“What a Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong)

It’s New Years Day, so let’s start the new year right by focusing on some of the best things in life, as exemplified in today’s classic song of the day. The song is “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, and there’s an interesting story behind the tune that spans several decades.

First, about the song. “What a Wonderful World” was written by Bob Thiele (as George Douglas) and George David Weiss. Thiele was a noted producer of jazz records who went on to head the Impulse! label throughout most of the ’60s. Weiss was a prolific songwriter throughout the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s, providing lyrics for tunes such as the jazz standard “Lullaby of Birdland,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for Elvis Presley, and “That Sunday, That Summer” for the great Nat King Cole.

The song itself is one of the most positive tunes ever written. It just makes you feel good. I particularly like the final verse:

I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Thiele and Weiss wrote “What a Wonderful World” specifically for legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong, inspired by his ability to bring together people of all races and nationalities. Armstrong said the song reminded him of his neighborhood in Corona, New York:

“Lucille and I, ever since we’re married, we’ve been right there in that block. And everybody keeps their little homes up like we do and it’s just like one big family. I saw three generations come up on that block. And they’re all with their children, grandchildren, they come back to see Uncle Satchmo and Aunt Lucille.

“And I can look at all them kids’ faces. And I got pictures of them when they were five, six and seven years old. So when they hand me this ‘Wonderful World,‘ I didn’t look no further, that was it. And the music with it. So you can see, from the expression, them people dug it. It is a wonderful world.“

Louis Armstrong recorded “What a Wonderful World” on August 16, 1967, at United Recording Studio in Las Vegas after one of his shows at the Tropicana. The session started around 2:00 in the morning and finished up around 6:00. Old pro Artie Butler did the arrangement and Thiele produced the track.

During the session, ABC Records president Larry Newton stopped by the studio—and didn’t like what he heard. Newton had recently lured Armstrong away from his previous label, Kapp Records, and expected something more upbeat, such as his recent hit, “Hello, Dolly!” He thought “What a Wonderful World” was too slow and somber and tried to stop the session. Thiele and Armstrong disagreed and had Newton—the president of the record label!—physically removed from and locked out of the session.

That may not have been a smart move, as Newton subsequently refused to promote the song on his label. In fact, “What a Wonderful World” sold fewer than 1,000 copies in the U.S. after its initial release in late September of 1967. Newton, in retaliation for how he had been treated at the recording session, essentially buried the single.

“What a Wonderful World” fared much better outside the U.S., however. Discerning listeners across the pond made Armstrong’s single a #1 hit on the UK charts. It was also a top ten hit in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and West Germany.

As popular as “What a Wonderful World” was in Europe, American audiences never got a chance to hear the song—until it started being used in other media. For example, a 1977 episode of The Muppet Show featured Rowlf the Dog (performed by Jim Henson) singing the song to a puppy. It was also featured in the closing to the 1978 BBC radio production of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and again in the 1978 BBC television adaptation.

The most significant exposure, however, came in the 1988 movie, Good Morning, Vietnam. After being featured in that film, “What a Wonderful World” was re-released as a single and went all the way to #32 on the Billboard Hot 100. So there, Larry Newton!

So “What a Wonderful World” was written and recorded in the 1960s, got more exposure in the 1970s, and finally became a hit in the U.S. in the 1980s. How many other songs that you know have had a wonderful life like that?

Which leads us to our very wonderful daily bonus video of the day, the great Louis Armstrong performing “What a Wonderful World” live at the BBC Studios in 1968. Man, that cat could put across a song.

And that’s our first classic song of the day for 2025. As we move into the new year it’s important to remember that, as Louis Armstrong said, it is a wonderful world. Happy New Year, everybody!