Aces Back to Back [CD & DVD] by Bobby Darin (CD, Sep-2004, Hyena Records)

Album Features
UPC:	825005932428
Artist:	Bobby Darin
Format:	CD
Release Year:	2004
Record Label:	Hyena Records
Genre:	Folk Rock, Rock & Pop

Track Listing
1. This Could Be the Start of Something Big
2. Can't Take My Eyes Off You
3. Song Sun Blue
4. All I Have to Do Is Dream
5. Quarter to Mine, A
6. Alone Again Naturally
7. Beyond the Sea
8. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
9. If I Were a Carpenter
10. Simple Song of Freedom
11. Up a Lazy River
12. Jive
13. Rainin'
14. Long Time Movin'
15. Dream Lover
16. Blue Skies
17. Moon River
18. All the Way
19. Mack the Knife
20. Curtain Falls, The

Details
Playing Time:	60 min.
Producer:	Joel Dorn (Compilation)
Distributor:	Ryko Distribution
Recording Type:	Studio
Recording Mode:	Stereo
SPAR Code:	n/a

Album Notes
Includes bonus DVD featuring performances and documentary footage.Liner Note Author: Joel Dorn.Aimed toward the hardcore rather than the average Bobby Darin fan, this unusual package features one music CD with 20 rare performances, and a separate bonus DVD with footage from early-'70s television and excerpts of an unissued early-'60s documentary Darin was making about his own life. Given the obvious effort that went into finding and repackaging this material, it's surprising that nowhere on the sleeve or in the 24-page booklet does it say when and where any of this was recorded (or filmed). More important, neither the music nor the visuals are among Darin's more notable endeavors, though they might hold some interest for major followers of the singer. Piecing together some clues as to the sources, it can be said that the first seven songs on the CD are the audio-only portion of the first seven songs shown on the DVD, all of them from Darin's early-'70s television variety series. As the sound quality on these is a little below those of typical studio performances, these are much better experienced via watching the accompanying DVD. A mild surprise here is a duet with Petula Clark on the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do Is Dream," which stands out in this company if for nothing else than its relative unpredictability.Filling out the CD are some odds and ends, including three folky tunes from a 1971 live album; a couple of inessential folk-rock-pop songs from rare late-'60s releases on Darin's own Direction label; a studio demo of "Dream Lover"; and a few standards with trad jazz backing that he did on a radio series for the American Dairy Association. While most of the DVD's given over to the songs from his early-'70s TV appearances (including a "Mack the Knife" that's partially accompanied by a montage of images from his own career), there are also a few minutes of footage from that early-'60s black-and-white unreleased documentary. In imperfect shape but perfectly watchable, it has brief excerpts of Darin rehearsing, recording, and informally playing guitar as he returns to nightclub performances after a three-year gap, as well as brief snatches of George Burns talking about Bobby. ~ Richie Unterberger

Editorial Reviews
3 stars out of 5 - [With] previously unheard live cuts...
Mojo