Sammy & Friends
Designed in part to tap into year-2000 hipsters' Rat Pack loyalties,Sammy & Friendsindeed plays like a well-informed collector's mix tape. Swinging through 20 tracks unencumbered by the likes of "The Candy Man" and "I've Gotta Be Me," the CD captures a number of kickin' solo performances as well as collaborations withFrank,Dean,Bing, and others. (By the way, how about a full reissue of the 1965 LP Davis cut withLouis PrimasidekickSam Buteraand his Witnesses?) Note that "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" is included in full versions by both Sammy and Dino--and that it and "Eee-O Eleven" are among the few really good things to emerge from the Pack's undernourished cult flickOcean's 11.--Rickey Wright