This album compiles recordings by Louis Armstrong made between 1955 and 1956 for Decca Records. The title refers to the eponymous song composed by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler, which Armstrong popularized. The album showcases Armstrong in his most vocal facet, accompanied by orchestras directed by various arrangers.
The sessions included collaborations with arranger and bandleader Sy Oliver, as well as with the trumpeter and singer. The album combines jazz and pop standards of the time, with Armstrong's characteristic style, blending his deep, raspy voice with his unmistakable trumpet.
Released in 1957, the album was part of a series of compilations that Decca published to capitalize on Armstrong's popularity. Although not a concept album, 'I've Got the World on a String' is valued by fans as a sample of Armstrong's versatility in the studio during the 1950s.