What a Wonderful Christmas

by Louis Armstrong

Overview

Although this Christmas compilation is credited to "Louis Armstrong & Friends," it's really more aptly categorized as a various artists anthology, since Armstrong only has six of the fourteen tracks. The disc is filled out with seasonal offerings by Dinah Washington, Mel Torme, Louis Jordan, Lionel Hampton, Peggy Lee, Eartha Kitt, and Lena Horne, Duke Ellington, mostly from the 1950s. It's pleasant pop-jazz that doesn't rate among the highlights of any of these talented artists' careers. But it makes for an above-average Christmas disc, especially on Lionel Hampton's "Merry Christmas, Baby," Louis Armstrong's "Cool Yule," and Louis Jordan's "May Everyday Be Christmas," which celebrate the holiday with more gutsy hipness than the usual Yuletide fare. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/1997
Label:	Hip-O
UPC:	0076744006523
Rank:	38966

Tracks

1. Christmas in New Orleans  - Louis Armstrong  -  Carter  -  Armstrong
2. White Christmas  - Irving Berlin  - Louis Armstrong  - Gordon Jenkins  -  Armstrong
3. Silent Night  - Franz Gruber  - Dinah Washington  -  Armstrong
4. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on a Open Fire)  - Mel Torme  - Robert Wells  -  Armstrong
5. Christmas Night in Harlem  - Raymond Scott  - Louis Armstrong  -  Carter  -  Armstrong
6. It's Christmas Time Again  - Sonny Burke  - Jack Elliott  - Jim Harwood  - Peggy Lee  -  Armstrong
7. Cool Yule  - Louis Armstrong  -  Armstrong
8. Merry Christmas Baby  - Lou Baxter  - Charles Brown  - Johnny Moore  - Lionel Hampton  -  Armstrong
9. Zat You, Santa Claus  - Louis Armstrong  -  Armstrong
10. Santa Baby  - Eartha Kitt  -  Armstrong
11. Jingle Bells  - James Pierpont  - Duke Ellington  -  Armstrong
12. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town  - J. Fred Coots  - Lena Horne  -  Armstrong
13. May Everyday Be Christmas  - Louis Jordan  -  Armstrong
14. Winter Wonderland  - Louis Armstrong  - Gordon Jenkins  -  Armstrong

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Louis Armstrong   Primary Artist,Vocals,Trumpet
Louis Armstrong & Friends   Primary Artist
Benny Carter & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Gordon Jenkins   Primary Artist
Eartha Kitt   Primary Artist
Lena Horne   Primary Artist
Louis Jordan   Primary Artist
Lionel Hampton   Primary Artist
Duke Ellington   Primary Artist
Mel Torme   Primary Artist
Dinah Washington   Primary Artist
Peggy Lee   Primary Artist,Vocals
Gordon Jenkins Orchestra   Primary Artist
Louis Jordan & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Louis Armstrong With The Commanders   Primary Artist
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Commanders   Primary Artist
Henri Rene & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Sonny Parker   Primary Artist
Toots Camarata   Conductor
Victor Young   Conductor
Benny Carter   Conductor

Technical Credits

Andy McKaie   Compilation Producer
Lena Horne   Performer
Steve Allen   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Duke Ellington   Performer
Lionel Hampton   Performer
Jim Harwood   Composer
Raymond Scott   Composer
Dick Smith   Composer
Joan Javits   Composer
Robert Wells   Composer
Dick Sherman   Composer
Joe Van Winkle   Composer
Johnny Moore   Composer,Composer
Richard B. Smith   Composer
Tony Springer   Composer
Eartha Kitt   Performer
Franz Gruber   Composer
James Pierpont   Composer
Lou Baxter   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
Peggy Lee   Performer
Dinah Washington   Performer
Louis Jordan   Composer,Performer
Mel Torme   Composer,Performer
Richard M. Sherman   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Haven Gillespie   Composer
Philip Springer   Composer
Sonny Burke   Composer
Jack Fox   Composer
James Fox   Composer
Felix Bernard   Composer
Charles Brown   Composer
Jack Elliott   Composer