SINGS THE BLUES features versions of some of Pop's finest tunes. These tracks have been culled primarily from Armstrong's semi-big-band recordings of the '30s and from initial incarnations of his All-Stars in the mid-'40s (including early jazz legends like Kid Ory and Barney Bigard). Such tracks as the opening "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" and "The Blues Are Brewin'" showcase the man's gruff, conversational, and deservedly legendary approach to jazz vocals.

OKeh classics like "Basin Street Blues" and W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" are given reverent treatments here, with thrilling stop-time breaks and Satch's superb scat technique. All-Star concert staples like "Rockin' Chair" (performed with Jack Teagarden) and "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" are full of Armstrong's characteristic verve and good humor. Taken together, this collection represents the Armstrong of the '30s and '40s at his best.