The Wham of Sam explained

The Wham of Sam
Type:	studio
Artist:	Sammy Davis Jr.
Cover:	whamsam.jpg
Released:	1961
Recorded:	February 6–7, 1961
Genre:	Vocal jazz
Length:	37:35
Label:	Reprise
Producer:	Jimmy Bowen
Prev Title:	Mr. Entertainment
Prev Year:	1961
Next Title:	Sammy Davis Jr. Belts the Best of Broadway
Next Year:	1962

The Wham of Sam is a 1961 studio album by Sammy Davis Jr., arranged by Marty Paich and Morty Stevens.^[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Lindsay Planer awarded the album four stars and said that Davis' "untouchable sense of rhythmic flair unleashes some lighthearted interaction between the vocalist and hard-driving instrumentalists.".^[1]

Track listing

1. "I'm a Fool to Want You" (Joel Herron, Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf) – 3:28
2. "Back in Your Own Backyard" (Dave Dreyer, Al Jolson, Billy Rose) – 2:49
3. "Lush Life" (Billy Strayhorn) – 3:45
4. "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die" (Mann Curtis, Al Hoffman, Walter Kent) – 3:09
5. "(Love Is) The Tender Trap" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn) – 2:35
6. "Out of This World" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) – 3:19
7. "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson) – 2:47
8. "Thou Swell" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 2:59
9. "Can't We Be Friends?" (Paul James, Kay Swift) – 2:53
10. "Blame it on My Youth" (Edward Heyman, Oscar Levant) – 4:14
11. "Let There Be Love" (Ian Grant, Lionel Rand) – 2:49
12. "Soon" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 2:48

Personnel

• Sammy Davis Jr. – vocals
• Marty Paich and his orchestra - arranger, conductor (tracks 7-12)
• Morty Stevens and his orchestra - arranger, conductor (tracks 1-6)
• Jimmy Mitchell - double bass
• Joe Mondragon
• Armand Kaproff - cello
• Raphael Kramer
• Edgar Lustgarten
• Kurt Reher
• Mel Lewis - drums
• Shelly Manne
• Vincent DeRosa - french horn
• Tony Rizzi - guitar
• Larry Bunker - percussion
• Jimmy Rowles - piano
• Ronnie Lang - alto saxophone
• Bud Shank
• Bill Hood - baritone saxophone
• Buddy Collette - tenor saxophone
• Dave Pell
• Bill Perkins
• Frank Howard - trombone
• Dick Nash
• Dick Noel
• Kenny Shroyer
• Lloyd Ulyate
• Stu Williamson
• Frank Beach - trumpet
• Don Fagerquist
• Ollie Mitchell
• Al Porcino
• Uan Rasey
• Jack Sheldon
• Red Callender - tuba
• Sam Freed - violin
• Anatol Kaminsky
• Erno Neufeld
• Lou Raderman

Notes and References

1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-wham-of-sam-reprise-r378540|pure_url=yes}} The Wham of Sam]. Allmusic. July 13, 2011.