PURE CLASSIC DARIN, PURE GOLDEN-ERA ROCK & ROLL
RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 03/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Five HUGE Stars!! Pure "Rock and Roll" FUN as only Darin could sing it, recorded in 1958 and originally released in 1960. How could this album have been pushed aside for other Darin works for so long? Probably because of the title. In one word, it's WONDERFUL, recalling the glory days of the real 'rock and roll' that was big enough to encompass the likes of Elvis, the Platters, Jerry Lee, Johnny Mathis, Little Richard, and Marty Robbins under one tent. In those days, a flotilla of new artists popped up every month with the newest mega-hits: the air play so crowded, they were elbowing each other off the charts before disappearing. Darin was one of the true artists, aside from the 'one-hit wonders' that vanished quickly, who realized he had to be able to go into nightclubs and fill the seats with an expanded audience, age-wise. So "Splish-Splash" gave way to "Mack the Knief" and "Beyond The Sea" and suddenly Frank Sinatra's audience was appreciating him and Bobby was filling venues from New York to Las Vegas. He went into movies and became a Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated actor who married teen heart-throb Sandra Dee, riding high until his career was cut short so tragically by a life-long heart ailment at 37. But he did better than most of the acts that came out of the 'classic rock and roll era' and who knows how far he could have gone. Some of these songs have been collected on the pricey Bobby Rocks and there are 4 bonus tracks which are stereo repeats of other mono versions also included here.
This CD is pure 'glory days' rock and roll fun recalling the "Splish Splash" days of Bobby's big breakout hit on Dick Clark's American Bandstand singing from a tub wrapped in a towel. "Pity Miss Kitty" is a rock revelation. The arrangement and chord changes of "You Know How" recalls Lloyd Price and "You Never Called" recalls Frankie Laine because in those days there was a lot of musical cross-fertilization, but with Bobby's special timing and phrasing he lifts the songs away from the influences making them his personal possessions. "Here I'll Stay" and "Lucky Old Sun" pointed the way to Bobby's future as a headliner in the big clubs that other era acts couldn't compete with. The sound is uneven but that's to be expected. Caution: Amazon.com's MP3 and iTunes omit the title song,"Teenagers Only", and the 4 bonus tracks. This CD is for all of the early fans, before the late/great DJ Alan Freed's term "Rock 'n Roll" was narrowed to today's meaning, and the music will not disappoint. And the CD is also for today's fans to show where 21st Century rock came from. We're Still Missing Bobby Darin! Highly Recommended! Five CLASSIC Stars!! (This review is based on an Amazon.com MP3 download.)"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1