Previously unreleased Louis Armstrong recording unveiled

A brand-new collection of Louis Armstrong recordings is set to be released by Verve Records this July. Titled ‘Louis In London’, It features some of Armstrong’s biggest songs from across his entire career - originally recorded for TV broadcast for the BBC’s ‘Show of the Week’ in September 1968, just weeks after he knocked Cliff Richard off the top of the UK singles chart with ‘What A Wonderful World’.

Other classic songs on the recording include ‘Mack The Knife’, ‘When It’s Sleepy Time Down South’ and the first single is ‘Hello Dolly’.

Experts say it’s one of Armstrong’s last great performances before he fell ill, and was always one of his personal favourites. The story goes that he became determined for the world to hear this music, affixing a note to the outside of the tape box on which he wrote, “For The Fans.” Armstrong used to send copies of the BBC concert to friends and played them whenever he received visitors. Though he could have chosen any number of remarkable recordings, including his iconic collaborations with Ella Fitzgerald, he instead returned again and again to the BBC session from the summer of 1968. Now, more than five decades since his passing, it’s being given a full release on July 12th 2024.