Louis Armstrong – Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy

This is a nice sounding pressing of this excellent album, but the Analog Spark repressing sounds even better. If you can't afford it go with that pressing.

The only thing to critique on this album is that you wish it had been recorded 5-10 years later so that recording technology could have delivered this wonderful music in slightly higher fidelity. But having said that there are still times this 1954 recording leaps out of the speakers at you with power and New Orleans swagger. And to be honest there’s nothing really wrong with it - it’s just a touch boxy compared to recordings made a few years later.
Other than that this is fantastic jazz romp through the songs of WC Handy and should find a home in all traditional jazz buff’s collections.
I did read that the original master tapes for this session could even have been thrown away!!!!! at some stage in the past and that some reissues have come from back up sources, even needle drops, so I am not sure of the sources used for this one.
Vinyl clean, flat and quiet.

Inherited this from my grandfather 30 years ago and whilst it's not NM it is very playable and this pressing sounds, to me, pretty damn fine. I also have the 90s remastered Columbia CD along with the 80s CD release too.

The remaster is great rather tasty but the 80s CD is not as listenable as this vinyl copy. The interplay between Velma Middleton and Louis Armstrong sounds just great and despite the cover change (not sure why a monogrammed handkerchief!) I can recommend this one as an inexpensive way to get this LP on vinyl.

This pressing blew me away. Another home run for Analog Spark. I feel like I’m in the studio with Louis. Dead quiet pressing.

Absolutely stunning recording. Has that crisp, full range sound that exemplifies the best of Columbia in the 50's.

superb lp with absolutely blistering performances which remind you (as if you need reminding) just how great Louis Amstrong really was, great pressing, heavyweight record with a decent sleeve. I can't recommend this highly enough!

My deadwax reads Side A is XLP32804-B H Side B is XLP32805-2E

No need to write much! This recording and release is a pure blessing!

I have a copy of JCL591 but the label on the record is "CSP / Columbia Special Products / (eye) A service of Columbia Records (eye)" This text is gold on a red background. Rest of the text is black. The outer jacket is the black and white photo version.