Search - Sammy Davis :: Greatest Hits, Vol. II

Great songs of celebration and reflection

Daniel Jolley | Shelby, North Carolina USA | 12/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had a hard time listening to any Sammy Davis Jr. music, especially the wonderful songs included on this second Greatest Hits album, for a long time after his passing. These tracks, ranging from big hits to songs long out of print, create an eerie mood that both celebrates Sammy's fabulous life and seemingly acknowledges his impending death at the time of this collection's release. I can't help but get emotional over the music on this CD. Mr. Bojangles is a real fan favorite that has to be included on a greatest hits collection, and the song is personalized to Sammy rather remarkably. It was one of his greatest fears that he would end up a has-been like Mr. Bojangles, and the cancer that took away his voice and eventually his very life made that nightmare a reality of sorts for him at the end. Sammy lived life to the fullest, though, and such songs as All That Jazz, The Goin's Great, If My Friends Could See Me Now, and Here I'll Stay draw from his passion for life. Somebody, a toe-tapping song about finding someone to love, is one of my favorite Sammy songs of all time. A few songs touch on the issue of a brighter future ahead and/or a life filled with the love of friends and family: We'll Be Together Again, The Shelter of Your Arms, Every Time We Say Goodbye, I'm Glad There Is You, and Here I'll Stay. Here's That Rainy Day (featuring Laurindo Almeida) is a poignant, quiet ballad. Children, Children is a hauntingly beautiful yet somber song that speaks of the quick passage of the years and the yearning of the aged for the dreams and hopes of childhood. I don't think there could be a better way to end this album than with a live recording of Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (featuring the incomparable Buddy Rich). Its upbeat, almost playful appeal does much to counteract the sense of loss I continue to feel in the atmosphere of the preceding songs. Despite the song's title, many of us will talk about you, Sammy, now that you are gone, for you have taught us to celebrate and live the lives we have rather than sink under the loss we oftentimes feel in our daily lives."

Include this one in your Sammy collection.

Daniel Jolley | 04/10/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This disc offers what the title says- Sammy's greatest hits. So don't be discouraged if it doesn't offer some of his greatest songs. There is a difference. That aside, this is a great listen to surround yourself with. It might just take you back to those golden days of television when anyone of the many variety shows would feature the talents of the likes of those such as this "cool cat", one of the greatest entertainers of our time. No Sammy collection is complete withou Mr. Bojangles. Pity there isn't an accompanying video to show Sammy perform that song- one that captured the complete essence of Sammy the entertainer. But you'll still picture it in your mind as you listen to it... might even find yourself smiling while doing so. Where has the time gone? Seems like just yesterday I could find Sammy, Dean, Frank, Tony, hell, even Satchmo on TV on a given Sunday night on the network fortunate enough to have these great American talents on their aivwaves."

A NOP NOTCH, CLASS ACT. BETTER THAN VOLUME 1.

Stephan Mayer | 03/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"SAMMY GETS DOWN AND REALLY DIGS ON THIS ONE. THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUPERB....I REALLY LOVE THIS MAN!!"