Hey guys, I am looking for the best Louis Armstrong album out there. CD, DVD-A, SACD I don't care, I will listen in stereo only. Anyone have any recommendations?
The Hot Fives and Hot Sevens is the body of work that most jazz critics would say to be his greatest.
Given the age of those recordings, the sound quality won't be great, but don't let that keep you away.
After that, there are a lot of albums that he made, over a period of decades, that are very good. "Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy" is one that comes to mind.
I agree that the Hot Fives/Sevens is his strongest work, and this set is the best sounding and most complete of that material available. Lively, seminal recordings.