Released: 1968
Tracks: What a Wonderful World; Cabaret; The Home Fire; Dream a Little Dream of Me; Give Me Your Kisses; The Sunshine of Love; Hello Brother; There Must Be a Way; Fantastic, That’s You; I Guess I’ll Take the Papers and Go Home; Hellzapoppin’
Best Track: What a Wonderful World
Track to skip: none really
I really don’t know how to review this one. I’d never heard the whole thing before (of course everybody knows the title track and Dream a Little Dream of Me), so I was unsure how to approach it. For me (and I know I’ll probably tick everybody off) this album really doesn’t have much substance. If you’re a person who enjoys barely jazzy, super-happy music then get this, you’ll probably enjoy it. Most of the songs are nice romantic things about being in love and such. I’m not feeling very romantic right now, so they don’t do much for me.
Most of this material doesn’t have substance. It’s just kinda schmaltz and fluff. I’m not saying that’s a horrible thing, since I know millions of people love it. It’s just not for me. I guess I was hoping for a ‘jazz’ album and not a ‘pop’ one for this. This is a vocal album, with Armstrong only playing trumpet solos on half of the songs. The songs are divided up into two kinds: the schmaltzy crooner type things with strings all over it, or mild Dixieland stuff that’s very inoffensive. I’m not a huge fan of Dixieland, it’s just a bit too happy for me. And please don’t think I’m some depressed person who likes to listen to unromantic, depressing gothic music or something. I love music that makes me feel happy. But sometimes a music can go a bit too far.
There really isn’t anything I’d skip on this, all tracks are really similar. It’s a very consistent album in that way. One thing that gets in my way of enjoying this is that nearly all the songs have what sounds to be the same chord structure. And the lyrics all have the same form as well. I don’t really want to hear an album where every song sounds the same. However, I know most listeners don’t care, or even notice, so to them I’m just being a music snob. So be it. The music on here is really carefree. It’s not challenging, but it’s something that I think most people could easily enjoy. The best track is the title track. In the midst of all the happiness, that song is really depressing. It’s a gorgeous song, absolutely. But it is very, very depressing. Why? Because the world isn’t that way at all. The world wasn’t like that in 1968, much less in 2002. It’s really sad to know that the world we live in won’t ever be like the lyrics to that song, and that’s really depressing. I think it has the opposite effect than the one that was planned. It doesn’t make me feel better, unfortunately. Maybe that’s why the rest of the album is so happy. You kinda need that happiness after What a Wonderful World. The last track, Hellzapoppin’, swings the most of any of them and it’s a fun track. It has Armstrong’s best solo on it, but it’s just way too short. I would have loved to hear him extend it. Like I said above, I really don’t enjoy this too much, but I think that nearly most everybody else would. It’s not my thing. And going by that same logic, I love A Love Supreme, and I know that’s something most people couldn’t stomach. Oh well.
Rating: 71
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