Mack the Knife: The Bobby Darin Story

Bobby Darin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: February 7, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atco
• ASIN: B000002IAG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #220,261 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Every one of Bobby's early hits from 1959-1961, when he was a great pop singer and a great rock 'n' roll singer: Splish Splash; Early in the Morning; Queen of the Hop; Plain Jane; Dream Lover; Mack the Knife; Beyond the Sea; Clementine; Bill Bailey; Artificial Flowers, and more. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Who mixed this!, June 11, 2000

By 

T.J. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mack the Knife: The Bobby Darin Story (Audio CD)

There's not much more to be said about this CD than what the other reviewers have said already EXCEPT the mixing. The whole CD is in true stereo and sounds great, but interestingly on a few songs, Bobby's voice seems to change places a few times. It becomes very distracting especially on "Somebody To Love," in which the instruments, lead vocal, and chorus jump around the speakers numerous times.

Someone had a field day mixing this CD, or was it like this on the original album in '61? Otherwise, the sound quality is great and at least it's in stereo.

There isn't one bad song either, except for "Artificial Flowers" which is a strangely upbeat song about a poor orphan girl who gets frozen to death, which I think is a little weird. But other than that, a very good CD.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Small collection of early hits., December 16, 1998

By 

Andrew Stein "L.A. Story" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mack the Knife: The Bobby Darin Story (Audio CD)

I agree with the above review but add the following caveats: For the same price, you may buy the "Ultimate Bobby Darin" CD, which includes the same songs plus five more hits. You don't get Darin's commentary on "Ultimate Bobby Darin" (although one disc may have the singles versions of certain songs and the other disc may contains the LP versions--I don't recall), but you simply get more for your money with "Ultimate."

Second, this disc, which appeared originally as an LP in 1961, represents only the first few years of Darin's career. Other CDs offer more songs for the same price, although it remains difficult to find one CD that combines both rock hits and standards, as this CD does.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to the first phase of his career..., September 26, 2002

By 

William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mack the Knife: The Bobby Darin Story (Audio CD)

Bobby Darin could sing any kind of song and nail it. This is a brief collection of his first few years, and includes his own commentary on his career to that point. From the rockabilly teen hit "Splish Splash" to the wonderfully moving way he croons "Beyond the Sea" the disc always satisfies. There are longer collections now available, and reissues of his work in the folk and pop and cabaret styles. If you were old enough to remember Bobby when he was alive, you will probably want to have more than just this one on your shelf. If he's just a name to you, this is a good beginning. The man had talent...not just as a vocalist. He was also a good actor, songwriter and arranger. I've liked him since his first hit, and several times a year just have to have my fix of "Beyond the Sea." One of those songs that taps into my personal mystic chords of memory, I guess. He died too soon, as have so many creative people.