The recordings included in this box set made Louis Armstrong the most important and influential jazz musician of the 20th century. They are still regarded as milestones of recorded jazz more than 75 years after being recorded.

Another great set from Proper.  There are some truly great moments on this box, including a very special one that has our vote for the single most copacetic 78 ever released:  Louis's double-sided duet with the one and only Billie Holiday, You Can't Lose a Broken Heart, backed with My Sweet Hunk O' Trash.  As with all Proper Boxes, this one contains 4 CDs clocking in at close to 5 hours. It contains 86 tracks, which are all listed below.  You want value for your money? This is value. Proper sez:  "The 1940's was a fascinating decade in the career of one of the greatest men of the 20th century. As a trumpeter Louis Armstrong was without peer and his influence on other jazz musicians has been immense, every trumpeter has been at least indirectly indebted to him. Satchmo's adventures in the 1940's are dealt with in this 86 track box set, from big band sides, via duets with Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Jordan and The Mills Brothers to the classic live recordings from the Town Hall and Symphony Hall with the All Stars."