A Certain Point of View, Too

Music Album Review: ’20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Louis Armstrong’

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by

Alex Diaz-Granados
in

(C) 1999 MCA Records/Universal Music Group

Review: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong may never have possessed the velvety croon of Bing Crosby, nor did he set out to reinvent the musical landscape with each recording. Yet what he offered was something rarer: a warmth, humanity, and sheer joy in performance that made him one of America’s most beloved cultural figures. Known first as a groundbreaking jazz trumpeter, Armstrong was also a vocalist of extraordinary character. His gravelly, instantly recognizable voice carried an honesty and friendliness that drew listeners in, making every song feel like a personal conversation.

MCA/Geffen’s 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Louis Armstrong (1999) is a concise, 10-track anthology that captures both sides of Satchmo’s artistry across nearly two decades (1949–1968). While the set is modest in length—just under 30 minutes—it distills Armstrong’s late-career persona as entertainer, interpreter, and ambassador of jazz.

Several selections will be familiar to film and Broadway audiences: “Hello, Dolly!” (immortalized in the 1969 film with Barbra Streisand) and “What a Wonderful World” (revived for a new generation in Good Morning, Vietnam). Others, like “Blueberry Hill”—often associated with Fats Domino—are transformed by Armstrong’s genial phrasing and trumpet flourishes. Particularly charming are his duet with Bing Crosby on “Gone Fishin’” and the tender “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”

(C) 1999 MCA Records/Universal Music Group

For longtime fans, this disc may serve as a nostalgic keepsake; for newcomers, it is an inviting gateway into Armstrong’s rich legacy. More than a sampler, it is a reminder of why Satchmo became not only a jazz innovator but also one of America’s most enduring musical ambassadors.

Track Listing

  1. What a Wonderful World
  2. Hello, Dolly!
  3. Dream a Little Dream of Me
  4. Cabaret
  5. That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)
  6. I Still Get Jealous
  7. Blueberry Hill
  8. A Kiss to Build a Dream On
  9. Gone Fishin’ (with Bing Crosby)
  10. When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

Release Credits

  • Artist: Louis Armstrong
  • Title: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Louis Armstrong
  • Label: MCA Records / Geffen (Universal Music)
  • Series: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection
  • Format: CD, Compilation, Remastered
  • Year of Release: 1999
  • Producers (original recordings): Bob Thiele, Michael Kapp, among others
  • Compilation Producer: Andy McKaie
  • Remastering: Erick Labson