Record #0146: That Lucky Old Sun / Blueberry Hill – LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Decca 24752 (original) USA, 1950?
Words & Music by:  Side A – Smith, Beasley, Gillespie, Haven; Side B – Al Lewis, Larry Stock, Vincent Rose
Musicians:  Louis Armstrong (vocals and trumpet), Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra: Yank Lawson (trumpet), Carl Poole (trumpet), Billy Butterfield (trumpet), Will Bradley (trombone), Hymie Schertzer (alto sax), Art Drellinger (tenor sax), Tom Parshley (tenor sax), Bernie Leighton (piano), Carl Kress (guitar), Jack Lesberg (bass), Johnny Blowers (drums) and an unknown female choir
Recording sessions:  New York, NY, Sep. 6, 1949
Highest chart positions:  US #19, US R&B #14

My father was a big fan of Satchmo, and we had two jazz musicians playing “That Lucky Old Sun” (and “Basin Street Blues”) in his memorial service. I bought a bunch of jazz records for him in the States, but he passed away before I was able to give most of them (including this one) to him.

I’m not 100% sure when Decca released this as a 45 rpm vinyl. RCA Victor had just introduced this new record format few months before this was released as a 78 rpm shellac in October 1949. Decca, however, introduced their first 45’s in 1950. As this was a fairly big and new hit at that time, it may be a fair assumption that this was among the first Decca 45’s.
This was issued again in 1956, but the number was 30091 and that record featured “Blueberry Hill” as the A side. That release must have had something to do with the fact that Fats Domino had just made a major hit with the song (US #2, US R&B #1).

List price:  Not listed in the Price Guide