Bobby Darin: The Singles (1961)

by Michael Macomber
	A review of Bobby Darin's 1961 singles is also, in a way, a review of his 1962 "Things and Other Things" LP. Atco put together "Things" from singles and B-sides Bobby recorded between 1958 and 1961, and more than a third of the songs listed below are on it. Often overlooked, "Things and Other Things" is actually a rather nifty collection containing some true treasures.
Key: Chart positions are listed in '()' after the song title Songs written by Bobby Darin are indicated by a '*'
LAZY RIVER (#14)/*OO-EE-TRAIN (ATCO 6188) Bobby's rendition of the Hoagy Carmichael/Sidney Arodin composition "Lazy River" is an unquestionable Darin classic, one of so many songs that served to establish his reputation as a lyrical interpreter with an original and exciting style. He starts off gently, beckoning the listener to roll along with him up that river. Anyone with a pulse cannot help but follow, and go absolutely anywhere Mr. Darin suggests. When those horns kick in and Bobby starts comin' atcha, the tone goes from sweet to sassy, and it suddenly becomes apparent this will be anything but a traditional reading. And when Bobby breaks out with "I ain't goin' your way, get outtah my way!" he manages to turn a well worn classic into a self-defining anthem--a trick he did time and again.
	The B-Side, "Oo-Ee-Train", is a bouncy Darin-penned rhythm and blues number, demonstrating Bobby's ease with the idiom. He really knew what made a song move, and here he gives us a locomotive ridin' on a soulful rhythm track. The bluesy lyrics and his straight from the gut delivery combine to create another fine entry in Bobby's catalogue of fabulous R&B performances.
NATURE BOY (#40)/*LOOK FOR MY TRUE LOVE (ATCO 6196)
	"Nature Boy" has one of the strangest and most mysterious pedigrees of any song Bobby ever recorded. Written by the enigmatic eden ahbez (who spelled his name all in lowercase because he believed capital letters should be reserved for the divine), it tells the tale of an "enchanted boy" who "wandered very far over land and sea," seeking wisdom. What did he find? "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return."
ahbez was a remarkable individual, a vegetarian who studied Eastern philosophy and had shoulder length hair and a long beard in the late 1940's, a time when men were supposed to keep their hair trimmed neat and short. He dressed in robes, hopped freight trains and slept outdoors. In 1947, he approached Nat King Cole's manager, Mort Ruby, outside a theater in Los Angeles, and handed him the "Nature Boy" manuscript. Cole was taken by the song, added it to his live set, and after positive audience response, recorded it later that year. Cole's recording is a delicate string-and-piano rubato arrangement (meaning without a set rhythm). Darin arranger/conductor Fred Norman takes an entirely different tack, keeping the tempo steady, almost driving. Bobby weaves in and out of the melody, dispensing truth with every line. While some of the delicacy of the tune is sacrificed, this version has the kind of accessibility and crossover potential with the teen and adult audiences found on hits such as "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea." "Look for My True Love" is another fine Darin rocker, with a nice rockabilly feel. Like Neil Sedaka and Chuck Berry, Bobby had an uncanny ability to write brilliant teenage poetry: "Mr. Moon, if you're listenin', won't you answer my plea? Won't you look for my true love and send her on home to me?"
	*COME SEPTEMBER/*WALK BACH TO ME (ATCO 6200) From all appearances, this was an entirely instrumental single, showcasing Bobby's talents as a composer on both sides (sadly, the B-Side does not seem to be included on any current CDs, so we can only speculate).
Bobby's theme to the motion picture "Come September" has a lush, swingin' 60s sound, with a nice Italian flavor. Bobby put a lot of 'Cassotto' into this one. If you close your eyes and just listen, it's almost as if he's painting a musical picture of his "Come September" co-star, Gina Lollobrigida. Flip the record over and you see the tantalizing credit "Bobby Darin & His Orchestra/Bobby Darin at the Harpsichord/Arranged and Conducted by Fred Norman." With a title like "Walk Bach to Me," it's easy to imagine Bobby riffing on the music of Johann Sebastian, mixing classical and pop styles to create something totally Darin. Maybe one day someone will be kind enough to put this on CD.
	YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY (#5)/SORROW TOMORROW (ATCO 6206) Considering the immense amount of talent behind Darin's "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby", it was no doubt destined to be a top ten smash.
Lyrics by the great Johnny Mercer, music by the incomparable Harry Warren, a typically ingenious arrangement by Jimmie Haskell, and a thrilling vocal from Bobby all come together to knock your socks clear across the room. Bobby's "Whoa, you know, you know, you know you know!" intro sends shivers straight up the spine. He could do that better than any performer before and after, and he's still doing it. "Sorrow Tomorrow", written by Brill Building legends Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, is a rhythmic lost love ballad, also arranged by Mr. Haskell. Here both Bobby and Jimmie show a different side. Bobby's lamenting vocal seems to come straight from the Country Music Hall of Fame, while Jimmie's arrangement is a fun and fascinating hybrid of pop, rock and country--not rockabilly necessarily, but something completely his own. Very cool.
AVE MARIA/O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (ATCO 6211) How can one describe Bobby Darin's "Ave Maria"? Too many adjectives come to mind: glorious; delicate; sweeping; monumental; touching; astounding. The list goes on and on. Bobby reached so deep inside himself for this vocal, it is nigh on impossible not to cry tears of joy when you hear it. Once again, Mr. Darin refused to be pigeonholed. He stepped right into the shoes of a classical vocalist and reached the absolute heights. Arranger/conductor/pianist Bobby Scott outdid himself on the "25th Day of December" LP, and this track displays his deft piano work to fine effect. "O Come All Ye Faithful" is equally moving, with full chorus and soaring strings.
	IRRESISTIBLE YOU (#15)/*MULTIPLICATION (#30) (ATCO 6214) Like the previously mentioned "Nature Boy", "Irresistible You" also seems to have a somewhat mysterious pedigree. While it is often miscredited as the Gene DePaul and Don Raye song of the same name (on the Warner collection, "The Ultimate Bobby Darin," for example), it was actually written by Luther Dixon and Al Kasha.
Dixon wrote and produced hit songs for The Shirelles, amongst others (and the Shirelles in fact recorded "Irresistible You" for their 1962 "Baby, It's You" LP).
	The wonderful rave-up Jimmie Haskell arrangement is clearly influenced by the 1960 Bobby Peterson Quintet version on the V-Tone label. A nod to Peterson's rendition can even be heard in Darin's soul-shout vocals, although like Haskell, Mr. Darin adds his own unique touch.
Both Darin and Haskell had an incredible knack for doing just that, taking their influences and embracing them, while simultaneously adding something new and wonderful. As a team, they were glorious. The irresistible nature of this cut is more than ample proof of that. Bobby, Jimmie and the band just seem to be having so much fun, it's impossible not to snap and tap along with them. It is also interesting to note that Bobby and Jimmie recorded "Irresistible You" a mere week before they began work on the "Sings Ray Charles" sessions. The B-Side, "Multiplication," was actually laid down at the second "Sings Ray Charles" session, on November 8th, 1961. Both tracks would probably sound right at home on that record. "Multiplication" is another Bobby original, showcasing his talent for sly and playful lyrics. His gentle innuendoes and references to "hares with no cares" and "a roomful o' rabbits" are positively delightful. The scene in "Come September" where he sings this tune is one of the best moments in the picture. No wonder he had a 2-sided hit on his hands.
Reference sources for this article include: Allmusic.com, Bill Coppola, DarintoDream.com, Rich Ernst, Jimmie Haskell, The Jazz Discography Project website, Los Angeles Times, The Official Bobby Darin Website, shadowboxstudio.com, SpaceAgePop.com, Wangdangdula.com
If you would you like to contribute a Bobby Darin Singles article, please send an email to Contributions@DarinLand.com stating the year you would like to cover. We look forward to hearing from you!