Bobby Darin's "Commitment" LP on CD for the First Time Ever

The Edsel label in the UK will continue its program of fantastic Bobby Darin re-issues in September, with the release of the historic "Bob Darin: Commitment" LP from 1969 (never before available on CD). This was the second of Darin's 2 albums on his own Direction label, and the only album he ever released under the name 'Bob Darin.' Like his first Direction album ("Born Walden Robert Cassotto," coming from Edsel on 08/21/2007), "Commitment" is composed entirely of original material, and thus stands as one Darin's most heartfelt and honest artistic expressions.

Standout tracks include the sly and clever "Distractions (Part 1)," the biting "Song For a Dollar," the snappy wordplay of "Me and Mr. Hohner", and the irresistibly catchy "Jive." Bobby Darin was a first class songwriter with a playful approach to language, and this album found him in top form.

Edsel has also included 10 tracks of additional material from the Direction era, under the title "Rare Darin." Among these tracks, "City Life" and "Route 58" are true gems, as they both represent insights into Darin's past and his personal and artistic struggles. Of course, the rest of it is pretty darned nifty too, especially the live tracks from a 1969 appearance at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles.

A pre-order listing for the "Bob Darin: Commitment/Rare Darin" CD will be posted on the DarinLand.com site soon. Keep an eye on this space for updates.

Meanwhile, here are the full details on the upcoming "Commitment/Rare Darin" CD:

BOB DARIN
COMMITMENT + RARE DARIN
EDSS 1015

COMMITMENT
Me And Mr Hohner / Sugar-Man / Sausalito (The Governor's Song) / Song For A Dollar / The Harvest / Distractions (Part 1) / Water Color Canvas / Jive / Hey Magic Man / Light Blue

RARE DARIN
Baby May / Sweet Reasons / Maybe We Can Get It Together / Rx-Pyro (Prescription: Fire) / City Life / Route 58 / Distractions (Part 1) [live at The Troubadour 1969] / Long Line Rider [live at The Troubadour 1969] / Simple Song Of Freedom [live at The Troubadour 1969] / Monologue; Questions [live at The Troubadour 1969]

New Bobby Darin CD: “Sings Doctor Dolittle/Born Walden Robert Cassotto”

The good news coming from UK label Demon/Edsel just never seems to stop. First, they gift Bobby Darin fans with re-issues of the "Shadow of Your Smile/In a Broadway Bag" and "If I Were a Carpenter/Inside Out" 2-on-1 CDs... and now, they're bringing us a 2-on-1 disc containing the "Bobby Darin Sings Doctor Dolittle" and "Born Walden Robert Cassotto" LPs. Yes, you read that right: for the first time ever, "Bobby Darin: Born Walden Robert Cassotto" will be available on CD. The release date for the "Dolittle/Born Walden Robert Cassotto" disc is 08/21/2007. You can pre-order it now at the DarinLand.com site.

HA... CHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bobby Darin sings Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" (video clip)

Here's another amazing number from the "Seeing is Believing" DVD: Bobby Darin demonstrates what dynamics are all about, in this brilliant rendition of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." This performance is an object lesson in how a song should be sung. Pay close attention, kids! There will be a quiz...

Click the link below to see the clip:

Bobby Darin sings Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"

Bobby Darin sings "I Got Rhythm" in 1961 (and dances too!) (video clip)

Here he is, in all his singing, dancing glory, the one, the only, the multi-talented Mr. Bobby Darin. This clip is taken from his 1961 TV special, "Bobby Darin and Friends," and it serves once again to demonstrate the limitless nature of this man's talent. Just watch him move. He has the music surging through his nervous system. He is the music, shaped into the flesh and blood marvel known as Bobby Darin.

To see the clip, click this link:

Bobby Darin sings "I Got Rhythm" in 1961

HA CHA!

2 new Bobby Darin CDs out today!!!

Today is the day: the Edsel label re-issues of Bobby Darin's classic LPs, "Sings the Shadow of Your Smile," "In a Broadway Bag," "If I Were a Carpenter" and "Inside Out" are finally back in print. "Shadow" and "Broadway" are together on one disc, "Carpenter" and "Inside Out" are together on another. And both discs are packed with amazing bonus tracks.

This is nothing short of a minor miracle, when you consider the glorious Bobby Darin recordings to be found on these discs:

"Shadow" boasts the intensely romantic "I Will Wait For You," the delightfully playful "Cute," and Bobby's own brilliant composition, "Rainin'." "Broadway Bag" ranges from the cool rhythm of "Feelin' Good" to the explosive joy of "It's Today" to the melancholy beauty of "Once Upon a Time."

"Carpenter" has another fabulous Bobby original, "Amy," plus the smilin' classic "Lovin' You" and the heartbreakingly powerful "Until It's Time for You to Go." "Inside Out" includes the warm and gentle "About You," the kicky and ironic "Bes' Friends," and another fabulous Darin original, "I Am."

It's a good day to be a Bobby Darin fan.

HA CHA doesn't even begin to cover it... :)

Bobby Darin sings Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

This is absolutely exquisite. Bobby Darin delivers a soul-stirring, gospel-infused rendition of Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." This is a magnificent of marriage of singer to song, demonstrating once again the fact that Bobby Darin is one of the finest and most truthful lyrical interpreters of our time.

Click this link to see the clip:

Bobby Darin sings "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Bobby Darin sings "Sally Was a Good Old Girl"

Like everything else he did, Bobby Darin's approach to country music was entirely unique. He could deliver a completely traditional reading of a song, or take it in a new and exciting direction. In the case of the Harlan Howard number "Sally Was A Good Old Girl," (from the 1963 Capitol album "You're the Reason I'm Living") he opted for the latter. This is country that swings, propelled by horns and infused with Bobby's righteously rhythmic vocal style. To hear Bobby swingin' country, click the link:

Bobby Darin sings "Sally Was A Good Old Girl"

HA, and I do mean, CHA!

--Michael

Bobby Darin sings "I'm On My Way, Great God" (video clip)

Bobby Darin sang spirituals with more power and soul than almost anyone. This beautiful black and white footage of him singing "I'm On My Way, Great God" is bound to send shivers up your spine. Absolutely stunning.

Bobby's studio recording of "I'm On My Way" originally appeared on the now out-of-print "Earthy" LP, but a live version can still be found on the "Curtain Falls: Live at the Flamingo" CD.

Bobby Darin and Judy Garland sing a Goin' Home Medley

This is a super kick! Two of the most delightful entertainers of our age, Bobby Darin and Judy Garland, easing into a smooth and catchy medley of travelin' tunes. Listen for Bobby slipping in a few lines from his friend Johnny Mercer's classic "Blues in the Night." And as an extra bonus for Darin fans, there's a finger-snappin' bit from "Some of These Days." HA CHA indeed!

Bobby Darin sings Work Song (video clip)

This clip from the "Seeing is Believing" DVD demonstrates the incredible versatility of the one and only Mr. Bobby Darin. No one could get inside a song like Bobby, and no one could draw so much raw, real emotion from a lyric as Bobby could. His take on the Nat Adderley/Oscar Brown, Jr. tune "Work Song" is a study in tension, power, and mood. Sheer brilliance.

Click the link below to see the clip:

Bobby Darin sings "Work Song" from the Seeing is Believing DVD

Bobby Darin sings "If I Were a Carpenter" in 1970

Here's something to hold us all over until the "If I Were a Carpenter/Inside Out" and "Shadow of Your Smile/In a Broadway Bag" re-issue CDs are out. The release date for these discs has been re-scheduled (it's now 07/17/2007, a week later than originally planned), so we've got a few extra days to wait! You can still pre-order them at DarinLand.com, and thus get your copy sent out to you the day they hit the street.

In the meantime, enjoy this clip of Bobby Darin singing "If I Were a Carpenter" in 1970...

Bobby Darin on the Sopranos

Here's a fun little clip: Bobby Darin's original name, Walden Robert Cassotto, gets a clever mention on The Sopranos. Gotta love the writer who knew enough about Bobby Darin to slip this line in. Very cool!

Bobby Darin sings in the trailer for Disney/Pixar's "Ratatouille"

Thanks to my friends Fil Marchese and Joy Cash for alerting me to this: Bobby Darin's rousing rendition of "Once in a Lifetime" is being used in the trailer for the new Disney/Pixar film "Ratatouille." From all reports, the song isn't actually in the film itself, but the fact that it's playing on the front of Disney's official "Ratatouille" site means it will be heard by millions!

You can also see the trailer on the front of the DarinLand.com site. Just go to DarinLand.com and click play!

Note: Bobby's song is used toward the end, as part of the windup and the Big Finish. And I have to say, I think it is used brilliantly. The lyrics, the attitude, Bobby's exciting delivery all compliment the visuals and the theme of the movie perfectly. HA CHA!

Review your favorite Bobby Darin CD or DVD

The DarinLand.com website needs reviews of Bobby Darin CDs and DVDs. Go to DarinLand.com, page through the Darin CDs and DVDs, find your favorite, then click the "write a review" button at the bottom of the page. Let other fans know what you think! Once your review is approved, it'll appear on the site, with your credit, and it might also be selected as the Featured Review for that release. Thanks!

Bobby Darin sings "On Broadway" from the "18 Yellow Roses" LP

Check out Bobby Darin's driving, building, brilliant rendition of "On Broadway," from the "You're the Reason I'm Living/18 Yellow Roses and 11 Other Hits" 2-fer CD. Love the way the tune just gets more and more intense, till it finally busts out with them drums!

Hear it on the DarinLand MySpace page...

http://www.myspace.com/darinland

This is HA CHA CHA HOT!

Bobby Darin as the Devil on "The Flip Wilson Show"

Here's a little smile to help carry you through the week: Bobby Darin plays the Devil in a comedy skit on "The Flip Wilson Show" (this is an extra on the out-of-print "Mack is Back" DVD). I swear, there's a bit of Burt Lancaster in Bobby's speech about the glory of vice. Testify, brother, testify!







Flip Wilson Show DVDs with Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin sings “For Once In My Life” from “Mack is Back”

Oh MAN this is intense. The band is cookin', the horns are incredible, and Bobby Darin delivers his usual smmmmmmokin' performance. I love the way he slides in a bit of his signature number, "Once in a Lifetime." So clever, so cool, so hot!