharvey]

Magnificent!!!!!!!!!!!

[yoavs6]

anybody has the notes?

[TheJazzSwings]

@yoavs6 I've almost got it down. But dang dude, if you want his sound, transcribe this thing on your own. You'll love it, and it will give you a chance to analyze each lick.

[TheJazzSwings]

I been listening exclusively to pops for the 5 days and transcribing this solo. Reading a biography, trying to get in his head. His sound is starting to really come out my bell.

[6x7045]

johnny dodds rocks at 2:47

[glanceytomgo]

Possibly the best piece of Jazz ever written. Johnny Dodds' clarinet on this is incredible.

[romadonwicaksono]

jozz

[MoisheKapoyr]

wooooody.

[ALBERO2012]

i miss grandpa

[DarkCreatorn]

Me and my grandfather used to listen to this it was only me and my grandfather who listened to it and now he's dead and now i'm alone with my music :( i'll never give up Jazz :)

[2000philjones]

been playing this since 1945 the record is almost worn out

[MrCockSlut]

@2000philjones damn how old are you? lol fair play most older people get confused by the internet

[kevinastraw]

Apart from the beat this could be a classical piece - the discipline within the jazz mode is awesome.

[Period8Productions]

Love it. Love it. Love it.

[stupormundi7]

As a foreigner, if you're interested in learning and understanding the U.S. culture, you need to listen to this music and I also recommend Life "Legends" : The century's most unforgettable faces. Mr. Armstrong is obviously there.

[hommefriday]

@stupormundi7 I wish the USA would publish more of this their only great contribution to world culture. I do however have the impression many musical "ensembles" are developing this music in colleges. I just wish they would keep the rest of the world in touch of these exciting contributions. Where are all the great arrangements of the last 100 years? Are many being played? I know here in Europe some of these arrangements are being played and developed.

[caddy6834]

His work is monumental! Played for many years, hope to be sucky again and attempt some of the work! BRAVO!!!

[ApemanSquared]

can't beat when the band comes back in at 2:30 and everyone's wailin...

[Thepianofreak17]

Louis Armstrong was truely amazing, he played his trumpet so much he busted his lips :P thats commitment!

[PawnedYa]

tomorow.. we are having a exam.. about this, swing, ragtime and blues.. i think im going to fail..

[kirkconway]

absolute classic  satchmo,

[Muzikman127]

The clarinet on this recording is insane....

[Egriega]

@Muzikman127 Johnny Dodds is your madman clarinetist I think

[unixtohack]

Great, gold, platinum, world class. Never seen ever later. !!!

[shinotora1X]

I know people who say that this is the best Jazz record ever!

[bomberino76]

Pura Poesia!

[Hoopermazing]

Why am I suddenly craving crabs from a Chinese restaurant?

[genutbutter1]

Johnny Dodds' clarinet certainly adds to the brilliance here

[gatogordo1970]

Pure Gold!!!!! The greatest american of all times.

[gatogordo1970]

Pure Gold!!!!!

[WardKimballFan]

From 1:50 to 2:32 pure bliss...ain't nothin' better than that!

[WardKimballFan]

From 1:50 to 2:32 pure bliss...ain't nothin' better than that!

[DavidMcKelway1]

/watch?v=Cv-D1y6-CuI: Another for your enjoyment, if you haven't heard it yet, LA with Earl Hines doing "Weatherbird". I didn't post it

[metyuewb]

i've known people this saved from suicide

[v478559]

I've listened to this a hundred times, and I still can't believe how good his solo on this side is. It's one of his very best. He and Bix Beiderbeck are kings. And to is King Oliver, now that I think of it. King Oliver's "West End Blues" has to be up there with this Potato Head Blues. Beiderbeck is unbelievable always. I have everything Bix ever recorded, although not the original releases.

Mashby

[Baruchyoseph8]

Genius playing by one of the great genius' of music .... Louis Armstrong ... what he does here is ......... is Mozartian .... Beethovian ....

[OtisSpain]

I fully agree with Mr Allen: no doubt which has to be the greatest (jazz or not jazz) record ever!

[TheGuyWantsYouHappy]

i bet back then this was hd quality music :D

[trufozo]

This is superb; thanks !!! But you must change the picture because this group are The Hot Seven, not The Hot Five.

[icrjk]

my grandma told me when she was going to england for the first time in the 50's she asked my granda(before the were married)if he wanted anything...he asked for this record.and we listened to it during the week!!perfect working order('',)

[caloscalante1518]

I bet if somebody is contemplating suicide, they will change their minds once they hear this song.

[tenorbanjo4]

This stop-time solo...a highway to the stars...!

[nellie2581]

great

[tacuawushutao]

grandioso! 

[odanak100]

They say his solos were too incredible for words to describe ,heard live in the old clubs of Chicago

[AnnieZOmbinna]

i love this sOng!

<3

[TheJedgeworth]

This is one tasty potato!

[kirkconway]

One of louis best,

i dont why they coulldnt do this kind of stuff now,

I mean the trash out in the last 30 yrs is nothing compared to this,

This one, and Heebie Jeebie's is some of his best work,

also Raisin the Roof from Frankie Trumbauer is really something too,

Zonky, and Stardust from cotton picker's and the dandies are really something too,

[01TiNE]

i like your music noona

[WomensWrestlingFan]

Woody Allen's favorite song

[nicodagger]

Bantunation, not only did African-Americans create this music, (not to mention blues, rock, funk, hip-hop, etc etc) but they have been and are the greatest performers of it. As a white musician myself, I become enraged when people don't seem to hear the OBVIOUS difference. Yes, jazz has had many very good white artists, but still....it's another level completely with black artists.

[OneFifthNative]

@nicodagger I utterly and completely agree. White musicians are literally quantized and digitized in their playing, not having the basic gift of natural grace and fluency of muscular movement. Fine for rock and pop but not for anything more.

[Hamsammich111]

@OneFifthNative Cool racism.

[OneFifthNative]

@Hamsammich111 Cool or clever, the truth bites.

[Hamsammich111]

@OneFifthNative Clever racism is still bigoted.

[OneFifthNative]

@Hamsammich111 Truth stands eternally, despite the best efforts of the emotional-intellectual conjecturing.

[Hamsammich111]

@OneFifthNative Just saw that you are a born again christian, this conversation is over.

[MrPisster]

@OneFifthNative "white musicians aren't gifted" versus "all men are created equal" I know I'm on the right side of history on this one.

[OneFifthNative]

@Hamsammich111 By saying that you prove to the world that you can not read printed text. Many would also strongly suspect that you were unable to continue due to me using words you had to look up in a dictionary, coupled with the inability to intelligently formulate a relevant and coherent reply to my basic point. That white musicians aren't gifted with the fuidity and grace of muscular expression needed to play blues and jazz, among other genres. So come out from behind the curtain.

[MrPisster]

@OneFifthNative that statement has been irrelevant since the generation that embraced rock and roll, and rap uses techno beats now days -so how's that theory working out for you?

[OneFifthNative]

@MrPisster To you it's theory. Rap is crap but of course House music was created by black guys who were able to give the 4 to bar beat groovy shuffle variations in the timeline making all the white people stutter/dance. It's not rascist to say the white people are only good at rock and pop and that blacks have incredible fkuency and natural goove, unless the reader has unconscious unresolved issues on the matter, of course. Haven't you ever heard black comedians letting this cat out of the bag??

[MrPisster]

@OneFifthNative is this more about your white guilt or your failings as a musician?

Before juke boxes people got their music mainly FROM CHURCH. Blacks and whites did not go to the same churches. Early popular tunes were from these separate traditions.

By the 1960s that wall was long ago broken down.

Little Richard mentored the Beatles and said, "they got it".

ZZ-Top, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones all started as straight ahead blues bands.

[MrPisster]

@MrPisster *that wall was long ago broken down *MUSICALLY*

[OneFifthNative]

@MrPisster You seem confused, I'm mixed race. You are blabbering on about white culture's spurious take on the blues as if thar has some concrete link to the original point I made. What time is it there in Ca? Get more sleep.

[MrPisster]

@OneFifthNative You're trying to argue that you can peg some musician's race based only on listening to the recorded track?? Find me anyone, black, white, purple, neon green -who cares, that would back you up on that.

[OneFifthNative]

@MrPisster Aww, have you been reading the original commenter's statements? You seem to be getting an idea of the point of the matter. An idea that we all hope will blossom into a realization before too long. Excuse me a sec .... BARNEY BURP!

[MrPisster]

@OneFifthNative You're emotionally attached to the idea that it's genetic and not cultural so no amount of physical facts or logical argument will matter

I'm sure you also don't realize that the music in this video evolved from Polka, in particular "marine bands" covering military marches. or that American Indian music influenced the development of blues. It's American history man, crack a book and get over yourself.

[OneFifthNative]

@MrPisster Once again you show you haven't the ability to intelligently address the point in question. You are just rambling on and on about random trajectories around the thing. Who cares how many polkas would fit inside Louis' cornet ... or how many white boys played blues to white audiences on white tv and white radio stations. It's irrelevant. Black man got the boogie, Latino got the ggrrrrrrrrooove, white boy's got depression because he copies every move.

[MrPisster]

@OneFifthNative You're obviously not a rational human being.

[talipification]

Везде где Луиз Армстронг- лучше сыграет только всевышний,то есть неподражаемый Луиз Армстронг!!!!!!!

[louiecostello]

this is like the soundtrack to every woody allen film

[plappolog]

mi pare di ricordare che woody allen abbia detto in uno dei suoi films che questo blues è una delle 10 cose per le quali vale la pena di vivere....le altre nove non me le ricordo...

[pabloalzaga]

Si es verdad que Woddy Allen lo dijo estoy completamente de acuerdo es una de las diez cosas por las que vale la pena vivir. Una explosión de swing, de creatividad y de alegría. Louis ¡Grande!, alegria de los hombres que tuvieron el gusto de conocerte!

[MrBubbermiley]

WOW! So good it actually brought tears to my eyes. I never get tired of this tune, always a treat, :)

[goPistons06]

this is one of the greatest songs ever. i really wish the whole world could listen to this, i'm sure it would bring them happiness and hope. Satchmo lives!!!!!!!

[BantuNation]

White people still to this day have problems saying African Americans created this music....

[mbrown76]

@BantuNation Not this white person. I know this music came from the plantations of the Big Easy.

[robbiejohnson2001]

I came to this vid because of Woody's (manhattan) list. i'm glad i did.

[OtisSpain]

What a wonderful tune, what a wonderful artist!

I guess I really NEVER I'll get tired of enjoying those Hot Fives & Sevens' records. I think this is the tune I want to be played in my funeral, 'cause I don't think of anything as nearer to Heaven as this...

XD

[charley12345678901]

1:49

[rjpra2]

Notice how the impunity of the first quadrant starts in B sharp somewhat indicating a positive view a life, yet as the recitify continues it falls promiscuously into despair yet uplifted by its gauges into a high angle solo assuming that the artist was influenced to some degree from Neo-Realism, and ends this great song challenging the sequity of logistics and paralyzed synchronized randomness. Long live Louis!

[joneedy]

If you've ever tried to play this awe inspiring cornet solo it will just make you realise what a genius Armstrong was and how hopelessly crap you are

[leonardogottardi]

jazz eh bacana :D

[MrAlberto907]

a reason to live the life... (woody allen)

[Nadianva]

@MrAlberto907 I love that film!, Woody is just G-R-E-A-T!!

[70haircuts]

My philosophy professor just sent this to our entire class in an e-mail.

[nwosutrumpet]

@70haircuts Your professor has a great taste in music.

[tomarthur1000]

I'm not surprised.

[zlajaa1]

@70haircuts man be happy



[mbrown76]

Dizzy Gillespie said on the day of Louis's funeral."No him, no me."

[draganryo]

@mbrown76 No Louis...no anything. He changed music forever. The way it was played. The way it was sang. He had an impact on the court ruling of Brown vs Board of Education. Its fitting in a way that the last Jazz song to ever reach #1 was also done by oldest preformer to ever have a #1 hit. Louis Armstrong's "Hello Dolly".

R.I.P. LOUIS ARMSTRONG! LONG LIVE THE MUSIC AND LEGACY!

[genecorrado]

You are so right. In 1922, when he left the King Oliver Band, he arranged a small quintet for a big band sound. That arrangement: drums and bass as percussion, a rythym instrument to carry the melody (in this case a piano) a lead instrument (his trumpet)- and a lead singer is the basis of all American popular music. All from Louis Armstrong-the most underated musician in American history-not because his music is underated, but because of the effect of his arrangements and legacy. The Hot 5!

[Sonoraman]

The best tune Sachmo ever did! I've got a vintage pressing of this baby in the stacks!

[mbrown76]

This is very good but West End Blues gets my vote.

[algiardello]

Here's a vote for Hotter Than That - love the scat singing.

[cw1310]

This is piece is very under rated IMO.

[ufobass]

A very good transcription of this and other Louis material is available from Lincoln Center in NYC.

Check out their "Essential Jazz Editions" - note-for-note transcriptions, reasonably priced. (Of course, "for free," you could do a take-down from the recording...)

[mymusicdiscovery]

Best ever you bet. But better on CD!! This is an mp3 dudes.

[nbostock]

solo, 1:50 to 2:30, unequalled, anywhere.

[aardvaark069]

@nbostock A mastery beyond belief.

[blackblackgrey]

hmm...

Cant quite figure out how I ended up listning to this song today, but Im really intrested in it now. I've listened to a few of this guys songs and really liked them (Which suprised me) but I don't understand why this is credited as his finest. Just my opinion- but Im not feeling anything that strong from this song. Maybe it just needs tlme- being 15 and living off radiohead and muse I might just need to adjust to it.

[yardbirdsweet]

I've heard this song so many times and it still manages to completely captivate and move me. One of the greatest pieces of music ever.

[LoonyLovegoodx]

I need the score for this piece for free,

but no one seems to be offering it.

ARGH.

Wonderful song though :)

[mymusicdiscovery]

You got it--it IS a score. It's classical music, this record.

[LoonyLovegoodx]

I mean the conductors score. The sheet music.

[yiommi]

Makes me wanna play the trumpet

[charliebubblesoar]

it's a whole lot of soul and brilliance coming from the men and women from this era. and the title alone makes it a champion in my book. i've been a fan of Louis since I was in the 7th grade. i started playing trumpet and then i began learning about the greats. he became an idol instantly. I found that Louis has this distinct sound that you can just feel when you hear it.

[tonygordo]

made me start playing the trumpet

[bersa888]

America's greatest contribution to music.

[kirkconway]

that is totally It,

I couldnt have said it better.

you are totally right on!!!!

[mahoose6]

this piece means a lot to me

[JazzRockClassic]

Wonderful! louis you are the Man!

[CO2umbrella]

Yeah! I'm the 11,000 viewer!

[AliciaAmatti86]

Awesome!!! I love it!

[TorontoEd7]

I have always loved this song. Thanks for posting his sacred music for others to hear.

[Muzikman127]

Amen to that

[Bhelenus]

This is genial as his creator, Louis

[johnradner]

Check out this posted version apparently at the correct speed: /watch?v=_b1pgu8v3Z8&feature=r­elated

[RocknRollAllNiteLong]

awesome! "According to the recent research on Armstrong's Okeh recording sessions, the correct playing speed was 80 rpm, not 78. All of the transfers of this recording I've came across was pitched at 78rpm, but I fixed this version with 80rpm speed - and you can feel much brighter spirits that Satchmo and his collegues had when they played this piece" Really awesome idea

[Muzikman127]

so they weren't playing at concert pitch then... How strange. I agree though it sounds much better at this speed

[aardvaark069]

Ain't it the truth!

[aardvaark069]

Armstrong could swing it like nobody else. His solo in the middle is absolutely incredible in it's improvisational brilliance.

[hiriski]

louis = magic

[nicodagger]

In Woody Allen's "Manhattan" wasn't this recording one of the things that made life worth living, the things he spoke into his recorder, ending with "Tracy's face"...am I right? was it this song? Plus, when I was 14 i formed a New orlean's style jazz group called The Hot Five, named after the original. What balls I had!! Luckily no one in Culver city in 1966 knew anything about classic jazz or they would have stoned us for daring to use that name. We sucked, basically, though not bad for 14.

[fineagain07]

yep, u r right. this is one of the things he did talk about...if you want to see that clip its right here

/watch?v=h5owXCZ0CDg

[princessfreaka]

one time, i listened to this song like 100 times in a row, now i can just turn it on like if i ever want to hear it in my head LOL

[francescaemc2]

Beethoven doesn't want to roll over, he'd have loved this as much as I do.

Thanks for posting this lo-cal treat.

Genius. Genius.

Bravo Satchmo.

[yazzz00]

Excellent music played by a truly great musician

[KapnKoolio]

He wasn't called the King of Jazz for nothing! His solo in this one stands as one of the best jazz solos ever put down. Some may argue with me, but I think he was at the height of his powers about the time this was recorded. No wonder every other jazz cornet and trumpet player of the time held him up as their paragon.

[estrella30996]

I needed to listen to his work for a project, so this helped.

[kilgatron]

lezgon, he did indeed capture life. I'm on my third LA biography, and I'm still learning.

[jazzperformance]

Classical music by Armstrong (1900?-1971), US composer! But hear it on a CD at least. Better than mp3.

[EamonFKC]

Surely one of the greatest jazz recordings ever. Stunning.

[fillra]

Perfection.

Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven

May 10, 1927, Chicago, IL

[kilgatron]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

[kilgatron]

From beginning to end, this music stands as one of the greatest achievements in all of music. I get tears in my eyes when I hear the opening. Armstrong. There is nothing more essential in American music than him. He towers over others whose names are counted as good. They aren't. I'm just adding to all the comments below that are heartfelt and all perfectly right. Aren't we lucky?

[agf5000]

I love this song, the ending is fantastic.

[dlp2006]

brilliant

[mbrown76]

"Potato Head Blues is one of the reasons why life is worth living". - Woody Allen