Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1987.3.0487 |
Title |
[Reel-to-reel tape recorded by Louis Armstrong] |
Object Type |
Tape |
Collection |
Louis Armstrong Collection |
Description |
Scope: Louis talks with friends at home. Recordings of sound recordings. Tape box features a January 27, 1971 New York Daily News advertisement for Louis's March 1971 engagement at the Empire Room of the Waldorf-Astoria. Back of tape box has a photo of Louis and Mahalia Jackson from the 1970 Newport Jazz Festival. Originally meant to be cataloged in ”Tape Catalog #2, Part 1” (see Manuscripts, 1987.2.23), but Louis passed away before entering it. Contents (as on compact disc reference copy): Track 1: Recording of Louis and the Brown family from across the street at Louis's home in Corona, talking and telling jokes (hear from Dottie, Bud, Eddie, Honey, Bernice and "Daddy-O"): Louis sets up tape recorder; Bernice names everyone who was there (including Lucille); Pluto Water and Bisma Rex; Louis tells them they might not make it across the street after the Pluto Water and Bisma Rex; Track 9: Louis passes around a book and tells his company to read some jokes; man tells joke about Bing Crosby having a "colored valet"; Track 2: H Lucille takes the mike and introduces herself as "Brown Sugar, Mrs. Gatemouth, Gizzardmouth Armstrong"; Louis in the background is showing some of his "choice pictures" (woman comes on microphone and says they're "nasty" pictures); man and wife in love talk; "Daddy-O" turns down microphone; woman says that when you visit Louis's den, look behind his door for some "stunning pictures, wonderful pictures of art"; conversation continues; woman argues with father, trying to get him to say something; Track 3: Louis tells man the tape will run for two hours; woman mentions they're drinking Scotch; compliments Louis on his "fine collection"; Louis talks about "Silent George"; Pluto Water; woman worries about baby across the street still out so late; Louis puts on another tape on a second machine; Track 4: ” Ain't it the Truth" (on other machine); people comment on it; Track 5: "Silent George" (on the other machine); people at the party laugh at record; Track 6: "Luna" (Ray Martino) (incomplete); Track 7: people talk about going home; party tape ends. Track 8: "Mambiando a St. Tropez" (Paul Misraki); Tracks 9-12: Recordings of Bix Beiderbecke sound recordings: "Margie" ; Track 10: "Rhythm King"; Track 11: "In a Mist"; Track 12: "Somebody Stole My Gale"; Track 13: "Mambo Suavecito" (Tito Puente featuring Vicentico Valdes); Tracks 14-17: Recordings of Bix Beiderbecke sound recording: "At the Jazz Band Ball"; Track 15: "Sorry"; Track 16: "Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down"; Track 17: "Jazz Me Blues"; Track 18: "Sun Sun Babae" (Tito Rodriguez); Track 19: "In the Rain" (Little Miss Cornshucks); Track 20: "Ya Soy Feliz" (Tito Rodriguez); Track 21: "Cornshucks Blues" (Little Miss Cornshucks); Track 22: man sings a song (“The Grasshopper’s Song”?) about animals (mostly about a spider hopping on a grasshopper's back) with some wild scatting (including a riff from "Leap Frog"); Louis laughs and compliments him afterwards; Track 23: man teaches Louis the song and explains line about "salad, Jack.” (This is the master tape of a reel that Louis copied in the last year of life; it can be heard as part of a compilation of material on 1987.3.451.) |
Notes |
Armstrong marked the tape box "Empty" but there was a reel inside with material from the 1950s (photos on tape box are from the 1970s). |
Tape Information |
Reel is part of Louis's 1970-1971 recataloging of tapes. |
People |
Crosby, Bing Jackson, Mahalia Martino, Ray |
Search Terms |
Corona Jokes New York Daily News Newport Jazz Festival Queens Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (New York, N.Y.) |
Year Range from |
1971 |
Year Range to |
1971 |
Creator |
Louis Armstrong |
Caption |
1987.3.487 Front |
Accession number |
1987.3 |