The Candy Man

Album

Sammy Davis Jr. Now

Label

MGM Records

Genre

Stage & Screen

Duration

10:00

Composer(s)

Anthony Newley;Leslie Bricusse

Entered Chart

Mar 11, 1972

Peak Date

Jun 10, 1972

Released

April 1972

Recorded

August 19, 1971 Studio Los Angeles, California

Catalog #

MGM 14320

B-Side

I Want To Be Happy

Aubrey Woods performed this in the 1971 movie Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson. Co-writer Anthony Newley was so appalled at Woods' performance that he asked producers Stan Margulies and David Wolper to let him perform Woods' role if they could reshoot the scene, but Newley's offer was turned down. As the movie wrapped up production, Mike Curb recorded an instrumental backing for the song with Sammy Davis Jr. in mind. The former member of the Rat Pack didn't like the song at first but decided to do it anyway. The result: the biggest hit of Davis' career. Newley wasn't too thrilled with Davis's version either. He was recording his own edition of the song when MGM released Davis's version as a single. Newley was going through a divorce from actress Joan Collins in the same year Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory was released. In 1985, this became the "Sunshine Baker Man" in a television commercial. Davis sang it, too. This song was used in the animated film Madagascar as Alex the lion is hit with a tranquilizer dart. >> After Sammy reluctantly eventually agreed to record the song, he rushed through it in two takes before heading to Vietnam to entertain the troops. "This record is going straight into the toilet," he complained at the time. "Not just around the rim but into the bowl, and it may just pull my whole career down with it." (Source Mojo magazine)

(Candy Man)
(Hey, Candy Man)

Alright everybody gather 'round
The Candy Man is here
What kind of candy do you want?
Sweet chocolate? Chocolate malted candy?
Gum drops, anything you want
You've come to the right man
Because I'm the Candy Man

Who can take a sunrise? (Who can take a sunrise?)
Sprinkle it with dew (sprinkle it with dew)
Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
Ooh, the Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good (makes the world taste good)

Who can take a rainbow? (Who can take a rainbow?)
Wrap it in a sigh (wrap it in a sigh)
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
The Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good (makes the world taste good)

(The Candy Man makes everything he bakes
Satisfying and delicious)
Now you talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes

Oh, who can take tomorrow? (Who can take tomorrow?)
Dip it in a dream (dip it in a dream)
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
Oh, the Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good (makes the world taste good)

(The Candy Man makes everything he bakes
Satisfying and delicious)
Talk about your childhood wishes
You can even eat the dishes
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Who can take tomorrow? (Who can take tomorrow?)
Dip it in a dream (dip it in a dream)
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man (the Candy Man)
The Candy Man can (the Candy Man can)
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good (makes the world taste good)

Yes, the Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good (makes the world taste good)
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
(Makes the world taste good)
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
(Makes the world taste good)
A-Candy Man, a-Candy Man