Bobby Darin - Legendary Bobby Darin
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Free Music Notes for Legendary Bobby Darin
Free Music Review: Darin Had More Natural Ability Than Sinatra or Bennett
Hit: 5 Stars
Bobby Darin could sing swing, blues, pop, rock, gospel, country & Western and folk. He had a delivery and stage presence second to none, and he could sell a tune---especially a jazz-swing tunr---far better than any other singer in popular music. A reviewer from Januray 29, 2005 seems to think Darin was "delegated to the second tier." I think he meant to write "relegated," but in either case, I think the fellow is more than a little mistaken. Darin is the only singer in the past sixty years to actually rival Sinatra as a swinging balladeer and was at least Frank's equal as a cabaret performer. The likes of Jonny Mercer, Henry Mancini, Sammy Davis Jr., and Wayne Newton have all held this very same opinion. Even in Bennett's peak years he was never as popular as Darin, and outside of Bennett's often grating human vibrato voice, Darin's talent was far greater than Bennett's. Bennett sells himself as a jazz singer, but when he tries to swing he sounds awkward and unexciting, like a nerd trying to be hip. Darin had syncopation, baby. He was cool, he didn't have to try to be cool. As for Mel Torme, whom I always liked and admired, to compare him with Darin is an travesty. Torme was not a belter, but a smooth-voiced crooner who sang jazz almost exclusively. Darin was a song stylist out of the belter, not crooner mold. Yet he could also sing standards with the best of them, with an impeccable sense of drama on ballads and an incomparable rythym on swing numbers. Bobby Darin's only shortfall was that he lived too short a life to have permanantly registered in many people's long-term memories. I pose this question to the fellow from Arlingon, Virgina: Could you picture Tony Bennett singing "If I Were A Carpenter?" Or Mel Torme singing "Dream Lover?" Or Sinatra siinging "You're the Reason I'm Living?" A folk ballad, rock ballad, and Country Blues....only a singer as versatile as Darin could have pulled off such a feat. Listen to his phrasing and breath control (despite his horrible heart condition) on his renditions of "Try To Remember" and "Once Upon A Time." Then listen to him swing and belt on "Artificial Flowers," "A Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square," "Beyond the Sea," "Lazy River," etc. Darin had more vocal dexterity---not to mention charisma---than Tony Bennett ever had. So Bennett shattered glass---does loudness---of the most annoying type--- make a great singer? As for Sinatra, well, he was Sinatra. But a good argument can be made that after his Capital years his name was bigger than his talent. Many music critics have opined that he was an enormously overrated singer. That may not be too popular an opinion, but it has genuine merit. Not quite sure why people seem to relish demoting Bobby Darin's ability. Had you seen him perform live at the Copa or in Vegas, you would have long ago forgotten Tony Bennett and "relegated" Mel Torme to a nice, silky-voiced jazz specialist who, nevertheless, in no way compared with Bobby Darin.Free Music Review: "all the stars in heaven performances ~ Bobby Darin"
Hit: 5 Stars
Capitol Records presents some of the best arrangers in the business Billy May, Ernie Freeman, Jimmie Haskell, Jack Nitzsche, Donald Peake and Richard Weiss creating a sound for a young vocalist by the name of Bobby Darin ~ the album "Legendary Bobby Darin", must have been a labor of love by the label, co-founder Johnny Mercer loved Darin like a son ~ it certainly shows with all the talent that was available and at Bobby's disposal ~ the performances by Darin are showstoppers, remastering every track with tender loving care ~ several tracks "MACK THE KNIFE", "HITS MEDLEY: SPLISH SPLASH/BEYOND THE SEA/ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS/CLEMENTINE" and "THE CURTAIN FALLS" [live-The Flamingo Las Vegas in 1963], all previously unreleased...for us collectors and "music junkies", this is a rare find.
The entire project is a stand out...two Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer tunes "CHARADE"[1964] AND "MOON RIVER"[1963], award winning songs from two of the best ~ several tunes composed by Darin "AS LONG AS I'M SINGING" [1963], Billy May arrangement, then we have "YOU'RE THE REASON I'M LIVING" [1962] reached #3 on the pop charts, "VENICE BLUE" [1965] Ernie Freeman Arrangement, "IF A MAN ANSWERS" [1962] Jimmie Haskell arrangement, "18 YELLOW ROSES" [1963] Jack Nietzsche arrangement ~ Darin could write songs on a bet, never looked back only has a purpose to suceed.
From ballads, swingin' standards and grass root folk tunes...Bobby covers them all ~ my personal favorites on this collection "A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE", "THE GOOD LIFE", "OH! LOOK AT ME NOW", "CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE" and "SOFTLY, AS I LEAVE YOU"...each track tugs at your heartstrings, feelings are stirred when this young artist performs...when I listen to this recording memories flow in my mind and I'm back when my children were young...life was better and the world was safer...Darin was probably one of the few entertainers that could do it all...Bobby's back up there and we're better for it...gotta love it!
Total Time: 66:17 on 24 Tracks ~ Capitol 94577 ~ (9/28/2004)
Free Music Review: Will Leave You Wanting "More".
Hit: 5 Stars
Few performers led a more exciting and ultimately tragic life like that of Bobby Darin's. Not expected to live past 16 due to a heart condition, Bobby managed to squeeze an extra 26 years and become one of the most legendary performers in American popular culture. Darin was a gifted singer who could master jazz, showtunes, rock, pop, folk and gospel like few others, and was also successful as an actor, scoring a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for his motion picture work, and was also skilled at dancing and impersonations.
The 24 song "The Legendary Bobby Darin" is a most excellent snapshot of Bobby's versatility and dedication as an artist. Each song is sung with passion and soul, as Bobby ventures from showtunes ("Hello Dolly", "On The Street Where You Live") to great American standards (his amazing version of "More", "Moon River", "Call Me Irresponsible") to folk ("If I We Were A Carpenter"), all done with his trademark style and dedication. Only Frank Sinatra was able to trump Bobby Darin's talent as a vocalist, and even Frank couldn't nail "Mack The Knife" half as good as Bobby.
Because this collection is marketed by Capitol, early Atco hits like "Dream Lover" and "Queen Of The Hop" are omitted, while "Mack The Knife", "Beyond The Sea" and "Splish Splash" are included in live versions, all of which demonstrate that Bobby was just as, if not more, exciting onstage as he was on the turntables.
The liner notes by Will Friedwald are absolutely a joy to read, and the remastering job is fantastic. Right now, Bobby is in Heaven, hopefully thrilled to know how loved he still is today.
Free Music Review: Wonderful *Sound* With *Live* Cuts!
Hit: 5 Stars
THE LEGENDARY BOBBY DARIN is a fantastic CD and a great place to start for someone who is just discovering this talented singer, like me. All of the tracks have been digitally remastered and they sound as good as though they've been recorded yesterday.
There are some unreleased versions of his famous songs like a live version of "Mack The Knife" and a hits medley that's also live. Some of the folk and country songs like "If I Were A Carpenter," "You're The Reason I'm Living," and the Roy Orbison tinged "Yellow Roses" were my least favorite on this album, but they demonstrate the incredible diversity of Darin's vocal prowess.
I've been listening to this CD all day long! It's filled with catchy and infectious tunes that you can't help but tap your feet to the beat of it.
It comes with a small fold out booklet with liner notes by Will Friedwald and song information.
Anyway this is such a good place to start for newcomers to Bobby Darin's music. There's also a set Original Album Series:Bobby Darin/Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles/That's All/Things & Other ThingsThis Is Darin/ that I just ordered, which collects five of his earlier albums.
I highly recommend this CD to those who enjoy swinging songs with big band type accompaniment, and a singer who can really sing!
Free Music Review: Like A Shooting Star
Hit: 5 Stars
Capitol has done an excellent job with "The Legendary Bobby Darin." The technical remastering makes it feel like Bobby's back sitting in the living room. On the Mancini/Mercer tune the wild bass and great percussion zips and tinkles through the speakers with Bobby, the great entertainer, flying through the melody at breakneck speed. His two big Atco hits "Beyond the Sea" (#1) and "Mack the Knife" (#6) are recorded for Capitol in live versions recorded a decade apart. The Lerner/Loewe classic "On the Street Where You Live" has such a throbbing big band arrangement that Darin swings it like a bullet train shooting at a blazing speed. "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" makes this delightful melody shine while the remastering makes the band so fresh & clear. Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" blows by like a fast tornado while the Mancini classic "Moon River" meanders like country stream. Darin penned "Venice Blue" that is a bombastic sentimental tune, perfect for some Italian bistro soundtrack. The rocking Darin-penned "If A Man Answers" is a delightful time capsule to the rock era of the early 60s. The disc ends with 3 live tracks highlighting Darin's loose and easy live performance style. This is an excellent set from one entertainer whose career went by too quickly, like a shooting star. Enjoy!