Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs Wooly Bully

“Wooly Bully“ is performed by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1965. Based on a standard 12-bar blues progression, the song was written by the band’s frontman, Domingo “Sam“ Samudio. It was released as a single on the small Memphis-based XL label (#906) in 1964 and was picked up in 1965 by MGM. The song was recorded at Sam C. Phillips Recording Studio at 639 Madison Avenue in Memphis, the successor to Phillips’ original Sun Studio. It proved to be the only recording made at the studio to achieve national success. “Wooly Bully“ was the band’s first and biggest hit. It became a worldwide success, selling three million copies and reaching No. 2 on the American Hot 100 chart on June 5–12, 1965, kept off the top by The Beach Boys’ “Help Me, Rhonda“ and The Supremes’ “Back in My Arms Again“. “Wooly Bully“ went to No. 31 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. The song was the first American record to sell a million copies du