Wooly Bully is the debut studio album by the band Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, released in 1965 on MGM Records SE-4297 (stereo). It was released following the success of their hit "Wooly Bully", and contains a mixture of cover songs and original compositions. It is an early example of Tex-Mex music that was also being popularized by groups like Sir Douglas Quintet, Freddy Fender and ? and the Mysterians.
The song "Wooly Bully" was recorded at Phillips Recording Service in Memphis, which was owned by Sam Phillips.
Reception The album reached No. 26 on the Billboard albums chart on August 28, 1965. Allmusic's Eugene Chadbourne gives it a -star rating, writing that the band performed originals and cover songs with equal skill and the album was worth hearing beyond the hit song "Wooly Bully".
Track listing
Side one "Wooly Bully" (Domingo Samudio) – 2:20 "The Memphis Beat" (Milton Addington, Allen Reynolds) – 2:09 "I Found a Love" (Alonzo Tucker, Jackie Wilson) – 2:10 "Go-Go Girls" (David Martin) – 2:13 "Every Woman I Know (Crazy 'Bout An Auto)" (Billy "The Kid" Emerson) – 2:17 "Haunted House" (Robert Geddins) – 3:10
Side two "Juímonos (Let's Went)" (Samudio) – 2:30 "Shotgun" (Autry DeWalt II) – 2:50 "Sorry 'Bout That" (Stan Kesler, Gary McEwen) – 1:55 "Gangster of Love" (Johnny "Guitar" Watson) – 2:18 "Mary Lee" (Samudio) – 2:23 "Long Tall Sally" (Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, Richard Penniman) – 1:45
Personnel
Musicians
Domingo "Sam" Samudio – lead vocals and backing vocals, Farfisa organ Ray Stinnett – electric guitar and backing vocals David A. Martin – bass and backing vocals (died 1987) Butch Gibson – saxophone and backing vocals Jerry Patterson – drums
Technical Stan Kesler – producer Val Valentin – engineer Bill Webb – photography Joy Webb – photography
Charts Chart (1965) Peakposition US Top LPs (Billboard)26
Singles Year Single Chart Position1965 "Wooly Bully" US Billboard Hot 1002
References