BOBBY DARIN WAS THE GREATEST

Bobby Darin came into this world as Robert Walden Cassatto. Due to rheumatic fever and a bad heart he was believed not to live past sixteen. When he heard that he was determined to do as much in his life as he could. DID HE SUCCEED OR WHAT?!! This cd contains the songs that made Darin. I never heard of Bobby Darin untill I sang "Mack the Knife" at a karaoke bar. When I looked at the name I was suprised to see the name Bobby Darin instead of Frank Sinatra(I was later to find out Darin recorded it first.) I went to the music store and looked for the name Bobby darin I found this cd. That is how I learned about him. I have became a very dedicated fan since then. This cd is a great album for Bobby Darin fans and people who want to learn about him. Bobby Darin died at age 37 during open heart sugery. It would be great if he were still alive.

Great collection!

This CD highlights the big hits of Darin, though it omits a significant number of songs which were just as good, but never made the Hit Parade. What a tragedy that Bobby Darin died so young at 37. He is under-appreciated today and dwarfed by the huge shadow cast by Frank Sinatra. Though Darin didn't have the poignant and unmatched ability of Sinatra to phrase a lyric, his uptempo songs are nearly as good as the Chairman of the Board. He is cool, hip, has fine range and has an innate jazzy feel that infuses all of his swingier songs. The musical arrangements and musicianship displayed here is also exemplary. The orchestra that backs up Darrin is fantastic.

My personal favorite is "Beyond the Sea," one of the great swing pseudo-ballads of the 50's, recently resurrected as the backdrop of a TV commercial. Darrin proves he was the natural successor to Sinatra with his masterful vocal here. "Guys and Dolls" and "Down with Love" are nearly as good and showcases Darrin's talent. The best ballad is probably "Was There a Call for Me?" which reproduces the boozy hangover feeling of being dumped about as well as any song.

Darrin's later work was never as hip and contemporary-sounding as the music on this disc. This is an exceptional collection with many catchy, memorable tunes, and proves beyond a doubt that Darrin was an amazing talent.

Skip this collection in favor of.......

I found the 3-CD box set "Rock & Roll Legends," in which Darin has his own disc, to be better than this collection. Featuring LIVE versions of "Splish Splash," "Plain Jane," "Dream Lover," and "Mack The Knife," it also replaces the less-arresting "Artificial Flowers" with the ecstatic rapidness of "I Wish I were In Love Again" and "Don't Rain On My Parade." Also, it has the same ratio of mono to stereo tracks as this disc. The other two CDs in the box set include live performances by Jerry Lee Lewis & Gene Vicent. The only thing "Ultimate Bobby Darin" has going for it is the inclusion of the uber-classic, "Beyond the Sea."