As one of the initial artists to sign with Reprise Records -- as part of
Frank Sinatra's handpicked stable of talent --
Sammy Davis, Jr. brought with him the expertise of nearly a dozen-year recording career on Capitol (1949-1956) and then Decca (1957-1960). Although often miscast as a rehash of earlier material, 1963's
A Treasury of Golden Hits is actually an anthology of revisitations -- in stereo no less -- of sides from
Davis' back catalog. Under the direction of longtime collaborator
Mort Stevens, the vocalist takes on 11 classics from his previous platters as well as notable contributions to the stage. Two tunes -- the opening Robert C. Wright/
George Forrest-penned "And This Is My Beloved" as well as the groovy samba overhaul of "Hey There" -- were originally
Sy Oliver orchestrations. The latter -- which was gleaned from Pajama Game -- was one of
Davis' biggest hits during his brief but influential Decca tenure. The scintillating powerhouse "In a Persian Market" is quite possibly the entry that benefits the most from its reinvention and newfound status.
Stevens' frisky instrumentation is matched by
Davis' rhythmic precision as he ably shows off the swinging melody. It had been barely four years earlier that
Stevens joined the ranks of fellow bandleader
Buddy Bregman on a session of songs from the musical Porgy and Bess. The stark and emotive "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" gives
Stevens his first shot at the selection, as the 1959 Decca release had been done under
Bregman's baton. The bluesy if not downright soulful "They Can't Take That Away from Me" is the second
George and
Ira Gershwin number that unquestionably scores major points with this upgrade. Unlike "Bess," though,
Stevens led the original February 1957 Decca date that included a spin of "That Old Black Magic."
Davis literally leaps in with his trademark verve, arguably surpassing himself with playful improvisations that stay ever mindful of the nuances. It is joined by the hearty big-band-driven "Birth of the Blues" as yet another Great American Songbook entry to be inextricably linked with the singer. Similarly,
Davis would be known for "Stand Up and Fight" from the 1943 play Carmen Jones, which composer
Oscar Hammerstein II translated from the libretto for
Georges Bizet's opera Carmen. It quickly became a favorite for
Davis, giving him an opportunity to demonstrate his substantial skills in bringing a decidedly dramatic ability to his craft.
A Treasury of Golden Hits was reissued by Collectors' Choice Music in 2007 as part of their thorough digitization of
Sammy Davis, Jr.'s Reprise Records output -- making it available for the first time on CD. ~ Lindsay Planer