Customer Reviews

Sammy Davis, Jr. Sings and Laurindo Almeida Plays

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Sammy Davis, Jr. sings and Laurindo Almeida plays; that's the simple and amazing basis of this remarkable CD. On June 14 and 15, 1966, Sammy sat down with one incredibly talented guitarist and recorded this album of slow, gentle, moving songs. Sammy could swing and wail like no other, but he was more than anything else a truly blessed singer. There's no Las Vegas atmosphere here, no finger-clicking showstoppers, no adoring fans lavishing him with heartfelt applause, no cutting up in front of the crowd, no Rat Pack escapades or stories. This is just pure music, soft and touching - "all the flim flam diddyway, gone," as Stan Cornyn says in the liner notes. I don't know of very many singers, no matter how talented they are, who would sit down in a studio with one guitarist and just sing; Sammy did it, and the recordings from these sessions not only prove the magnitude of his miraculous voice, they prove his true love for music. Several of these songs are familiar, but rarely have you heard them sung so softly and beautifully. Here's That Rainy Day, having appeared on one of Sammy's greatest hits albums, is a familiar and perfect representative of these songs. Familiar Sammy classics such as The Shadow of Your Smile and We'll Be Together Again, take on whole new meanings in this purest of interpretations. Familiar show tunes such as Where is Love? and Joey, Joey, Joey become elegant pieces of depth and beauty. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows is simply poignant and beautiful, as is Misty (a bonus track from the original recordings). I don't listen to this album as often as I indulge in Sammy's flashier numbers, but it is impossible to describe the simple beauty of this music, stripped to its bare, purest essentials in the form of the amazing Almeida's guitar playing and Sammy's unequalled singing.

A solitary seagull flying on the wind . . . could there be a lonelier image? The real question is could there be a more lonesome album than "Sammy Davis, Jr. Sings and Laurindo Almeida Plays?" The album cover is a perfect representation of the music contained within this painfully lonely album. I don't write this in a negative sense; imagine the most beautifully lonely music that could ever be played - it doesn't match the sorrow, forlornness or simple elegance from this 1966 session. Sammy Davis Jr. sings songs of heart break over Laurindo Almeida's somber guitar chords. This disc contains none of Davis' Rat Pack style swagger or any of Almedia's Brazilian optimism. The austerity of the arrangements lend to the theme of isolation; indeed, the two make the most perfectly melancholy duo. If you're going through a break-up (or ever have), this recording will resonate. While Country and Western music has a reputation for being the genre that most perfectly captures the loneliness of the human condition, this recording proves that a crooner and Bossa Nova guitarist can capture the essence of solitude as the world has never heard.

A portion of the lyrics from, "The Folks Who Live On The Hill", a tune from Loesser's "Most Happy Fella", and Sammy Davis and Laurindo Almeida perform it to perfection. A lovely album from the late sixties on Reprise, I believe this to be one of Mr. Davis's finest.
A low key album, great for late in evening listening, every song is a gem. I have been putting it on my record player ,my cd player and now my IPod, for thirty plus years and it still delights me.

sammy davis singing and just one guitar acompanying him,well there you see the true greatness of sammy davis!

this sounds so good to play at home relaxing or in some beach house chilling out.

sammy never want's to take the spotlight too much he sings very subtile on this one,leaving some room for this fantastic bossa guitarist laurindo almeida!

very original and unusual for a rat pack member but thenn he was a class on himself!

This is a satisfying pairing, a bit unusual, in that SDJr was typically a night club performer, a member of Sinatra's Rat Pack, and generally a picture of the total hipster at this time. The album's soft underpinnings, though, are an honest appraisal of the ballad, and Almeida's classical training, with restraint by Davis, make it a sweet listen, honestly presented in a simple way.

A must buy for all Sammy fans! This collection is unique and demonstrates the genius and versatilty of the man, coupled with some superb and clever musical accompaniment from Almeida. Most definitely an accoustic masterpiece!

What do I mean by gutsy? It takes guts to do an album/CD accompanied by just a solo guitar, acoustic at that. The singer has nothing to cover up his/her mistakes. Sinatra never did it. But when it works, like Tony Bennett's 2 CDs with Bill Evans, the results are outstanding.

Incredible performance from the first track to the last. No big band belting (buy his CD with Buddy Rich for that), just some extraordinary music.

It may sound ridiculous to consider Sammy Davis Jr. one of the most underrated singers ever, but this CD will make a powerful case for it.

The man had such skill and talent in so many areas, singing, dancing, acting, musicianship. And one of his problems was that he found himself being pulled in so many directions at once. Some of his CDs were a waste of his talents.

This one is for the desert island.

A truely great collection, but I was dismayed that the best cut on the original LP, "Deep In a Dream" is gone. Whoever chopped that one off should be drawn and quartered. But, what's left is still wonderful.

This recording has been one of my all-time favorites for many years, so I was delighted to see it in CD format. The wonderful selection of songs, Sammy's treatment of the material and the terrific guitar accompaniment can't be beat.

I first bought this album when it came out in 1966 - and fell in love with it. I recently purchased the cd and I have fallen in love with it all over again. I saw Sammy Davis perform live several times - on Broadway and in solo performances - but this album captures a different side of the performer - no ornamentation, no theatrics - just a pure voice accompanied by an acoustic guitar, singing songs that will break your heart. The combination of his voice, the choice of songs, and the equally wonderful playing of Laurindo Almeda takes me to a special, private place. Few albums capture a mood so well - perfect for a very rainy day (how appropriate that the album opens with 'Here's that Rainy Day' ) or any quiet thoughtful time. I would pair this with Frank Sinatra's 1958 "Only the Lonely" album which strikes such a similar chord and Barbra Streisand's recent "Love is the Answer" (the simple jazz version rather than the version with orchestra - although both are great). Every song here is a treat - 'Joey, Joey, Joey' is such a surprise but all will just make you settle back on a big easy chair and enjoy. If you like Sammy Davis Jr, this album is soulful, haunting, and totally delicious.