"St. Louis Blues" (1933 version) - Louis Armstrong

[flamencoexpress]

What's the big deal? It's just Pops inventing American music.

[7danfarru7]

can anyone tell me the instruument being used at 2:00?? sounds INSANE

[nwj82]

@7danfarru7 banjo!

[7danfarru7]

@nwj82 cheers

[TheMpdman]

Incredible. That's Mozart for the 1930's...



[Gamberist]

Thanks for the music!

[rolfaalberg]

Probably spins too fast, just look a the label. If you've got the time, watch your watch & count to 78.

Prefer the version with Higginbotham on trombone. Must be one of the best jazz recordings ever.

[flamencoexpress]

@rolfaalberg Yeah! Real hot! Shades of what Charlie Parker did to Lester Young.

[mike7813]

@rolfaalberg Could not agree more...

[WCPR1620AM]

There was also an Okeh version of "St. Louis Blues" and it can be found on the LP "Remember How Great?" on the Columbia Record Productions label which was later became Columbia Special Products.

[Objectification]

Thank you :)

[yammayammaman]

Would prefer more on the recording and the line-up than on the mechanics...

[harrison58]

Really. 2 viewers gave this a thumbs-down. Must be two deaf lizard aliens from the planet Chump...

[karlzips1]

Well done buddy ! I know it takes a lot effort we all thank you !

[motelcalifornia]

I love POPEYE music!!!

LOL



[detts71]

This is absolutely incredible. Bad moods don't exist when this song is playing.

[vimana19]

Whoo-maa-gaa-laa-mm-baa!!

[JubalCalif]

SOLID, Jackson! If Louie & his band were any cooler, they'd be frozen! Strictly from wowsville, daddy-o! THANK YOU for posting!  You've MADE my day & my weekend! :)

[gusta968]

excelent version!!!!!!,the best

[mikeaimer]

Craziest guitar solo ever!

[WSenator1]

I had just started taking piano lesssons at age 9, when I became fascinated by jazz, and I saw the first few notes of "SLB" in an encylcopedia. Asked my mother to get the sheet music, and I've loved it every since. The National Anthem of Jazz.

[OBELIXxoxoxo]

Two ignorants don't like it!

[pmorlan3]

oops...I said the Bubber Miley recording was in 1931 but it was also in 1929.

[pmorlan3]

My two favorite versions of this song are when Bessie Smith sang it in 1929 and Bubber Miley played with Leo Reisman and his Orchestra in 1931. The Bessie Smith version is on You Tube but sadly the 1931 recording with Bubber Miley is not on You Tube.

[amberola1b]

Wow, I love this version, I`ve never heard it before, I`ve only ever heard Louis do the version on OKEH, I`ve downloaded it to my favorites. The St. Louis Blues has to be one of the most recorded songs EVER. Every `20`s artist made a version of this song at one time or another. And by the way, no it does`nt sound too fast, I`m sure the person who downloaded this video would`nt have his victrola running at the wrong speed. I`m sure he has a strobe disc to keep it at 78.

[Leradcoris]

I think your RPM is way too fast.. you can tell by the guitar it sounds so unatural and so does everything else

[GrappelliconcertoinG]

@Leradcoris You are right. It sounds like it's in G when they probably played it in F

[ViktorDragmire]

@Leradcoris I think its actually a banjo...just my opinion

[dnoland1993]

@ViktorDragmire thats not really an opinion

[formiga1950]

Hey, man. Very good work. Congratulations from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I would suggest only to use a ribbon microphone, instead a dynamic one(the SM-57). I believe the ribbon will make a more "round" tone for your transcriptions. Regards from Jose Claudio.

[tomwaitsfornoone1]

that record player is a total antique, im amazed it still works

[amusiathread]

How cool! Love this track, especially the earlier versions. That record and the player are truly beautiful pieces of history.

[musicynic]

thanks for going to the trouble to put this gem on YouTube!

[robertrbobby]

always love anything louis does, or did. He was great and its a darn shame he had to spend so much time in Europe to become so famous. Today there is equal opportunity for all kinds and that is certainly an improvement.

[jkjimmy]

This is 78 RPMS right?

[moviemaker1989]

@jkjimmy Yes.

If I can find this again, I shall reply with a version by Lena Horne from an old 78 collection. Not clamoring for views, merely bring it to the attention of the masses :)

[cwcwful]

Man Pops is smoking hot!

[littlebigbrain]

I first heard Louis Armstrong on the Radio in 1959. He was part of a school project into the development of popular music. We listened to his music on BBC radio as they did several pieces about his life and music. For 50 years he has been the greatest to me. He makes me happy even when he sings sad.

[AFVABMDES]

formidable!

[CHardy4444]

Great! I enjoyed this..Thank you!

[JCJasion]

Rhythmically, the use of tuba and banjo kept the groove more characteristic of a 1920's dance band. Many other bands had already switched to using guitar and string bass, high hat cymbals, making this recording somewhat anachronistic for 1933.

HOWEVER,

Armstrongs's soloistic pyrotechnics and the forward-thinking conception of tenor man Budd Johnson DO point the way where things would be going in a few years as far as the horn players were concerned.

[owenatkins]

I remember this was one of my grandmother's favorite songs.

We talked about it when I was about 8 years old and that's a good memory...

[asdfBanditfdsa]

Thanks for sharing that with us, fellow YouTube user 'owenatkins'. :)

[FlatulenceFox]

it's a no hate zone here. This ain't the place.

[tinroofbusted]

PERFECT, I never knew about the Granada. You could not have picked a better way to play Louis. Thanks very much for this blast from the past and a look into my Grandparents sitting room again. Brought a happy tear to my eye.

[fillra]

Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra: Armstrong, Louis (Trumpet, Vocal) Whitlock, Elmer (Trumpet) Randolph, Zilner (Trumpet) Johnson, Keg (Trombone) Brown, Scoville (Clarinet, Alto Saxophone) Oldham, George (Clarinet, Alto Saxophone) Johnson, Budd (Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone) Beal, Charlie (Piano) McKendrick, Mike (Guitar, Banjo) Oldham, Bill (Bass, Tuba, Trombone) Dial, Harry (Drums) "A riot in a parrot's cage"... That made me laugh!

[cw1310]

Excellent research!

[fillra]

There's also a very good version of this tune on youtube by Louis and his band performing this in Belgium in 1959.

Much more about Louis on michaelminn, also on dippermouth dot blogspot, also at redhot jazz.

[fillra]

Thankyou for the technical information, mlaprarie.

Sensational music.

From michaelminn's site:

"With this third set of sessions, Armstrong wraps up his commitment to Victor. On top of that, these are his last studio recordings for a year and a half (except for a Paris set in 1934 -- see Oct/34). An inconceivable break for such an incomparable star at the pinnacle of his craft."

[ch473]

Ah St. Louis. Fuck you Chicago.

[hesp666]

Wonderful recording and 1920s technology, and a great example of Chicago style jazz, and yes it was played that fast. I didn't think that Louie played much Chicago style, but I guess he moved up and down the River, stopping along the way to perform and record his masterpieces in style.

Hesperos

[lloydpaul02]

Wow!! This thing is a riot in a parrots cage. I love it!!

[eloseddie]

Awesome posting !! Cheers!

[riflessoblu]

Fantastico bellissima. Thank you

[amd1588]

Was the song really performed this fast????

[TTheKKid]

Yes, there are different versions... Check out Nat Coles.

[Elfenleidamour]

:) I likes it ^.^

[JCJasion]

I have this copy on a yellow buff Bluebird with the same serial number. Personally, of Armstrong's early versions of this song, I like his version with the Luis Russell best. That one was recorded in late 1929 for OKeh

[m4ngki]

is this the st.-louis-blues? sounds so different..?

[mlaprarie]

Yes, it's the classic tune. Maybe you are just familiar with one of the many variations that jazz musicians have given this number over the years.

[thegatanegra]

La idea, es que tiene que girar.

[transformingArt]

What A Nice Performance it is! Thanks for posting! Hope to see other Orthophonic Videos soon...(By the way, do you have any collection of Classical music 78s? If you have, it would be nice to see them played on this machine!)