Wooly Bully – Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop( #2), 1965
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Wooly Bully was recorded by a group from Texas – rather than England – at the height of rock ‘n’ roll’s British Invasion of 1964. Sporting nonsensical lyrics and released on the small XL record label, Wooly Bully seemed to have little chance for success.
However, one should never bet against the record buying public, and its thirst for new pleasures. Surrounded by The Supremes and The Byrds and The Beach Boys, Sam and his Pharaohs’ Tex-Mex rhythms – now released on MGM – sounded like nothing else in the early summer days of 1965.
In fact, with their beturbaned heads they also looked like no other group around. When the single sales were totaled up, Domingo “Sam” Samudio’s tune had earned him a gold record.
This content and the Song Meaning article was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2025 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Stan Kesler
Lyrics Written by:
- Domingo Samudio
Award:
- Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording in 1966
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).