Louis Armstrong

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

For an artist who never recorded a proper Christmas album, Louis Armstrong has become associated with the holiday due to the seasonal warmth of "What a Wonderful World" and even the irreverent "Zat You, Santa Claus?" which finds its way yearly to Christmas radio and playlists.  Numerous Christmas compilations have been built around Armstrong's discography, but most tapped either non-holiday songs in Armstrong's catalogue or tracks from other artists to round out his few Christmas recordings.  Verve and UMe are now releasing what's being billed as the late trumpeter's first "official" Christmas album.  Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule brings together nearly every Christmas side released by Armstrong including six Decca singles as well as one previously unreleased goodie: his February 26, 1971 reading - just months before his death, and likely his final recording - of "A Visit from St. Nicholas," or "The Night Before Christmas," set to new piano accompaniment by Sullivan Fortner.  Armstrong historian Ricky Riccardi provides the new liner notes for this 11-song compendium.  Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule will be issued on CD, red vinyl, picture disc vinyl, and digitally including high-res and Dolby Atmos.