Greatest Songs by Sammy Davis Jr.

This eclectic gathering of Sammy Davis Jr's recordings finds him performing movie melodies and gospel songs, as well as Tin Pan Alley favorites. The young Sammy Davis Jr. had a energizing vocal range and a cornucopia of techniques. Throughout his career he sang and reprised songs like "Lady Is a Tramp," "Bye Bye Blackbird," and "The Birth of the Blues," versions of which are included here. These tracks date mainly from the '70s, when his voice had lost some of its range; yet he possesses a freewheeling sense of rhythm, and a guttural and passionate wail. "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby" features a live demonstration of his prowess as an impersonator as well as an all-round entertainer. The incarnation of hip, Davis was an individual in all aspects of his existence--one of his signature tunes was, after all, "I've Gotta Be Me."