Sam The Sham. The Sam the Sham Review

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This album was released in 1966 on MGM records. # E-4479. The Sam The Sham Review. 

On this very good album are the following songs: Black Sheep; Struttin'; I'm Not A Lover Anymore; Leave My Kitten Alone; Wanted Dead or Alive; You Can't Turn Me Off; My Day's Gonna Come; The Cockfight; Let It Eat; Love Me Like Before and Groovin'

 

Sam the Sham and the Pharohs

Domingo "Sam" Samudio from Dallas, Texas was born in 1937. Best known by his ever so popular stage name as Sam the Sham. Sam saw a very good amount of success as a rock and roll singer. He was well known for the robe and turban he wore and for hauling his equipment around in a 1952 Packard hearse with maroon velvet curtains. As the leader and singer in his group Sam the Sham and the Pharohs, he sang on several top 40 hits in the 1960's, most well known and well remembered Wooly Bull and Li'l Red Riding Hood, both of which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

What many probably did not know that while Sam was in school he learned guitar and formed a group; of school friends one of whom was Trini Lopez. After high school Sam joined the Navy.

After the Navy he enrolled in college where he studied voice at Arlington State College. He studied classical in the daytime and played rock and roll at night.  Finally after a hectic schedule Sam left college and became a carny

In 1961, Sam formed The Pharaohs, the name inspired from the costumes in the movie The Ten Commandments starring Yul Brynner.  

After paying to record and press records to sell at gigs, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs wound up with the XL label in Memphis. There they recorded their first and biggest hit, Wooly Bully in 1964. It was then that MGM picked up the record and it ended up selling three million copies and reaching #2 on Billboards Hot 100 during a time that the American music scene was dominated by the British Invasion.

Even though Wooly Bully never reached #1, it remained on the Hot 100 for 18 weeks, the most weeks for any single within the calendar year 1965, 14 of which were in the top 40. The record achieved the distinction of becoming the first Billboard "Number One Record of the Year" not to have topped a weekly Hot 100 and remained the only one for 35 years.

This album is in very good condition. The record is excellent as is the cover.