Why Sammy Davis Jr. Thought His First No. 1 Single Would Go “Straight Into the Toilet”
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.
In short
- 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.
Explained simply
Sammy Davis Jr was a singer and entertainer whose career spanned music, film and stage. He had released many records, but none had reached the top of the US singles chart, the Billboard Hot 100.
“The Candy Man” was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, where actor Aubrey Woods sang it. Davis later recorded his own version for an album, encouraged by record executive Mike Curb.
The song’s success was unusual in Davis’s chart career: it became his only US No. 1 single. It also earned him a Grammy nomination, though he did not have another Hot 100 hit.