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Music > Albums > Jr. Sammy Davis - The Wham of Sam! (1994) Retail CD
added on April 25, 2007, at 22:08 by Jazzbro

" Sammy Davis Jr. was the greatest entertainer I ever saw " so states Tony Bennett. And who am I to disagree with a singer who has probably forgotten more about music than I will truly ever know. Sammy Davis was, by all rights, probably in that rare echelon of singers along side Sinatra, Bennett and Mel Torme who was the "singer's singer. " An entertainer who other singers would stop by and catch his act after finishing their gig at another local watering hole. And who could blame them? Sammy was that rarest of entertainers. A jazz singer who was just as comfortable in a lounge/saloon doing standards as well as knocking out versions of current popular songs as well. Something that even the formidable Mr. Sinatra couldn't always pull off. Plus, with the release of " The Wham of Sam " a disc that fortifies my feelings that other than the other singers mentioned above, Sammy simply had few peers. The Chairman of the Board ( Sinatra to the uninitiated ) once called it " phraseology. " That type of singing that required the vocalist to dig deep into a song's subconcious and pull out everything he's got. Making the song his. And God know's Sammy had that knack! Starting off the CD with an incredible rendition of " A Lot Of Living To Do " Sammy takes the song and is off and running. Uptempo, swinging and making you believe he really has gotta a lot of livin' to do. And we just want to go along for the ride. " Begin the Beguine " with just a mean set of percussion ( who else could pull that off? ) and he's still in his element. Taking each song, feeling it's 'groove' never betraying the lyrics but simply understanding them and making them his own. A risk that no other singer I know could ever try...much less get away with! But fortunately Mr. Davis could also come across as quite the balladeer as well. " My Romance " is, at least for me, the definitive version of a song that I've heard done by countless other singers. The arrangements are sweeping ( thanks to Marty Paich ) but gentle, allowing the tune's heartfelt lyrics to come across as innocent and completely romantic. An amazingly poetic rendition that is simply too lovely to behold. There's simply not enough time to go into each songs attributes. But suffice to say that the wonderful disc shows Sammy doing what he did best. Whether he's swinging with " Too Close for Comfort " or " Let There Be Love ", getting sentimental but never maudlin with the lovely " Blame It On My Youth ' or just being Sammy with what I feel is his true signature song " Bye Bye Blackbird " he truly is a singer of uncanny abilities with a complete understanding of getting under a song's skin and making it his very own. Again, with phrasing that to this day still has me in complete awe and brings a smile to this listener. And always wondering " How does he do it? " Let's just call it instincts. In ending, part of what makes a singer stand out from the crowd of other vocalists is something that is simply intangible. You don't know what it is but you know when you hear it. And boy will you hear it on " The Wham of Sam " While ultimately Sammy was unable to develope a concious identity as a recording artist ( he was at his very best on stage singing, doing impersonations and dancing like no one else! ) we at least have these wonderful CD's to remind us what an simply gifted singer he really was. Thanks for everything and bye bye 'Blackbird.' You are missed.

front 1412 x 1406 px

back 1769 x 1368 px

cd 1437 x 1445 px