When You Wish Upon a Star - Louis Armstrong

I know I just posted a remix of When You Wish Upon a Star last week and it is my practice to post only one cover of a song per month, but this is an exception. Today is When You Wish Upon a Star Friday so I have to post this cover, but it is quite different than last week's.

This cover is off LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S 1968 tribute album DISNEY SONGS THE SATCHMO WAY.

In 2000, The Manhattan Transfer released their own cover of this song on a Louis Armstong tribute album called THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS. In an interview Manhattan Transfer member Janis Siegel seemed to think that When You Wish Upon a Star is one of Louis' greatest hits.

The first task was digging into Armstrong's extensive catalog as a spotlight artist, spanning from his mid-1920's recordings with the small Hot Fives and Hot Sevens ensembles, up to his death in 1971. "We wanted to include a couple songs that are really associated with Armstrong," says Siegel, "ones someone on the street would name if you went up to them and said, 'Name two Louie Armstrong tunes!'" From that column, the quartet chose A Kiss To Build A Dream On and When You Wish Upon A Star.

While I think Louis' version is a great one, I don't think it would be the first one that most people would say if asked to name two Satchmo songs.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend.

When You Wish Upon a Star Louis Armstrong 1968

Heigh-Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song) - Louis Armstrong

I haven't done many weekly themes that focus on a movie. Usually I focus on a musical style, but this time I want to feature the music of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with a different musical style everyday.

A movie soundtrack automatically comes packaged with the release of a movie these days. Fans wonder and even get upset if a companion soundtrack is not released. But back in 1937, when Snow White was released, this was not the case.

Disney had the brilliant idea to release a set of three 78 RPM records that contained one song from the film on each side. He thought that people would be interested in listening to songs after hearing them in the movie.

He was right! Victor released Songs from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (with the Same Characters and Sound Effects as in the Film of That Title) in January 1937 and every songs featured on the records became top 10 hits a month later!

Here is LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S take on Heigh-Ho from his album DISNEY SONGS THE SATCHMO WAY.

Heigh-Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song) Louis Armstrong 1968

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo - Louis Armstrong

Here is another track from the LOUIS ARMSTRONG Disney album from 1968. In this track, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from Cinderella, Louis takes this bouncy, happy tune and gives it a laid back jazz swing.

I'm a few days behind on this blog so I'm just giving you something quick to catch you up! If you want more info on this album, click here

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo Louis Armstrong 1968

Chim Chim Cher-ee - Louis Armstrong

A very happy 82nd birthday goes out to Dick Van Dyke today! Disney fans will know Dick as Bert the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins!

Dick's first role in the movie biz came in 1963 when he starred in the film adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie. The film was a hit and a year later Dick found even more fame with the mega hit, Mary Poppins!

The Cockney accent that Dick uses for the character of Bert in the film is so ridiculous that many people say that it is the worst attempt at a British accent by an American actor! Well, I like it no matter how wrong it is because I didn't know what a Cockney accent was when I was little and now it just sounds like "Bert's Accent" to me. It gives him character and humour.

To celebrate his birthday, I have posted Bert's theme song from Mary Poppins, Chim Chim Cher-ee, sung by jazz legend LOUIS ARMSTRONG off of his Disney tribute album DISNEY SONGS THE SATCHMO WAY. I hope you enjoy it!

Chim Chim Cher-ee Louis Armstrong 1968

Bare Necessities - Louis Armstrong

This week is an important one for Jungle Book fans as the classic film is being released on DVD tomorrow! I have decided to declare this week a Jungle Book week here at Covering the Mouse. Everyday this week will feature a Jungle Book cover song! Today's track is The Bare Necessities covered by one of the most famous jazz performers in history: Louis Armstrong!

In 1968, LOUIS ARMSTRONG recorded an album of Disney music. This would end up being his last full album that he would record before his death in 1971. Louis took a serious approach to the songs, wanting to add his charm and style but stay true to the original treatments.

His version of Bare Necessities fits so well with his style and seeing that one of his nicknames is 'Pops' it seems fitting that he sings this 'Poppa Bear' classic. Actually this song wasn't classic when he recorded it. The Jungle Book came out in 1967 so the song was brand new when he stuck it on this album! The Bare Necessities was nominated for an Academy Award in 1968 and Louis played his version live at the Awards Ceremony.

The Bare Necessities Louis Armstrong 1968