The First Post of 2011!

For the first post of our (can you believe it) 6th year on the web, we here at Dartman's World of Wonder bring you a piece of musical history. Many people consider Louis Armstrong to be one of the greatest musicians of all time. What he added to music is immeasurable and listening to him today is just as exciting as it was when he first hit the scene. In May of 1954, Louis played to a packed house at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. It was the annual Spring Germans dance and it was broadcast on the radio for those who could not attend. Fortunately, that broadcast still exists to this day! Of course, the only decent thing to do is to share that with you now. Here is Louis Armstrong along with Kenny Johns, Billy Kyle, Arvel Shaw, Trummy Young, Barnie Begard and Thelma Middleton from that historic night in North Carolina. Enjoy!

Louis Armstong - UNC May 1954

The February of Frank: Defining Definitive

Amongst the "unofficial" albums in my father's record collection is one entitled "The Definitive Sinatra". It's a collection of unreleased songs that were performed live on radio and in television during the 1950s. The quality is pretty good considering the source material and the record company (known as Chairman Records) went out of their way to let you know that "no echo or stereo effect was added to these recordings". An obvious jab at the Lucky Strike recordings that I shared with you earlier this month which had a stereo effect added. These recordings are great and not only are they performances that weren't released but they are also songs that Sinatra never recorded in a studio setting. Here for you now is "The Definitive Sinatra". One last note: there is one song from the original lp that I have failed to include. I have no idea where it went. It was there when I ripped it. Somewhere along the way, it was deleted from my computer. Since I am currently in LA and not in CT, I have no access to the original LP to rip that song. I promise that when I return next week I will re-rip the song and post it. Sorry.

The Definitive Sinatra