Film and Television

This page lists performances by Sammy Davis, Jr. which were recorded for use on film, or were recorded during television appearances. Visit Yes, I Can: Sammy’s Recording Career for background information to these sessions, and more information about Sammy on vinyl.

Sammy Davis, Jr. Film and TV Recordings 1933-1988 BRIAN 10.7.0.6 -- Mac OS BRIAN 10.7.0.6 -- Mac OS

Date: ca. September 1933
Location: Warner Bros. Studios, Brooklyn, New York
Label: Vitaphone Corporation

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v, tap)

a. (73L 5720) I'll Be Glad When You're Dead (You Rascal You) - 1:10(Sam Theard)
MGM 45PK-1013   (1973)
MGM LPSE-4914 — Sammy: The Original Televison Soundtrack   (1973)
MGM LaserDiscML-103928 — Swing, Swing, Swing! Cavalcade of Vitaphone Shorts #1   (1995)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)

This performance from Sammy Davis, Jr's first film role, at age 7, in a 21min Vitaphone short called "Rufus Jones for President". Inamongst promoting distasteful racial cliches, the short features Sammy as the title character, who dreams he is elected President of the United States, and Ethel Waters as Rufus' mother.

The matrix number noted is that given to the title by MGM, when the recording was used in both a 1973 television special titled "Sammy", and the MGM LP soundtrack of the special released subsequently.


Date: ca. March 1947
Label: Paramount Pictures

The Will Mastin Trio (ldr), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v, tap), Sammy Davis, Sr., Will Mastin (tap, bkv)

a. The Booglie Wooglie Piggy - 2:51(Roy Jacobs)
Republic Pictures VHS2106 — Jazzball   (1988)
DigitalDisc DVDDDC-5519 — Jazzball / Hi De Ho   (2004)

This performance from a 19min short film from Paramount's Musical Parade Featurette Series #4, titled "Sweet and Low" in which a husband and wife throw a masquerade party at their home, with various people and groups coming by and performing, including the Will Maston Trio.


Date: ca. July 1954
Location: NBC Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles
Label: NBC Television

The Will Mastin Trio (ldr), Vic Shoen and His Orchestra (acc), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v), Sammy Davis, Sr., Will Mastin (bkv)

a. This Is The Place(Unknown)
b. Because Of You - 4:21(Arthur Hammerstein, Dudley Wilkinson)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)
c. Hey There - 1:51(Richard Adler, Jerry Ross)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)
d. The Birth Of The Blues - 4:05(Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)
All titles on:
Parade Video VHS524 — Portrait Of A Legend: Sammy Davis, Jr.   (1990)

Sammy Davis, Sr. (bkv) on a; Will Mastin (bkv) on a.

These performances are from a live episode of the "Colgate Summer Comedy Hour". Other guests included Gene Sheldon, Jay Lawrence and Connie Russell. In a couple of segments, Sammy plays the drums. The whole episode is available on VHS, as well as from vintage TV sellers over the internet.


Date: 2 December 1954
Location: Los Angeles
Label: Universal

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Six Bridges To Cross - 1:52(Henry Mancini, Jeff Chandler)

This performance was recorded for the opening credits of the 1955 Universal movie "Six Bridges To Cross", which starred Tony Curtis and Sal Mineo. Sammy later re-recorded the song for release as a Decca single.


Date: ca. late 1955
Label: MGM

George Stoll (dir), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Frankie And Johnnie - 6:42(Johnny Green, Sammy Cahn)

Recording featured in the MGM musical "Meet Me In Las Vegas", as the accompaniment to a ballet performance by Cyd Charisse's character. Sammy does not appear onscreen. Sammy later re-recorded the song for release as a Decca single.


Date: 1957
Label: Columbia

Morris Stoloff (arr, con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Mad Ball - 1:02(Frederick M. Karger, Richard H. Quine)

This performance was recorded for the opening credits of the 1957 Columbia movie “Operation Mad Ball”, which starred Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, and Mickey Rooney. Sammy later re-recorded the song for release as a Decca single.


Date: 31 January 1958
Location: ABC Television Studios, Los Angeles
Label: ABC Television

Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra (v)

a. Me And My Shadow (Walking Down The Avenue) - 2:38(Traditional)
Capitol CD5-42771-2 — Classic Duets   (2002)

Performed during Sammy Davis, Jr.'s guest appearance on "The Frank Sinatra Show".


Date: ca. late 1958
Label: United Artists

Elmer Bernstein (arr, con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. That's Anna - 1:59(Elmer Bernstein, Sammy Cahn)
Varèse Sarabande CDVCL-0908-1083 — Anna Lucasta: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack   (2008)

This performance recorded for the opening credits of the UA movie "Anna Lucasta", which starred Sammy alongside Eartha Kitt. Sammy later re-recorded the song for release as a Decca single.


Date: 16 April 1960
Location: Los Angeles
Label: Colpix

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Morty Stevens (con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Hooray For Hollywood - 5:09(Johnny Mercer, Richard Whiting, Sammy Cahn)
Colpix LPCP-507 — "Pepe" Original Soundtrack   (1960)
Collectors' Choice CDCCM-113 — "Pepe" Original Soundtrack   (1999)

Special lyrics by Sammy Cahn were added to "Horray For Hollywood" for this performance, which was a faux 'live' performance used in the 1960 film "Pepe".


Date: 12 May 1960
Location: Hotel Fontainebleu, Miami, Florida
Label: ABC Television

Nelson Riddle (arr, con), Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis, Jr., The Tom Hansen Dancers, Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra (v)

a. It's Nice To Go Trav'ling(Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen)
b. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York - 2:10(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)
c. All The Way - 2:38(Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn)
d. Shall We Dance - 1:09(Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)
All titles on:
Quantum Leap DVDQLDVD-0372 — The Frank Sinatra Show: 'Welcome Home Elvis'   (2003)

Joey Bishop (v) on a; The Tom Hansen Dancers (v) on a; Peter Lawford (v) on d; Frank Sinatra (v) on a; Nancy Sinatra (v) on a.

Performances from Sammy Davis, Jr.'s guest appearance on "The Frank Sinatra Timex Show", which featured the return of Elvis Presley from his national service. In addition, Sammy and Peter Lawford performed a dance routine, while Sammy did a segment preceding "All The Way" featuring impressions of actors.


Date: ca. late 1962
Label: RCA Victor

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Samuel Matlovsky (arr, con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Mack The Knife - 3:41(Kurt Weill, Marc Blitzstein, Bertolt Brecht)
b. Solomon Song - 2:38(Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, Marc Blitzstein)
c. How To Survive - 1:35(Marc Blitzstein, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill)
d. Happy Ending - 1:01(Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, Marc Blitzstein)
All titles on:
RCA Victor LPLS0/LOC-1086 — The Threepenny Opera   (1964)

Date: ca. 14 June 1964
Label: CBS Television

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. My Kind Of Town(Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn)
b. Night Song(Lee Adams, Charles Strouse)
c. Gonna Build A Mountain(Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse)
Ronco LPMSD-2005 — Command Performance: 25 Great Hits - 20 Original Artistes   (1973)
d. What Kind Of Fool Am I(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
Ronco LPMSD-2005 — Command Performance: 25 Great Hits - 20 Original Artistes   (1973)

Performed during Sammy Davis, Jr.'s guest appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" that aired June 14, 1964. "My Kind Of Town" featured special lyrics making Manhattan the subject rather than Chicago.


Date: 23 February 1965
Location: NBC Studios, Hollywood
Label: NBC Television

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Walk Right In(Gus Cannon, Hosea Woods)
b. Young And Foolish(Arnold B. Horwitz, Albert Hague)
c. If I Ruled The World(Leslie Bricusse, Cyril Ornadel)
d. This Is All I Ask(Gordon Jenkins)

These performances from an episode of "Hullabaloo", for which Sammy Davis, Jr. was guest host. In addition to the songs listed, Sammy performed impressions of various celebrities with Marilyn Michaels in one segment, and in another segment, did a dance routine and sang selected songs from "West Side Story" with Joey Heatherton.


Date: 20 April 1965
Location: NBC Studios, Hollywood
Label: NBC Television

Jay and The Americans, The Animals, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lola Falana, Bruce Scott, Dusty Springfield (v)

a. A Wonderful Day Like Today(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
b. Chim Chim Cheree(Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman)
c. The Rain In Spain(Frederick Loewe, Alan Lerner)
d. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious(Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman)
e. Unforgettable(Irving Gordon)
f. I Want To Be With You(Charles Strouse, Lee Adams)
g. Do I Hear A Waltz?(Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim)
h. Don't Rain On My Parade(Bob Merrill, Jule Styne)
i. The Joker(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
j. Hello, Dolly(Jerry Herman)
k. The House I Live In(Earl Robinson, Lewis Allen)

b, c, d;   f, g, h, i, j performed as medleys.

Jay and The Americans (v) on d; The Animals (v) on c-d; Lola Falana (v) on d, g-h; Bruce Scott (v) on d; Dusty Springfield (v) on d.

These performances from an episode of "Hullabaloo", for which Sammy Davis, Jr. was guest host. Sammy took part in the 'Top Pop Medley' (b, c and d), which, in addition to those noted above, contained performances by Jay and The Americans ("I Feel Fine"), The Animals and Sammy (singing other songs from "My Fair Lady"), Lola Falana ("Goldfinger"), Bruce Scott ("You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and Dusty Springfield ("Can't You Hear My Heart Beat").


Date: 13 September 1965
Location: NBC Studios, Hollywood
Label: NBC Television

Sammy Davis, Jr., Diana Ross and The Supremes (v)

a. This Could Be The Start Of Something Big - 2:57(Steve Allen)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)
b. All I Need Is The Girl(Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim)
c. Toot, Toot, Tootsie! (Goodbye) - 2:14(Gus Kahn, Ted Fiorito, Ernie Erdman, Dan Russo)
Passport Video DVD1562 — Sammy Davis, Jr. Singing At His Best   (2004)
d. A Hard Day's Night(John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
e. I'm Henry VIII, I Am(Paul Weston, Fred Murray)
f. I Know A Place(Tony Hatch)

d, e performed as medley.

Diana Ross and The Supremes (v) on b-c.

These performances from an episode of "Hullabaloo", for which Sammy Davis, Jr. was guest host. Sammy took part in the 'Top Pop Medley' (e and d) which also contained performances by The Lovin' Spoonful ("Help"), Diana Ross and The Supremes ("I Can't Help Myself") and Sonny & Cher ("Satisfaction").


Date: ca. late October, 1965
Label: ABC Television

George Rhodes (arr, con), Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra (v)

a. Four Or Five Times - 6:36(Byron Gay, Marco H. Hellman)
b. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 6:36(Duke Ellington, Bob Russell)
c. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - 6:36(Paul Francis Webster, Duke Ellington)
d. The Song Is You - 6:36(Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern)
e. After You're Gone - 6:36(Henry Creamer, J. Turner Layton)
f. Them There Eyes - 6:36(Maceo Pinkard, William Tracey, Doris Tauber)
g. I've Got The World On A String - 6:36(Ted Koehler, Harold Arlen)
h. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams - 6:36(Ted Koehler, Billy Moll, Harry Barris)
i. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me - 6:36(Duke Ellington, Bob Russell)
j. Take The 'A' Train - 6:36(Billy Strayhorn)
k. Oh, Look At Me Now - 6:36(John DeVries, Joe Bushkin)
l. You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You - 6:36(Larry Stock, Russ Morgan, James Cavanaugh)
All titles on:
Virtuoso CD5001 — Sinatra In The Sixties   (1998)

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l performed as medley.

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v) on a, c-e, g, i, k-l; Frank Sinatra (v) on b, d, f, h, j-l.

A medley performed during Frank Sinatra's guest appearance on an hour-long ABC Television Special called "Sammy Davis, Jr. And His Friends", which aired February 1st, 1966.


Date: 27 November 1965

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. What's A Nice Kid Like You Doing In A Place Like This - 2:14(Charles Strouse, Lee Adams)

Recording featured in the animated TV movie "Alice In Wonderland", which aired March 30, 1966.


Date: ca. February 1966
Location: NBC Television Studios, New York
Label: NBC Television

George Rhodes (dir), Sammy Davis, Jr., Judy Garland (v)

a. That's Entertainment - 10:08(Arthur Schwartz, Harold Dietz)
b. Let Me Entertain You - 10:08(Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne)
c. Alexander's Ragtime Band - 10:08(Irving Berlin)
d. April Showers - 10:08(Buddy DeSylva, Louis Silvers)
e. Look For The Silver Lining - 10:08(Jerome Kern, Buddy DeSylva)
f. Sunnyside Up - 10:08(Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson)
g. Life Upon The Wicked Stage - 10:08(Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II)
h. Another Opening, Another Show - 10:08(Cole Porter)
i. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby (With A Dixie Melody) - 10:08(Jean Schwartz, Joe Young, Sam M. Lewis)
j. Smile - 10:08(Charles Chaplin, John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons)
k. A Couple Of Song And Dance Men - 10:08(Irving Berlin)
l. You're A Grand Old Flag - 10:08(George M. Cohan)
m. Auld Lang Syne - 10:08(Traditional)
n. Toot, Toot, Tootsie! (Goodbye) - 10:08(Gus Kahn, Ted Fiorito, Ernie Erdman, Dan Russo)
o. Carolina In The Morning - 10:08(Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson)
p. California, Here I Come - 10:08(Al Jolson, Buddy DeSylva, Joseph Meyer)
q. Swanee - 10:08(George Gershwin, Irving Caesar)
r. Born In A Trunk - 10:08(Leonard Gershe)

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r performed as medley.

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v) on a-d, f-i, k-r; Judy Garland (v) on a-c, e, g, j-o, q-r.

A medley performed during one of Judy Garland's two guest appearances on "The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show". They aired March 18 and 25, 1966.


Date: ca. February 1966
Location: NBC Television Studios, New York
Label: NBC Television

George Rhodes (dir), Sammy Davis, Jr., Judy Garland (v)

a. A Couple Of Swells - 7:44(Irving Berlin)
b. The Lady Is A Tramp - 7:44(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
c. How About You? - 7:44(Burton Lane, Ralph Freed)
d. Bidin' My Time - 7:44(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
e. For Me And My Gal - 7:44(Edgar Leslie, E. Ray Goetz, George W. Meyer)
f. Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead - 7:44(Harold Arlen, Erwin "Yip" Harburg)
g. Meet Me In St. Louis - 7:44(Kerry Mills, Andrew Sterling)
h. It's A New World - 7:44(Harold Arlen)
i. Johnny One Note - 7:44(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
j. Get Happy - 7:44(Ted Koehler, Harold Arlen)
k. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe - 7:44(Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren)
l. Could You Use Me? - 7:44(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
m. I Wish I Were In Love Again - 7:44(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
n. Treat Me Rough - 7:44(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
o. If I Only Had A Brain - 7:44(Harold Arlen, Erwin "Yip" Harburg)
All titles on:
Milhy CDCD-6265 — It's All For You: The Last Years 1965-1969   (1992)

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o performed as medley.

A medley performed during one of Judy Garland's two guest appearances on "The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show". They aired March 18 and 25, 1966.


Date: ca. early 1966
Label: Reprise

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Benny Carter (arr, con), Nat Adderley (t), Kai Winding (tb), Aaron Bell (b), Junior Mance (p), Herb Lovelle (d), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Whisper To One - 3:20(Benny Carter)
b. I Want To Be Wanted - 3:23(Kim Gannon, Alberto Testa, Giuseppe Spotti)
Rhino CDR2-75934 — Sammy & Friends   (2000)
Both titles on:
Reprise LPR-6180 — "A Man Called Adam" Original Soundtrack   (1966)
Retrograde CDFSM-80126-2 — "A Man Called Adam" Original Soundtrack   (2007)

These two recordings were made for the motion picture "A Man Called Adam", which filmed in November 1965 and was released in August 1966. Even though Reprise released the soundtrack album, curiously the titles do not appear in Reprise's official listing of Davis masters. Davis later re-recorded "Whisper To One" in June 1966, which remained unissued until 2005.


Date: ca. early April 1966
Location: NBC Television Studios, New York
Label: NBC Television

George Rhodes (arr, con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v, tap)

a. Lonesome Road(Nathaniel Shilkrat, Gene Austin)
b. Gonna Build A Mountain(Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse)
c. Yes I Can(Charles Strouse, Lee Adams)
d. I Want To Be With You(Charles Strouse, Lee Adams)
e. Ethel, Baby(Jerry Bock, George David Weiss, Lawrence Holofcener)
f. Too Close For Comfort(Jerry Bock, Lawrence Holofcener, George David Weiss)
g. Something's Gotta Give(Johnny Mercer)
h. All Of You(Cole Porter)
i. Hey There(Richard Adler, Jerry Ross)
j. The Birth Of The Blues(Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson)
k. I Remember It Well(Alan Lerner, Frederick Loewe)
l. Ya Got Trouble(Meredith Wilson)
m. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward)
n. Soliloquy - 8:27(Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II)
Madacy CDMEG2-51074 — Essential   (2005)
o. Put On A Happy Face - 4:52(Lee Adams, Charles Strouse)
Madacy CDMEG2-51074 — Essential   (2005)
p. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby (With A Dixie Melody)(Jean Schwartz, Joe Young, Sam M. Lewis)
q. Be A Clown - 0:43(Cole Porter)
Madacy CDMEG2-51074 — Essential   (2005)
r. What Kind Of Fool Am I - 3:13(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
Madacy CDMEG2-51074 — Essential   (2005)
All titles on:
Demon Vision DVDB003 — Sammy Davis Jnr Live   (2005)
Zyx DVD3084 — The Sammy Davis Jr. Show   (2005)

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j performed as medley.

George Rhodes (arr) on a-k, m-r, (con) on a-k, m-r; Sammy Davis, Jr. (v) on a-k, m-r, (tap) on o.

This was the final (barnstorming!) episode of "The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show", which taped early April and aired 22nd April, 1966. "Ya Got Trouble" saw Sammy miming to Robert Preston's original vocal recording. "I Remember It Well" contained custom-written lyrics lamenting the show's troubled run on NBC.


Date: 27 January 1968
Label: United Artists

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), John Dankworth (arr, con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. BB-4760 Salt And Pepper - 2:15(Leslie Bricusse)
Rhino CDR2-75934 — Sammy & Friends   (2000)
Rhino CDR2-76737 — Instant Party: Let's Swing!   (2001)
b. I Like The Way You Dance - 2:58(George Rhodes, Sammy Davis, Jr.)
Both titles on:
United Artists 4550334   (1968)
United Artists (Ger) 4567131   (1968)
United Artists (UK) 45UP-2241   (1968)
United Artists LP5187 — "Salt And Pepper" Original Score   (1968)

These performances from the 1968 movie "Salt And Pepper".


Date: 16 January 1969
Location: Decca Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Label: Decca

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Ralph Burns (arr), Joseph Gershenson (con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. L 15076 Rhythm Of Life - 3:53(Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields)
Decca 45732470   (1969)
Decca 45734605   (1969)
Decca LPDL-71502 — "Sweet Charity" Original Soundtrack   (1969)
Music Club CDMCCD-266 — Hooray For Hollywood   (1997)
Hip-O CDB000537802 — The Definitive Collection   (2006)

Decca 732470 features an instumental "The Pompeii Club" on flip side of "Rhythm Of Life".
Decca 734605 features two versions of "Rhythm Of Life", one 3:53, the other 3:00.


Date: 22 May 1969
Location: London
Label: United Artists

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Les Reed (arr, pdr), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. One More Time - 2:07(Les Reed, Jackie Rae)
United Artists (UK) 45UP-35168   (1970)
b. Where Do I Go From Here? - 4:18(Les Reed, Geoff Stephens)
United Artists (UK) 45UP-35168   (1970)
c. When The Feeling Hits You - 2:34(Bobby Doyle)

These performances from the 1970 movie "One More Time".


Date: 20 June 1973
Location: The Great Room, Grosvenor House, London
Label: MGM

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Jack Parnell (arr), George Rhodes (arr, dir), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. 73L 5727 For Once In My Life - 2:50(Ronald Miller, Orlando Murden)
Polydor/Universal CD440 065 083-2 — 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection   (2002)
b. 73L 5728 I'm Not Anyone - 4:00(Paul Anka, Johnny Harris)
c. 73L 5729 The Birth Of The Blues - 3:12(Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson)
PolyGram Special Markets CD314 520 542-2 — Mr. Bojangles   (1999)
Polydor/Universal CD440 065 083-2 — 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection   (2002)
All titles on:
MGM LPSE-4914 — Sammy: The Original Televison Soundtrack   (1973)

These performances are from the television special "Sammy", which was filmed in London at ATV studios and distributed by the Independent Television Corporation (ITC). The special aired in the US in November.


Date: 9 September 1973
Location: Associated Television Studios, London
Label: MGM

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Jack Parnell (arr), George Rhodes (arr, dir), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. 73L 5721 This Dream - 2:02(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
b. 73L 5723 Mr. Bojangles - 5:42(Jerry Jeff Walker)
c. 73L 5724 Get It On - 3:13(Bill Chase, Terry Richards)
Polydor/Universal CD5-89791-2 — Lounge Legends: Sammy Davis, Jr.   (2002)
d. 73L 5725 Over The Rainbow - 4:22(Harold Arlen, Erwin "Yip" Harburg)
PolyGram Special Markets CD314 520 542-2 — Mr. Bojangles   (1999)
Universal CD5-84916-2 — The Candy Man Swings   (2002)
e. 73L 5726 I Got Plenty O' Nuttin - 7:57(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward)
Polydor/Universal CD440 065 083-2 — 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection   (2002)
f. 73L 5726 It Ain't Necessarily So - 7:57(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward)
Polydor/Universal CD440 065 083-2 — 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection   (2002)
g. 73L 5726 Bess, You Is My Woman Now - 7:57(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward)
Polydor/Universal CD440 065 083-2 — 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection   (2002)
h. 73L 5726 There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York - 7:57(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward)
Polydor/Universal CD440 065 083-2 — 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection   (2002)
All titles on:
MGM LPSE-4914 — Sammy: The Original Televison Soundtrack   (1973)

e, f, g, h performed as medley.

These performances are from the television special "Sammy", which was filmed in London at ATV studios and distributed by the Independent Television Corporation (ITC). The special aired in the US in November.

The "Porgy and Bess" medley (e, f, g, h, i) on screen contains Sammy singing "Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way" in a split-screen duet with himself simultaneously singing "There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York". For the LP release this was not included.


Date: ca. July 1975

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow (Theme From "Baretta") - 1:04(Dave Grusin, Morgan Ames)
TVT CD1300-2 — Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3: 70's & 80's   (1990)

Recording of the opening theme for television show "Baretta".


Date: ca. August 1978
Label: NBC Television

Eydie Gorme, Steve Lawrence (ldr), The New World Philharmonic Orchestra (acc), Carol Burnett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Eydie Gorme, Steve Lawrence (v)

a. There's No Business Like Show Business - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
b. I Got The Sun In The Morning - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
c. Something To Dance About - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
d. Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
e. Play A Simple Melody - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
f. It's A Lovely Day Today - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
g. It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
h. Heatwave - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
i. Shaking The Blues Away - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
j. They Say That Falling In Love Is Wonderful - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
k. You Can Have Him - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
l. Marrying For Love - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
m. The Girl That I Marry - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
n. Old Fashioned Wedding - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
o. You're Just In Love - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
p. Anything You Can Do - 10:59(Irving Berlin)
q. Alexander's Ragtime Band - 5:25(Irving Berlin)
r. A Couple Of Song And Dance Men - 6:10(Irving Berlin)
s. A Couple Of Swells - 6:10(Irving Berlin)
t. Puttin' On The Ritz - 6:10(Irving Berlin)
u. Let Yourself Go - 6:10(Irving Berlin)
v. Top Hat, White Tie and Tails - 6:10(Irving Berlin)
w. Steppin' Out With My Baby - 6:10(Irving Berlin)
All titles on:
ESE Music CDESED-104 — Steve & Eydie and Friends Celebrate Berlin   (1990)

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p;   r, s, t, u, v, w performed as medleys.

Carol Burnett (v) on a-c, e, i-k, o-p; Sammy Davis, Jr. (v) on a-c, f, h, o-w; Eydie Gorme (v) on a-d, f, j-k, n, p; Steve Lawrence (v) on a-e, g, l-m, p, r-w.

Performed during the NBC Television special "Steve & Eydie and Friends Celebrate Irving Berlin", which was one of three similar specials honouring composers. Guests for this special were Davis, Carol Burnett and Oscar Peterson. The show was broadcast on August 22, 1978, and won multiple Emmy Awards, including 'Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Program'.


Date: ca. 2 November 1979
Location: Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia

George Rhodes (con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Sing!(Joe Raposo)
b. The Candy Man(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
c. Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow (Theme From "Baretta")(Dave Grusin, Morgan Ames)
d. The Lady Is A Tramp(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
e. I've Gotta Be Me(Walter Marks)
f. I Write The Songs(Bruce Johnston)
g. If I Loved You(Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II)
h. I Can Do That(Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban)
i. As Time Goes By(Herman Hupfeld)
j. Mr. Bojangles(Jerry Jeff Walker)
k. Once In A Lifetime(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
l. I Wanna Be Rich(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
m. Gonna Build A Mountain(Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse)
n. Life Is A Woman(Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse)
o. Someone Nice Like You(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
p. What Kind Of Fool Am I(Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley)
All titles on:
Umbrella DVDDAVID-1340 — Sammy Davis Jr - Live In Australia 1979   (2008)

k, l, m, n, o, p performed as medley.

This performance was the closing night of Davis' run in Melbourne. It was filmed and broadcast on Australian televison by Channel Nine as "Sammy Davis Jr In Concert". The show was hosted by Don Lane, and featured in interview with Davis in his dressing room before the show.


Date: ca. 1982

Sammy Davis, Jr. (ldr), Hoyt S. Curtain (con), Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Ode To A Rat - 2:38(Sammy Cahn, Burton Lane)
K-Tel LPNU-5310 — "Heidi's Song" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack   (1982)

Recording of a musical number for the animated feature film "Heidi's Song", in which Sammy played the 'Head Ratte'.


Date: ca. May 1985
Label: CBS Television

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v, tap)

a. You Are Old, Father William - 2:04(Lewis Carroll, Steve Allen)

Recording of a musical number for the 1985 TV movie "Alice In Wonderland", in which Sammy played 'The Caterpillar'. Sammy taped his sequence following his month-long engagement at the Desert Inn in March/April, 1985.


Date: 23 May 1985
Label: NBC Television

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Hell Town (Theme from "Hell Town") - 1:02(George Romanis)

Recording of the opening theme for television show "Hell Town", which premiered in September 1985.


Date: ca. late 1987
Location: Ouro Preto, Brazil

Sammy Davis, Jr. (v)

a. Begin The Beguine - 1:48(Cole Porter)
b. Besame Mucho - 1:14(Consuelo Velázquez)

Recording of musical numbers for the film "Moon Over Parador", in which Sammy played himself. "Besame Mucho" features new lyrics acting as the fictional Parador's national anthem. Neither of these recordings made it onto the movie's soundtrack release.