Bobby Darin CD Profile: Two of a Kind

Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer: Two of a Kind (Atco 33-126, February 1961)
CD Release: Atlantic 90484, 9/21/1990
Recording Dates: August 13, 14, 17, 1960, Los Angeles, CA
Producer: Ahmet Ertegun
Engineer: Bill Putnam
Arrangements: Billy May
Musicians: Billy May (cond)
AUG 13, 14-John Best, Dick Cathcart, Manny Klein (tp); Ed Kusby, Bill Schaefer, Elmer Schneider (tb); Chuck Gentry, Skeets Herfurt, Eddie Miller, Wilbur Schwartz (sax); Milton Raskin (p); George Van Eps (g); Morty Corb (b); Ronnie Zito (d).

AUG 17-Same personnel except: Conrad Gozzo replaces Manny Klein on trumpet.

Original LP Sequence:

Side 1:
Two of a Kind (Bobby Darin/Johnny Mercer) (August 17)
Indiana (Ballard MacDonald/James F. Hanley) (August 17)
Bob White (Johnny Mercer/Bernie Hanighen) (August 13)
Ace in the Hole (James Dempsey/George Mitchell) (August 17)
East of the Rockies (Sid Robin/Lou Singer) (August 13)
If I Had a Druthers (Johnny Mercer/Gene DePaul) (August 14)

Side 2:
I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jellyroll (Spencer Williams/Clarence Williams) (August 14)
Lonesome Polecat (Johnny Mercer/Gene DePaul) (August 14)
My Cutey's Due at Two-to-Two Today (Al Von Tilzer/Irving Bibo/Leo Robin) (August 13)
Medley: Paddlin' Madelin' Home (Harry Woods), Row Row Row (Jimmy Monaco/William Jerome) (August 17)
Who Takes Care of the Caretaker's Daughter (Chick Endor/Paul Specht) (August 14)
Mississippi Mud (James Cavanaugh/Harry Barris) (August 13)
Two of a Kind (Bobby Darin/Johnny Mercer) (August 17)

FROM THE LINER NOTES: "This album is based on an idea by J. Steve Blauner & Marshall Robbins."

Comments: Rarely has a record been more perfectly titled. Bobby Darin and Johnny Mercer are indeed "Two of a Kind", a fact made delightfully evident by their incredible chemistry on every one of these tracks. Trading quips, ad-libbing and generally cracking each other up, they sound like a couple of old friends kicking back on a sunny afternoon. The pairing of Bobby and Johnny was the brainchild of Darin's manager Steve Blauner, and the world owes Mr. Blauner a great debt, for bringing these kindred spirits together.

Bobby Darin CD Profile: The 25th Day of December

Bobby Darin: The 25th Day of December (Atco 33-125, October 24, 1960)
CD Release: Atlantic 91772, 10/25/1991
Recording Dates: August 19-21, 1960 in Los Angeles, CA.
Producer: Ahmet Ertegun
Engineer: Bill Putnam
Arrangements: Bobby Scott
Musicians: Bobby Scott (cond), other details unknown.

Original LP Sequence:

Side 1:
O Come All Ye Faithful (August 19)
Poor Little Jesus (August 20)
Child of God (August 21)
Baby Born Today (August 20)
Holy Holy Holy (August 19)
Ave Maria (August 19)

Side 2:
Go Tell It on the Mountain (August 21)
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (August 20)
Jehovah Hallelujah (August 21)
Mary Where Is Your Baby (August 21)
Silent Night, Holy Night (August 20)
Dona Nobis Pacem (August 19)
Amen (August 21)

Bonus Tracks added to CD: The single track "Christmas Auld Lang Syne" (Manny Kurtz [aka Mann Curtis]/Frank Military), recorded with Bobby Scott's Orchestra on August 18 in Los Angeles, was added to the CD re-issue of this LP.

Comments: Bobby Darin was famous for delivering the unexpected, and with this release he did it again: a Christmas themed offering that is soulful, reverant, and rousing all at once. On "Baby Born Today" and "Jehovah Hallelujah", he kicks it out with a joyous shout that is equal to Brother Ray's. Alternately, his "Ave Maria" is so tender, gentle and stunningly beautiful that it is bound to silence any detractor who ever claimed Darin's voice was less than exquisite.