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!

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 "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 "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 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!

Bobby Darin Video Blast

There's a new Bobby Darin Video Blast up on the DarinLand.com site:

Bobby Darin and the Supremes on the "Rodgers and Hart Today" TV special in 1967

Click the link to see the clip!

Bobby Darin sings "Got My Mojo Workin'" from the "Seeing is Believing" DVD

Ladies and gentlemen, here he is, the multi-talented Bobby Darin, proving once again why he deserves to be called multi-talented: Singing, dancing, playing the harmonica and the vibes, using every cell in his body to make music, as he performs "Got My Mojo Workin'" from the "Seeing is Believing" DVD. No doubt about it, Bobby worked his Mojo better than anyone...

Bobby Darin sings "Beyond the Sea" on an early TV Special

Here's a bit more gold from that early Bobby Darin TV special, "This is Bobby Darin": a beautiful rendition of "Beyond the Sea," courtesy of the man who made the tune his own...

Bobby Darin sings Clementine (His New Single!)

I love hearing Bobby Darin referring to this tune as "the brand new single record" in this clip. And of course, Bobby can't resist doing a little schtick during the intro. It just gets better and better!

Bobby Darin sings Do Re Mi with Eddie Fisher and Andy Williams

This is simply brilliant. Bobby Darin sings "Do Re Mi" from the "Sound of Music" with Eddie Fisher and Andy Williams, on the Andy Williams Show. Bobby is absolutely hilarious. And that smile is devastating.

Bobby Darin sings "Once Upon a Time"

In honor of the recent re-issue of the Shadow of Your Smile/In a Broadway Bag 2-on-1 CD, here is a video clip of Bobby Darin singing one of my favorite numbers from the In a Broadway Bag LP... the tender and beautiful "Once Upon a Time."

Bobby Darin sings "When the Saints Go Marching In"

Holey moley, what a performance! Young Bobby Darin drives the crowd into a frenzy with a medley that begins with "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and builds to an incredible rave-up version of "When the Saints Go Marching In." Just watch those hands and those snappin' fingers as they guide the audience and drive the melody home. By the time he's done, he's got the whole room whoopin' and hollerin' like they're at an old-time revival meeting. Do it, Bobby!

Bobby Darin and Jimmy Durante on What's My Line in 1965

Bobby Darin and Jimmy Durante were good friends by the time this aired, and you can see that in the way Bobby reacts when Jimmy is revealed to be the "What's My Line" mystery guest. It's also interesting to note that Bobby is the last one on the panel to take his seat during the ovation they give Jimmy toward the end. His respect for the great Jimmy Durante was absolute, and he was clearly so thrilled just to be in his presence.

Bobby Darin: The Singing Actor

I've been vibing on the "Seeing is Believing" DVD a lot lately, mainly because it is a prime example of what I have always said about Bobby Darin: He is not just a singer, he is not just an interpreter, he is a singing actor. And even more than that, he is also a storyteller. And even more than that, he is a truth teller.

Actually, I think all these things rolled together (great voice, brilliant acting, fabulous storyteller, truthful storyteller) are what make Mr. Darin one of the greatest lyrical interpreters of our time. He gives his all, everything he's got, to make a song come alive. The video clip of "Come Rain or Come Shine" from "Seeing is Believing" I posted elsewhere on this blog shows all of these elements working in tandem. There he is, opening up and letting it all out, displaying a deep understanding of the lyricist's intent, while also allowing his own experiences to color the delivery, and spinning a yarn for us that will knock us off our feet.

Not many can do that. Not many even try.

There's nothing left to say except: HA CHA!

--Michael

Bobby Darin sings Come Rain or Come Shine from the video Seeing is Believing

In honor of the all the rain-and-sunshine mixed days we've been getting here in the Philadelphia area lately: Bobby Darin croons an absolutely devastating rendition of "Come Rain or Come Shine." Listen to that band swing! And listen to Bobby swing right along with them, with an easy style and an emotional intensity that'll give you goosebumps. Once again, Mr. Darin does more than sing a song... he tells the truth. Reaching down inside, he draws on his own experiences of love and loss, and opens a window to his soul. Nobody, I mean nobody, has ever given so much to an audience.

Bobby Darin sings a “Lazy Medley” with Dinah Shore and Andre Previn

Bobby Darin flashes that brilliant smile and caresses each line with his voice, while Andre Previn tinkles the keys so sweetly. Could anything be more relaxing and thrilling all at once? Dinah Shore is the perfect match for Bobby in this number, her sunny girl-next-door sound adding to the summer afternoon feel of it all. My favorite part is when they sing the Johnny Mercer number “If I Had My Druthers,” lying on their backs with their heads touching. HA CHA indeed!