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 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 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 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!

Bobby Darin on What's My Line in 1965

This is a real kick, and goes back to my belief that television was so much smarter in the early days. Even the game shows were more intellectual. ‘What’s My Line’ was a perfect match for the quick witted (and undeniably witty) Bobby Darin.

Beyond Cool: The Acting Career of Bobby Darin

I justed posted a new article to my Bobby Darin website: "Beyond Cool: The Acting Career of Bobby Darin," a comprehensive overview of Bobby's film and television work from the '50s to the '70s. Here's a sample...

"Imagine for a moment if Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka or even Pat Boone—all of whom had successful film and musical careers—made the kind of films Bobby Darin chose to make. It seems impossible to picture any of Darin’s perceived contemporaries being involved with such maverick filmmakers as John Cassavetes, Don Siegel, Stanley Kramer, or Richard Brooks, and yet Bobby Darin sought out just such controversial filmmakers for his movie projects..."

You can read more at DarinLand.com

Other articles at the site include "Bobby Darin: The Singles (1966)," "Bobby Darin: The Singles (1961)," "The Capitol Years," and interviews with Darin Arranger/Conductor Perry Botkin, and Bobby's High School friend Jazz Vocalist Elli Fordyce.

I'm also always looking for new articles, reviews and contributions to the site. Email me with your ideas!