James Darren Because Of You CD

Darren is perhaps best-known as the actor who played Moondoggie in the original Gidget, and more recently the character of Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Concurrently with his acting career, he spent the '70s doing nightclubs in Vegas, Reno, and Tahoe and fairs around the country as a popular crooner. On this appealing collection featuring classic songs from various eras and shimmering, jazzy big-band arrangements by Patrick Williams, Darren follows in the footsteps of his idols Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Not surprisingly, he recorded the 14 tracks at the Capitol studios where Ol' Blue Eyes did some of his most famous work. Darren has an easy, Bennett-like voice -- instantly likeable, rich, and emotionally resonant. So, with solid vocals and one of the best arrangers in the business, the only wild card would be choice of material -- and it's spectacular. He opens with a perky take on Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," then digs into the catalogs of Leslie Bricusse (the playful "My Kind of Girl"), Oscar Levant ("Blame It on My Youth"), and, of course, joyful songs that Bennett popularized like "Because of You" and "Good Life." On the opposite side emotionally, he tackles "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" with a slight Brazilian-flavored arrangement. Darren also has a great time turning pop classics like "More Today Than Yesterday" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" into jazzy songs that sound like they were written a generation before they were. The set closes with a charming jazz trio take on "Dream a Little Dream of Me," which won't make you forget Mama Cass but is nevertheless engaging. Darren hardly crafts a crooning style of his own, preferring to go after the warm familiarity of his idols. Still, in its own way, Because of You is pretty irresistible. ~ Jonathan Widran

Recorded at Capitol Studios and G Studio Digital, Los Angeles, California. Includes liner notes by James Darren.

Personnel: James Darren (vocals); Julie Berghofer (harp); Assa Drori, Carolyn Osborn, Jennifer Walton, Olivia Tsui, Kristin Fife, Bob Sanov, Joel Derouin, David Stenske, Darius Campo (violin); Renita Koven (viola); Mathew Cooker, Christina Soule (cello); Jim Walker , Sheridon Stokes (flute); Earl Dumler (oboe); Greg Huckins, Lee Callet, Terry Harrington (saxophone); George Graham, Rick Baptist, Warren Luening, Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Paul Klintworth (French horn); Phil Teele, Bill Watrous, Charles Loper, Bob McChesney (trombone); Tom Ranier (keyboards); Gregg Field (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixer: Al Schmitt.

Recording information: Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA (03/2001); G Studio Digital, Los Angeles, CA (03/2001).

Arrangers: David Campbell ; Patrick Williams; Ray Ellis.

Personnel includes: James Darren, Monica Mancini (vocals); Patrick Williams (conductor); Jim Fox (guitar); Darius Campos, Joel Derouin (violin); Karen Baukinen, Renita Koven (viola); Matt Cooker (cello); Julie Berghofer (harp).