Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1987.3.0424 |
Title |
[Reel-to-reel tape recorded by Louis Armstrong] |
Object Type |
Tape |
Collection |
Louis Armstrong Collection |
Description |
Scope: Louis reads letter (dated August 15, 1970) to Max Jones, and adds many comments and reminiscences. Recording of "Porgy and Bess" sound recording. Contents (as on compact disc reference copy): **See transcript** Disc 1, Track 1: Louis reads his letter to Max Jones: Louis thanks Max for the writeups and apologizes for not sending the letter sooner; Track 2: answers questions asked by Max; talks about Little Rock incident; Track 3: incident in Europe with Coleman Hawkins; Track 4: leaving the Waifs' home; living with his father; missing his mother and sister (Mayann, Mama Lucy); Track 5: Joe "King" Oliver; Lil Hardin Armstrong; outside interference in his marriage to Lil; defends Lil's actions in shaping his career; Track 6: his love for Joe Oliver; how a comment from Oliver to Lil spurred her to get Louis away from him; Track 7: 1924, leaving Fletcher Henderson's band; how happy he was to return to Chicago; calls Fletcher's band "big headed motherfuckers"; how Fletcher held him back and wouldn't let him sing; sending a piano made of flowers to Fletcher's funeral; Track 8: his time in Luis Russell's band; how much he learned from being in Erskine Tate's band at the Vendome Theater; Track 9: his 70th birthday tributes; how he feels as if he can continue despite recent health problems; Track 10: indexing his tapes over the last two years; Track 11: going to Paris in 1934; lazy musicians; concert at La Salle Pleyell; taking bows in his bathrobe; Track 12: meeting Django Reinhardt; Bop music; concert with Charlie Parker and Sidney Bechet; Track 13: his big band with Joe Garland; Track 14: enjoying his time with the All Stars; formation of the All Stars; Track 15: asks Max to send copies of the books; Track 16: talks about marijuana; mentions "vipers"; talks about marijuana and the law; nicknames for marijuana; how he had to put it down due to legal consequences; Track 17: getting arrested with Vic Berton in CA in 1931 for smoking marijuana; describes the arrest; how the detectives allowed him to finish the show; how they apologized for arresting him; Track 18: detective tells Louis that others are smoking marijuana too, but that a rival bandleader set him up out of jealousy; Track 19: arriving at the stationhouse; other officers being fans; Track 20: difference between dope fiends and "vipers"; marijuana over liquor; how marijuana makes you hungry; Track 21: using laxatives; how Mayann made him "physic minded"; Pluto Water; Gayelord Hauser's book; herbal laxatives; Swiss Kriss; Track 22: songs written about Swiss Kriss and his slogan, "Leave it All Behind Ya"; says he wants to record a version by Creole Charlie (Charles Levy); Track 23: being arrested for smoking marijuana; describes his time in jail; recognizing his cell-mates from having smoked with them before; getting into a fight in jail; Disc 2, Track 1: more talk about being in jail and fighting; Track 2: talks about going to trial; how the police ripped up his suit looking for marijuana; Track 3: Chicago papers stated he would be in jail for six months; getting a suspended sentence; running into detectives who had arrested him; Track 4: visit from a white boy with a big sack of marijuana for him; Track 5: arriving back in Chicago; visitors who serenaded him and got him stoned; Track 6: opening day in Chicago; Track 7: going on the road with a new band; opening at the Royal Theater in Baltimore; buying coal for poor people in the neighborhood; Track 8: meeting a young man at the Royal Theater who asked for his help with his not being able to sleep; Louis's recommendations; Track 10: talks about how the law has gotten harsh; closes letter with comments on how he loves everyone and his life is an open book; he has nothing to hide; gives thanks to marijuana; having to give up marijuana. Track 11: Recording of "Porgy and Bess" sound recording: overture; Track 12: "Summertime"; Track 13: "I Wants to Stay Here"; Track 14: "My Man's Gone Now"; Track 15: "I Got Plenty o Nuttin'"; Track 16: "The Buzzard Song"; Track 17: "Bess, You is My Woman Now"; Track 18: "It Ain't Necessarily So". |
Tape Information |
Reel 124 according to ”Tape Catalog #2, Part 1” (see Manuscripts, 1987.2.23 |
People |
Armstrong, Beatrice "Mama Lucy" Armstrong, Lil Hardin Armstrong, Mayann Bechet, Sidney Berton, Vic Fitzgerald, Ella Garland, Joe Hauser, Gayelord Hawkins, Coleman Henderson, Fletcher Jones, Max Levy, Charles Oliver, King Parker, Charlie Reinhardt, Django Russell, Luis Tate, Erskine |
Search Terms |
Bop Chicago Chicago Diets France Little Rock Louis Armstrong and His All Stars Marijuana New Orleans Paris Swiss Kriss Vendome Theater |
Year Range from |
1970 |
Year Range to |
1971 |
Creator |
Louis Armstrong |
Caption |
1987.3.424 Front |
Accession number |
1987.3 |