Customer Reviews

The Curtain Falls: Live at the Flamingo

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This one CD alone showcases the depth of Bobby Darin's outstanding talent. He performs every song with feeling and emotion, giving the listener the enjoyment they deserve. In this CD, he covers every genre of music, from the swinging standards to his well known hits, from country to folk to gospel, with his great sense of humor and comedy mixed right in. His impersonations are wonderful, from Jimmy Stewart to Cary Grant. It's all here, at its best. The band backing him up is superb, making this the perfect musical combination. You feel as though you're actually there. One of the best live performances ever recorded, and one of the best CDs ever made. I highly recommend it, and am very grateful it was released after having been stored away for so many years. Whether you love Bobby Darin and/or really good music- BUY IT! It's just as good as "Sinatra at the Sands." Recorded in early November, 1963.

Before this live performance--November, 1963, at the Flamingo Hotel--Bobby Darin had announced that this would be "the closing night club performance for me for quite a while." Only twenty-seven and suffering from heart problems, he was already using oxygen between sets, his high-energy live performances so draining that retirement in favor of less strenuous aspects of his career was his only option. Here he gives his all in one stupendous complete performance at the Flamingo.

A mature performer, despite his age, Darin does everything from hot rock and roll to swing, moody ballads, folk, and a bluesy spiritual. Sounding Sinatra-like on the ballads at the beginning of the show--"Ace in the Hole," which he does "dirty," and "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You"--he works the room, progressing into comedy with a "Medley of 'Ballads,'" including "Splish Splash," and "Beyond the Sea," before reverting once again to a real ballad, "My Funny Valentine," the purest and prettiest song on the CD. As soon as the audience is feeling sentimental, however, he hits them with his version of "I Walk the Line," which begins, "I keep my pants up with a piece of twine."

"Mack the Knife," his 1959 Record of the Year, may (or may not) show his failing health. Though he gradually increases the song's tempo and passion, much of the intensity at the climax comes from the band, which becomes noticeably louder, though Darin's voice does not. A ten-minute comedy routine follows, in which he plays a drunk talking with a bartender, giving impressions of Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Marlon Brando, and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, among others. The audience participates in the folk songs, "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" and "Mary Don't You Weep," and then Darin sings the touching "I'm on My Way, Great God," a bluesy (and sadly ironic) spiritual which he composed.

On the final track, "The Curtain Falls," a song written as a farewell to performing, Darin sings "If I had this to do again, and the evening were new again, I would spend it with you again, but now the curtain falls." I'm sure there was not a dry eye in the house. (Darin felt well enough to return to the stage 2 1/2 years later but died following heart surgery at age 37.) Mary Whipple

If you don't love Bobby Darin All The Way, this is not the "live" CD for you - "Live at the Copa" is much better - this is Bobby just as he was trying some transitional music- can you imagine sitting in a club in Vegas in '63 and this dude starts with "Michael Row the Boat ..." Darin's energy was gone from his act, I think due to personal distractions and his frustration with the changing audience. For DArin die-hards like me, every note the man sang is perfect, but retrospectively this marked the beginning of a difficult period in Bobby's life.

Bobby Darin considered this to be his last "live" performance at the time this was recorded; but thank goodness he did entertain people on TV and in other appearances for a decade more. Darin was able to do anything: Booby Darin could croon, swing, do rock and roll and impressions all like the "pro's pro" he truly was. This CD proves Darin's artistry shone brilliantly when he performed in public; and it also demonstrates his ability to lead his audience wherever he wanted them to go.

The CD opens with an electric rendition of "Hello Young Lovers" and switches gears somewhat for the slower paced "Ace In The Hole." The piano arrangement accompanies Bobby flawlessly. I like the way Bobby and the band switch arrangements mid-stream as they go into what is a decidedly a much more big band style arrangement. Excellent!

"You're Nobody `Til Somebody Loves You" represents a high point in this concert as Bobby croons to perfection with his band playing so beautifully. Bobby and the band are in perfect synchronicity; as they get louder his voice raises, too. I agree with the reviewer who writes that on "Mack The Knife" Bobby's voice cannot rise in volume as much as the band does; and I also noticed that this happens a second time near the very end of "You're Nobody `Til Somebody Loves You." Unfortunately, his poor health may account for the fact that he couldn't quite get these few last notes out firmly enough.

Bobby also does a great medley of four songs with high octane energy in barely more than three minutes: he sings "Splish Splash/Beyond The Sea/Artificial Flowers/Clementine" without a superfluous note. The audience loves it as they applaud wildly and you'll love it, too! Bobby rarely performed "Splish Splash" live so this track adds great value to this CD.

Bobby's rendition of "My Funny Valentine" moves me with its beauty; and Bobby excels at comedy, too. For this concert Bobby does a nine minute comedy routine with great impressions of Jerry Lewis, James Cagney, Dean Martin and Clark Gable amongst other greats.

"Michael (Row The Boat Ashore)" gets the royal treatment from Bobby and the band; together they emphasize the spiritual beauty of this ballad. "I'm On My Way Great God" is, unfortunately, semi-autobiographical as Bobby Darin knew his life would be a short one because he was born with a rheumatic heart. The closing number, "The Curtain Falls" boasts a strikingly beautiful musical arrangement; Bobby thought he didn't want to perform live ever again and so Bobby chose "The Curtain Falls" to share his feelings with his audience about "the closing nightclub appearance for (him) for quite a while." The piano intro shines and Bobby sings this with an extra special sensitivity to end the concert precisely the way he wanted it to end. "The Curtain Falls" evokes sentimental feelings for his past triumphs and provides an ending for this concert that is as sweet as it is strong.

The liner notes have an extensive essay about Bobby's life and career written by James Ritz; and the cover art is tastefully done. Excellent!

Bobby Darin possessed such energy and strength whenever he performed that people will never forget him. His CDs are still selling to this day. I highly recommend this for Bobby Darin fans and people who enjoy classic pop vocals.

I actually own a different version of this album: "Bobby Darin Live from Las Vegas" released by Capitol Records as part of their Las Vegas Centennial Collection. It is the same recording as this album. As it appears out of print I am reviewing it here.

This recording of the great Bobby Darin's final performance at The Flamingo in '63 is a true masterpiece. Darin had a way, unlike any crooner of his time, to take songs everyone knew, and turn them into something you have never heard before. This is particularly evident in his rendition of "You're Nobody Until Somebody Loves You." Dean Martin's version tends to be the most popular recording of this song, which is usually upbeat and lovey-duby. Whenever I hear Darin's version on this album it gives me chills. His arrangement has a more darker, depressed mood to it, building slowly and culminating in an eruption of emotion. Most of this album has that feel...you almost get the feeling that Darin knew he wasn't going to be around much longer and sense his despair. It seems a rather eerie coincidence that "I'm On My Way to Greet God" was chosen for this final performance. Even still, the recording showcases classic, swinging Darin, and it really stands as great portrait of his versatility and capabilities. It's a shame that the curtain fell so soon on such a great performer.

Listening to this Bobby Darin album brings back memories of the era during which he was popular. I'm glad Hollywood made a movie of his life starring Kevin Spacey (who incidentally did all his own singing). Although Darin enjoyed a good deal of popularity during his comparatively short lifetime, I think he was greatly underrated. His choice of songs shows he can sing a smooth ballad, or belt out a "Mack the Knife" type of tune. I have to admit I'm prejudiced toward the singers of the past i.e. Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Al Martino, Dean Martin et al. They were singers you could listen to over and over again and never tire of them. Unlike the "singers" of today. Bobby Darin definitely belongs in the same class as Sinatra, Bennett, Martino and Martin. For sentimental reasons alone, I highly recommend this and any other album by Bobby Darin

This is another Darin.
Bobby shows himself as a fine entertainer and tries to fit in the shoes or the footsteps of Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr..
Classy.