Douglas B. from NEWMARKET, NH Reviewed on 2/23/2010...
If you want to own a single Bobby Darin CD that captures the essence of this performer's range of musical stylings ...... then this is the one for you.
CD Reviews
Bobby Darin is hotter than ever!
J. Powers | Rowley, MA United States | 09/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"..Kevin Spacey's BEYOND THE SEA..the Bobby Darin biopic (opening in November!) will introduce a generation to the Master Showman for all times! BOBBY DARIN could out-SING..out-DANCE..out-ACT..out-ENTERTAIN any and all who have come and gone since his life was cut tragically short at the age of 37 in 1973. This new Capitol CD release represents some of his best performances..and if you are already a Darin fan and think you already have a lot of these cuts...THINK AGAIN!!! On "The Legendary Bobby Darin", CAPITOL has done a tremendous job remastering these classics...it will be like you're hearing them for the first time..Darin's impeccable phrasing and cool sense of rhythm blend with a rich and vibrant orchestration! LOOKOUT FRANK, DEAN, TONY, HARRY and all the rest..OL' MACKIE IS BACK!"
Bobby Darin ROCKS!!
genx | California | 09/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being in my late 20's, I'm too young to have experienced Darin 1st hand and until recently was not very familiar with his body of work. I do partially credit Kevin Spacey for the introduction but it wasn't until months after I saw the movie that I was really itching to get my hands on a Darin album.
"Beyond the Sea" is one of my all time favorites and I thought it was really silly that I didn't have a single version of it in my music collection. Unlike a previous poster, I would rather hear a live version of a song over a studio version any day. That is to say as long as the singer can actually sing. I have literally played the version of "Beyond the Sea" on this album everyday for weeks. It's a song you want blast in your convertible with the top down. Sadly I do not own a convertible but am considering purchasing one solely for this purpose. :)
While I don't like all the songs on the album (I'm not a fan of folk or country), I would have paid $15 just for the 5 live tracks on the album
"
Like A Shooting Star
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 05/01/2005
(5 out of 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!"
Extraordinary!
Dan | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 07/06/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"And extraordinary collection of Bobby Darin music. Featuring live recordings of Beyond The Sea, Mack The Knife, The Curtain Falls, Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher And Higher, and also an excellent, live medley of his hits Splish Splash, Beyond The Sea, Artifical Flowers, and Clementine.
For the price of $14.98 you get twenty-four, excellent versions of popular songs sung by Darin. If you want to look at the technicalities of pricing, your spending around 62 cents a song. You cannot do better than that, and every song is worth it. I highly recommend this CD."
Swingin' Bobby Darin
Martin 13 | Slovenia | 07/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another compilation of Bobby Darin. Bobby Darin is one of the greatest artists in pop music. He started as a rock 'n' roll artist (Splih Splash, Dream Lover,...) and composer in late fifties of previous century than turned into swing music. He inspired a lot of singers, Brian Setzer (he recorded As Long As I'm Singin', A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Mack The Knife), Dion (to name just a few). And everything he did is great.
His first swing hit was Mack the Knife (from Threepeny opera, is here featured live) that became a number one hit. Beyond the Sea is one of my favourite swing songs and it is here featured live also. The orchestra that is backing him is really great and Bobby Darin is a wonderful singer.
On this record you will find mostly swing songs and some folk songs (If I Were a Carpenter, 18 Yellow Roses,...)that he recorded for Capitol.
Sound is rich and songs are great. A must for every swing fan."