A Song for a Fractured Nation
The year was 1967, and America was in turmoil. The nation was deeply divided over the Vietnam War, and the struggle for civil rights was raging in the streets. It was against this backdrop of social and political upheaval that producer Bob Thiele and songwriter
George David Weiss conceived of a song that would serve as an antidote to the cynicism of the era. They wanted to write a piece filled with hope and optimism, and they knew only one artist had the warmth and universal appeal to deliver the message: Louis Armstrong. Weiss was specifically inspired by Armstrong's unique ability to bring people of all races together.
A Midnight Session and a Furious Executive
Armstrong, who had just signed with ABC Records, loved the song immediately. A recording session was scheduled in Las Vegas to take place after one of Satchmo’s midnight shows at the Tropicana. But the session was dramatically interrupted by Larry Newton, the president of ABC Records. Newton had been expecting another upbeat, swingy hit like Armstrong's previous chart-topper, "Hello, Dolly!". When he heard the slow, gentle ballad, he was furious and tried to shut down the recording entirely. According to the legend, producer Bob Thiele had a heated argument with Newton before locking him out of the studio so they could finish their work.
A Hit in the UK, A Flop in the US
Larry Newton got his revenge. Furious about being overruled, he refused to promote the single in the United States. As a result, "What a Wonderful World" sold fewer than 1,000 copies upon its initial American release. It was a commercial dud. Across the Atlantic, however, it was a completely different story. In the United Kingdom, the song was a massive success, soaring to number one on the charts and becoming the biggest-selling single of 1968. It made the 66-year-old Armstrong the oldest male artist to top the UK charts at the time.
A Second Life in Hollywood
For two decades, the song remained a relative obscurity in the country where it was created. Louis Armstrong passed away in 1971, never seeing his signature song achieve the success it deserved in his homeland. That all changed in 1987 with the release of the film Good Morning, Vietnam. The movie, starring Robin Williams, prominently featured the song, often in ironic contrast to scenes of war. The powerful placement resonated with audiences, and the track was re-released as a single. This time, it was a hit, climbing to number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988 — 21 years after it was first recorded.
