Bobby Darin Live! At The Desert Inn CD

 Look out ol' Macky's back
A very good recording of a somewhat underated, and almost forgotten artist. It truly spotlights the talent and giving Bobby Darin gave to the audience and his performance, and of the great range of his professional career. His tribute to those boys from Liverpool only highlight his shortlived and stolen demise from the recording world. Five Stars plus and the only thing better would be a video of him performing.
Submitted by ehycki (Detroit, MI USA) 
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 A Reminder of Darin's Greatness
Surprisingly, Bobby Darin left few recorded live performances behind. This gem, from 1971, has Bobby at his best. It was recorded after he had explored several phases of musical growth, each different from the other. There is the obligatory "Mack the Knife," but with a new orchestration; a great segue from "Splish Splash" to "Johnny B Good," a soaring "Higher and Higher", a lovely Beatles' tribute, and a few other tunes you might not associate with this versatile musician. You'll also hear a little of him on harmonica, acoustical guitar, and piano. Bobby had lost none of his powers when this live show was recorded, but to go with the rock 'n roll there is a fine, simple rendition of Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" and Darin's own hit, "If I Were a Carpenter." He simply was one of the most soulful white performers who's ever been. It's remastered, and the recording quality is fairly good. He's backed by a solid big band and a Raelettes-type group of singers. If you loved Darin, this is a surefire CD for you.
Submitted by donpaul0 (Buffalo, NY) 
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 Nothing tops Bobby Darin live!
This album was recorded in 1971 when Bobby Darin was at his height of live performance powers. He dazzles the Vegas audience with an incredible array of musical styles, including lively versions of old favorites such as Mack the Knife and Beyond the Sea (probably the two songs most closely identified with Darin in his lifetime) as well as a beautiful medley of Beatles tunes, plus wonderful versions of work from Laura Nyro, James Taylor and Bob Dylan. Darin moves through all of these styles with ease and authority. The music and backup singers are kicking, and Darin himself is at the top of his form. What the public did not know at the time was that these recordings were made shortly before Darin underwent surgery to replace two heart valves damaged from childhood bouts with rheumatic fever. He did not expect to survive that surgery, which gave him two extra years of life, and his performance here and choice of material are made all the more poignant for this knowledge. It is great to have this material available again both for long-time collectors of Darin's work and for younger audiences just beginning to learn about the stunning versatility of this incredible entertainer.
Submitted by Gisele (Beautiful Boulder, CO)
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