Here’s an oddity in a discography peppered with all manner of strange twists and turns: the defiantly secular Satchmo tackles a dozen gospel songs and spirituals with the help of his All-Stars and a gospel choir led by Sy Oliver; the comic interludes make it even more of a head-scratcher.

But it works, thanks to Satch’s charisma, enthusiasm and the sheer force of his musical personality. His voice – and the ‘preacher-ish’ tone of his horn – is well suited to the material, too. Although not a pious man, Armstrong understood the roots and power of black church music very well, and – in conjunction with arranger Oliver – judges the appropriate mood for each song perfectly. Thus, what could well have been a cynical attempt at grabbing the attention of a non-jazz audience, comes across as sincere and often moving; his horn playing ‘Go Down Moses’ and ‘Down By the Riverside’ is some of his best in this period: heartfelt, powerful and gritty.

Originally released on Decca (DL8741), this new red vinyl LP (part of 20th Century Masterworks’ ‘Coloured Series’), is presented in a different cover and also comes with a bonus track – an instrumental duet (with pianist Kyle) of ‘Dear Old Southland’.