a different Bobby Darin album

In a way this is a best of Bobby. It includes his best songs of his early period the brilliant Mack the Knife and Beyond the Sea. What sets it apart is his commentary inbetween. Initially it annoyed me and I can't blame people who don't like it. But I guess it's grown on me because I've listened to this enough to say the commentary with Bobby. It gives you an insight to why he was popular in Las Vegas.
One thing he does say is outdated at the end, "Take me out before I run in the label." I even have a record player but since I own a cassette of this it took me like a minute to catch on to what he meant.

YIKES...29 MINUTES?!

Though I DO love this CD, I like the LONGER all-Darin disc in the 3-CD box set, "Rock & Roll Legends" better.

It has the first 6 songs that this CD has, but replaces the less-arresting "Artificial Flowers" and the hokey "Bill Bailey" with the ecstatic rapidness of "I Wish I were In Love Again" and "Don't Rain On My Parade," and the romantic wistfulness of "Funny What Love Can Do" and "Once Upon A Time."

Good introduction to the first phase of his career...

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.