In 1956
Edward R. Murrow narrated a feature film,
Satchmo the Great, that contained highlights from some of
Louis Armstrong's world tours. This soundtrack has some narration by
Murrow between songs plus an interview with
Armstrong. Musically there are renditions of "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," "Indiana," "Oh Didn't He Ramble," "Mack the Knife," "Mahogany Hall Stomp" and "Black and Blue" that add little to the more familiar versions. Most interesting is a lengthy "St. Louis Blues" that teams
Armstrong and his
All-Stars with
Leonard Bernstein and a symphony orchestra. ~ Scott Yanow