The Candy Man (1972) - A hit feel good song that almost didn't happen as sung by Sammy Davis Jr.
Per Casey Kassum: Sammy Davis Jr. rejected requests for him to record this song. He said it was a kid's song and wasn't in line with his singing style. But his label overruled him and reluctantly he went to the recording booth and gave them one take. ONE take. And it went on to be the only number one song that Sammy Davis Jr. ever sang. On a Johnny Carson appearance he would thank his label for forcing him to sing it.
""The Candy Man," sung by Sammy Davis Jr., was probably the greatest "feel good" song of the 70's, and perhaps of all time. Originally appearing in the 1971 film, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the later cover by Davis became a smash hit ... and was the only Sammy Davis hit single to reach #1. On June 10, 1972, "The Candy Man" reached #1 on Billboard for a three-week run and #1 on Cash Box for one week. Only Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" in 1980 came close to equaling the good time feel of this song. "
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