Louis Armstrong - Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man 1923-1934 (1994)

This four-CD set does its best to summarize Louis Armstrong's career during 1923-1934, reissuing 81 of his finest recordings. The problem is that virtually all of the innovative trumpeter/vocalist's records from the era (particularly 1923-1931) are essential, and collectors will want to work on acquiring more complete series, so this box is most highly recommended to beginners. Armstrong's career is traced through his periods with King Oliver and Fletcher Henderson, and his better performances with blues singers and Clarence Williams's Blue Five, to his classic Hot Five and Hot Seven sessions, and his dates with big bands.

Tracklist:

CD 1

01. Chimes Blues (2:54)
02. Snake Rag (3:17)
03. Tears (3:10)
04. Texas Moaner Blues (3:09)
05. Everybody Loves My Baby (2:35)
06. Naughty Man (3:02)
07. Changeable Daddy Of Mine (2:44)
08. Anybody Here Want To Try My Cabbage (3:21)
09. Good Time Flat Blues (3:15)
10. Cake Walking Babies (From Home) (2:58)
11. Pickin' On Your Baby (3:20)
12. St. Louis Blues (3:12)
13. Sobbin' Heart Blues (3:03)
14. Papa De Da Da (3:02)
15. Sugar Foot Stomp (2:52)
16. Alone At Last (3:14)
17. T.N.T. (2:54)
18. You Can't Shush Katie (3:06)
19. Low Land Blues (2:56)
20. Gut Bucket Blues (2:41)

CD 2

01. Listen To Ma (3:21)
02. Heebie Jeebies (2:55)
03. Cornet Chop Suey (3:17)
04. Stomp Off, Let's Go (2:57)
05. The Bridwell Blues (3:34)
06. King Of The Zulus (3:05)
07. Skid-Dat-De-Dat (3:04)
08. Big Butter And Egg Man (2:59)
09. Pleadin' For The Blues (3:01)
10. Wild Man Blues (3:07)
11. Chicago Breakdown (3:26)
12. Potato Head Blues (2:57)
13. Weary Blues (3:00)
14. Gully Low Blues (3:17)
15. Put 'em Down Blues (3:16)
16. Struttin' With Some Barbecue (3:02)
17. Hotter Than That (3:02)
18. Savoy Blues (3:31)
19. Too Busy (2:55)
20. Skip The Gutter (3:04)

CD 3

01. A Monday Date (3:16)
02. West End Blues (3:18)
03. Two Deuces (2:56)
04. Symphonic Raps (3:14)
05. Basin Street Blues (3:19)
06. No One Else But You (3:24)
07. Beau Koo Jack (3:00)
08. Weather Bird (2:45)
09. Muggles (2:51)
10. I Must Have That Man (3:14)
11. Tight Like This (3:20)
12. Knockin' A Jug (3:17)
13. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (3:36)
14. Mahogany Hall Stomp (3:20)
15. To Be In Love (3:09)
16. Ain't Misbehavin' (3:15)
17. (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue (3:03)
18. That Rhythm Man (3:03)
19. When You're Smiling (2:53)
20. St. Louis Blues (Alternate Take B) (2:58)

CD 4

01. Song Of The Island (3:31)
02. My Sweet (3:19)
03. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (3:07)
04. Blue Yodel No. 9 (2:40)
05. I'm A Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas) (3:10)
06. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) (3:24)
07. Memories Of You (3:17)
08. Sweethearts On Parade (3:20)
09. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (3:24)
10. Blue Again (3:14)
11. When Your Lover Has Gone (3:08)
12. Lazy River (3:06)
13. Chinatown, My Chinatown (3:16)
14. Stardust (3:36)
15. Stardust (Alternate Take) (3:30)
16. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (3:00)
17. I've Got The World On A String (3:18)
18. Basin Street Blues (3:30)
19. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Part 1) (2:57)
20. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Part 2) (3:09)
21. Song Of The Vipers (2:53)