Customer Reviews

Mack the Knife: The Bobby Darin Story

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Wow, this CD is awesome, Bobby Darin had a wonderful voice, he sounds like he was one hip, cool guy! Though these days people really don't use this word I think groovy is an excellent word to describe him! I ordered this CD and when it arrived and I listened to it I found that it wasn't what I had expected, I had expected just songs and not to hear Bobby Darin talking about his songs too, but the more I listened to the CD the more I liked it and his talking about the songs is pretty cool, my favorite songs on this CD are Mack The Knife, and Beyond The Sea, very groovy songs indeed! I'm still looking for those songs on an album that has no talking but I wouldn't trade this CD in for anything! I Very highly recommend this cool CD for any major Bobby Darin fan! Also, I know Mack The Knife is a violent sounding song but the way in which he sang the song was just so cool, groovy, no one sings this song like Bobby Darin!

My great-grandmother bought this album back in 1961 (a mono issue, that had a white cover), and it had Bobby's engraved signature in the trail off area. But, years later, the copy she had got ruined, and I bought another one a few years ago, having Bobby's signature in the trail off area (this one was in mono). Stereo issues from 1961 of this album had a black cover, but it is unknown as to how many had Bobby's engraved signature or how many didn't. Anyway, this album is a must have for anyone who is into Bobby Darin's music (I would recommend getting this album along with the movie Beyond the Sea). He left us back in late 1973, but his music and other works (especially this album) will go on forever more.

Some of the greatest pop songs of all time are included on this compilation. Bobby Darin was a major contemporary music icon in his day. His career is amply represented here, starting with the early pop lightheartedness of "Splish Splash". You can hear Darin's maturity as a singer through to the non-stop swing of "Mack the Knife", a masterpiece of swing/pop interpretation. The inflections and fills that Darin adds make it an enduring classic. The real gem is the unbeatable "Beyond the Sea". For an idea of just how perfect a pop song and its arrangement can be, listen this cut a few times. The rest of the songs are not as well known, but are highly listenable and masterfully arranged. For an example of how talented this performer was, check out "Clementine", a fairly maudlin folk song, here turned into a rollicking masterpiece.

The sound quality is vintage '50s, so don't expect perfection. But this doesn't get in the way of an excellent compilation.

This album should be of especial interest to any Boby Darin fan, because it is narrated by Darin himself. It includes many of his best hits from the late 50's and early 60's, although the cuts are not, at least in some instances, the ones released as singles. Anyone who is not familiar with songs like "Clementine" and "Artificial Flowers" should look into picking up this CD. I actually wore out two LP's of this album when I was a kid, which I cannot say about any other record.

For those who are looking for the original songs on this album: I still have the vinyl record of this album - I was just a teen when I acquired it (I'm now almost 60).

I wanted this album on CD since my vinyl copy is worn out, and for the most part I'm happy with it, but I must tell you who may be looking for the same thing I was is that the song "Clementine" is not the original version on the vinyl album of the "Bobby Darin Story." The original version is on the album "The Ultimate Bobby Darin."

As to the narration on this album by Mr Darin regarding his career - that is one of the signature parts of this CD, and I wouldn't have purchased it without those.

One last thing: the edit of some of the songs on this CD are really bad, especially if you listen with headphones. The singer's track is made to jump back and forth from left to right channel. It's really quite maddening and distracting. This occurs on at least 5 of the songs. Once more, the original edit of many of these is on the CD "The Ultimate Bobby Darin."

I listen to the Bobby Darin Story all the time. I never get tired of listening to it. I am in my early 30's so I wasn't born or was way to small to remember Bobby in his hey day. I can only imagine what a great show he gave in person. If you like Bobby darin then you must get this CD and you will fall in love with Bobby Dain all over again

This disc contains some of Bobby's greatest hits. I am a fan of the big band era and Bobby is backed up on most of his songs by a swinging big band and this anbum is no different. Great listening.