I've Gotta Be Me (CD - 1968)

It's no surprise that Sammy Davis Jr. makes a satisfying meal out of juicy arrangements like that of "Once in a Lifetime," one of the many classic cuts on offer in this collection of the singer's prime recordings for his Rat Pack buddy Frank Sinatra's Reprise label. But Davis Jr.'s performances here on downbeat songs like "Lush Life" and a beautiful, guitar-accompanied "Here's That Rainy Day" are a revelation, providing a pleasing, minor-key contrast to his better-known, showboating signature songs, such as "I've Gotta Be Me," "Gonna Build a Mountain," and "What Kind of Fool Am I." minimize