What a Wonderful World

This album is Mastered for iTunes. What a Wonderful World captures Louis Armstrong in the bittersweet final days of his career. Released in 1968, the album reflects his role as a roving ambassador of brotherhood as much as his stature as one of jazz’s true innovators. Armstrong’s velvety growl and sparkling trumpet are applied to a set of contemporary pop and show tunes, with choice older material sprinkled in for good measure. Of course, the signature song is the title number, an international hit that offered hope during a year of war and interracial conflicts. Likewise famous is Satchmo’s jaunty take on “Cabaret,” a song very much in keeping with the spirit of his earlier years. Other highlights include the nostalgic “The Home Fire,” the playful “Dream a Little Dream of Me," and the yearning, socially conscious “Hello Brother.” Tracks like “Give Me Your Kisses,” “I Guess I’ll Get the Papers and Go Home," and “Hellzapoppin’” hark back to Armstrong’s New Orleans roots with support from the last version of his famous All-Stars. Supremely tuneful and tender to its core, this is a timeless statement by a truly beloved artist.