The career of Bobby Darin began at the all too young age of 20 in 1956. He had his first hit with "Splish Splash" in 1958 and would have a number of pop hits over the next several years before becoming politically active in the mid-60's and his music subsequently became more folk oriented (his "Simple Song of Freedom" is a wonderful song for those whose tastes are folk inclined). Darin also had quite the foray into acting, winning a Golden Globe in 1962, and having an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1963. Darin also had his own variety show on television, and was a multi-instrumentalist. For his career, Darin released 27 studio albums, three of which hit the top ten, and had nine top ten singles. He also appeared in thirteen movies. In 1990, Darin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1999 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Sadly, Darin passed away at the all too young age of 37 in 1973 after complications from heart surgery. Say what you will, Darin packed a hell of a career into a very short period of time.
(Not So) Fun Fact: Darin worked on the campaign of Robert Kennedy in 1968 and was in the hotel the night Kennedy was assassinated. He was considering a career in politics afterward...until his sister informed him she was actually his mother and his mother was actually his grandmother. The two events sent Darin into seclusion for a year before deciding not to enter politics.
"Mack the Knife" was released as a single in 1959, and would go on to reach #1 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the only number one single of Darin's career, and would garner him Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best New Artist.
My introduction to "Mack the Knife" was, as has been the case a time or two here on Friday Night Jukebox, my father, and was, if you knew my father, the right combination of cool swing and unabashed joy to suit his tastes. The song tells the story, oddly enough, of a street hood who's just returned to town, is good with a knife, and has a list of folks that he's just itching to get revenge upon. Darin sings it, again oddly enough considering the song's rather bloody tale, with great gusto and abandon, all the while with the finger snapping cool of a young Frank Sinatra (Sinatra was one of many who covered the tune and said that Darin's version was the definitive one). In the end, what I like best about the song is its timelessness--I swear, if Darin were a young man today he could release it as a single and it would sound as fresh and vibrant as any other song on the current market. A true wonder.
Lyric Sheet: "Now on the sidewalk, ooh, Sunday morning, uh-huh/Lies a body just oozin' life/Eek, and someone's sneakin' 'round the corner/Could that someone be Mack the Knife?"
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee
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