# Why Sammy Davis Jr. Thought His First No. 1 Single Would Go “Straight Into the Toilet”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/why-sammy-davis-jr-thought-his-first-no-1-single-would-go-straight-into-the-toilet/
- Published: 2026-11-01T17:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T18:21:18+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/why-sammy-davis-jr-thought-his-first-no-1-single-would-go-straight-into-the-toilet/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Davis expected “The Candy Man” to flop.
- It became his only Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.
- The song stayed at the top for three weeks.

## Summary

Sammy Davis Jr’s first and only US Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 was “The Candy Man”, a song he initially thought would damage his career. His unexpected success marked a striking reversal for the singer, whose earlier releases had brought only moderate chart results.

Written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, the song first appeared in the 1971 film *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory*, sung there by Aubrey Woods. Davis recorded it for his 1972 album *Sammy Davis Jr. Now* after record executive Mike Curb urged him to try it; despite his misgivings, he completed it in two takes. “The Candy Man” topped the Hot 100 for three weeks and earned Davis a Grammy nomination, but he never had another Hot 100 hit.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.