Bobby Darin: The Darin Invasion

Rating:
Summary: Good Slice of Darin in a deceptive package
Review: This video contains some fine examples of the vast talents of one of Walden Robert Cassotto otherwise known as Bobby Darin. It's not the best Darin you're ever going to see and it's certainly not the Darin displayed on the box but it is entertaining enough especially for hardcore fans.

Despite the fact that the box states that this is Darin in his "prime" and the photo on the box is of Darin circa 1960, this is Darin near the end of his criminally short-life. This show was filmed in 1970 when Darin had only three years left to live. He was only 34 but looked much older and is not the Darin most folks remember. That Darin sings only one of his biggest hits- "If I Were a Carpenter"- further takes this stuff away from vintage Darin. This all does not mean that the singer doesn't perfom well- his voice is in perfect shape- but he's just not the Darin you remember.

The show was basically a music variety job, very common in the '70s. The emphasis here is on music and the better for it.

Darin explodes out of the box with a jubilant "(You're Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" the Jackie Wilson hit. Darin's rendition is more Vegasy backed with a gospel choir and he doesn't surpass Wilson but, his joy in performing is evident in every second he extends the great song.

The show then awkwardly slips gears to a softshoe/comedy bit with George Burns. One of the show's great flaws is awkward transition, a process filled by commercials in the original broadcast. The Burns/Darin bit still works well enough because of the obvious affection between the two men.

Things take a downward turn with an appearance by the Poppy Family singing their truly awful hit "Which Way You Going Billy". This is followed by an interesting bit where Darin dresses, without toupee, as Fagin and sings a number from "Oliver". Darin completely loses himself in the part and it makes you mourn that he never seriously explored stage work. That said, it fits in awkwardly with the straightforward musical presentation of the rest of the show.

The show's schizophrenic character surfaces again with Darin singing the blues "Hi De Ho". He does some surprisingly good harp playing and his phrasing conveys a complete understanding of the form although, his arrangement is way too gaudy.

Linda Ronstadt is next up with one of her early hits "Long Long Time". It's nice and Darin accompanies her on acoustic guitar.

Darin closes with some stories and versions of "If I Had a Carpenter" and "Simple Song of Freedom". The ending to the latter is way overdone. Darin compensates with a beautifully modulated "Carpenter".

Darin's introductions filled with mugging, double takes and impressions show why he was never a hip taste. His embrace of showbiz traditions and cliches was far too sincere for hipsters. However, as we have seen, his talent was also too great to ignore, a truth evident even in this imperfect 48 minute vehicle.

The presentation of this vehicle is not all it could have been. The picture is watchable but a little blurry. The show was filmed on videotape and it shows. These are not the sharp images we associate with the DVD format. The sound is fine but the extras are near useless. There's an incomplete Darin discography. There are brief and inaccurate text bios of Darin, Ronstadt and Burns.

Perhaps the biggest extra is the trivia track that you can turn on to appear at the bottom of the screen during the show. The trivia consists of only the most general and boring information with no insight on the music.

If you're looking for a definitive Darin DVD package or Darin at his peak, this is not for you. If you want a hint of why Darin was a special talent even without his hits then check this out.

Rating:
Summary: Buy "Mack Is Back" Before "Darin Invasion"
Review: What a difference 3 years make. This is filmed in 1970 and looks very dated. While it is entertaining for die-hard Darin fans, it pales in comparison to the Questar "Mack Is Back" DVD shot in 1973, which is a great DVD.

When this video was shot, Bobby's heart was too. It was taped just before his first heart surgery in 1970. I have heard that his chronic heart trouble was exacerbated by exerting himself in this performance. Bobby looks unhealthy and far older than his 34 years in this video. Alot of it, I'm sorry to say, has to do with the fact that his toupe is poorly quaffed (too much forehead showing a receding hairline, framed by bushy sideburns-- awful--not at all the 1960 Darin depicted on the cover). Bobby does not have the same energy he has in the 1973 Mack Is Back video. The image and sound quality are also far below the Mack Is Back video. The cheesy factoids in the DVD version that appear at the bottom of the screen (billed as an "extra") are totally inane and uninformative (example "Studies have shown that left handed people die sooner than right handed people...George Burns was a southpaw...He lived to be 100." Stupid)

The other performers in the show (with the exception of Linda Rondstat-- who is passable) are not very entertaining either. The Poppy Family (who?) is God-awful. It would have been better if Bobby was a one-man show.

All in all, I'd say the "Mack Is Back" video is probably 5 times better than this offering--production, extras, sound, length, picture and performance outshine this one easily.

"Mack is Back" is also Bobby's last taped performance, and he performs as if he knows it. He is explosive in his delivery, the arrangements are hard-driving, band and audience are into it, Bobby's energy level is sky-high--it is perfect Darin at the top (and the end) of his game. He died several months after filming it, but looks like he is in the prime of his life in the performance. (And his rug looks great--you'd never know if he didn't joke about it!!!)

I guess my point is...if you already own the "Mack Is Back" DVD, you can rest easy forgoing this one-- it is highly disappointing in comparison. If you are deciding between the two-- absolutely get the "Mack Is Back."

If you're a Darin die-hard like me, you will enjoy "The Darin Invasion" as an addition to your collection, but probably won't play it one-twentieth as much as "Mack Is Back."