Bobby Darin
London
1966
mono recording from a TV broadcast
1. Intro > Don't Rain On My Parade
2. About A Quarter To Nine
3. Once Upon A Time
4. I Wish I Were In Love Again
5. Mack The Knife
6. If I Were A Carpenter
7. Talk
8. Impressions (One For My Baby)
9. The Girl That Stood Behind Me
10. Funny What Love Can Do
11. Dream Lover
12. What'd I Say >
13. That's All
return
In 1966, Bobby Darin was the very height of his performing powers and fortunately
for us, this rare London concert expertly captured the very essence of him
and that time period. Performers couln't just sing, they were expected to
entertain - sing, dance, tell jokes, show their virtuosity - the Sinatra
model. In this show, you get the full treatment as Darin expertly works
the crowd with his outstanding talent, showmanship and stage presence. And
yes, he followed the Sinatra model with his singing, jokes, impressions,
and playing the guitar and piano. What a professional! What a time!
Accompanied by Alyn Ainsworth and his orchestra, the performance was filmed
by the BBC and broadcast in London in May 1967. The concert was also recorded
and released by Atlantic Records on the now out of print album Something
Special. Later some tracks of this record appeared on the CDs
Rare Performances and From Sea to Sea.
Below are the liner notes that appeared on the back cover of the
Something Special LP. Written by Bill Harry, his feelings sum up
the magic of Bobby Darin that was felt by his fans in London and all over
the world.
"Bobby Darin, man of magic. Magic, not only in his voice but in a personality
that is quite unique. There is only one Bobby Darin-only one guy whose eyes
twinkle with such expression, whose eyes twinkle with smiles or thoughts.
Those eyes. Bobby Darin's eyes. Yes, they're quite unique. Bobby Darin the
man of magic, whose voice has enchanted , cast a spell--and yet where does
the magic come from? There are many people with gold-plated tonsils, but
Bobby beats them all.
He came over to London to film Stranger in the House(aka Copout) with James
Mason and that soft wonderful Geraldine Chaplin--and he stayed in London.
Why? Because Darin and London clicked in such a way that Italian resturants
stood up and became more italian in his presence, the swinging 'in' clubs
seemed to preen in his presence.
A west end film premiere - and afterwards Bobby would drop into a Kensington
resturant , small and intimate, to take wine and spaghetti with his friends,
and a dusty guitar on the wall would take on a new life when he took it
down and played "Eighteen Yellow Roses"--and when he did tears would fall
from many eyes , because here was feeling that wafted in the air.
And London became a warmer city with Darin. Moving from a cold hotel he
settled in a house...and what a house. Many floored. Tastefully decorated--and
with a stereophonic record player that brought to life the world's greatest
classical music. Classical music? Bobby's love in his life--one of his love's,
along with his son, whom he adores.
Darin at London airport. Heathrow.Scared perhaps of flying, yet prepared.
Because he's off on a trip to Paris to perform for UNICEF.--London fog--beloved
of fiction--droops down and stops all flights. So over to the restaurant
for some wine and food-and Darin proves his love of humanity.There are Indians
and chinese and scousers and Negroes and travellers from all corners-and
he's with them laughing and smiling and they love him.
Darin is a part of mankind--and taxi drivers, flower sellers, everyone
he meets is a friend, someone to talk to.
Darin thinks. He's a philosopher . He is a sensitive person. He feels for
people, particularly dominated people, deprived people, people who can't
fend for themselves. If he could he would fend for them. He's a politically
conscious person. He feels politics and is concerned --and quite rightfully
he feels other people should be concerned. For this is life.
In London Darin stayed--and during his stay he made a visual souvenir--recorded
by BBC2, produced by Stuart Morris at the close of 1966, the show was screened
on May 20th, 1967. Here is the aural souvenir of that show, with "Don't
Rain On My Parade," "I Wish I Were in Love Again," "One for My Baby," "Once
Upon a Time" and more. Can you believe that this magic songster is the little
guy who fought his way from the slums of New York, the guy who started his
career making TV jingles? Yes, you can believe it because in this world anything
can happen if people believe in people.
Darin, the world loves you."