Venice Blue


Venice Blue is a studio album by American singer Bobby Darin, released in May 1965 by Capitol Records. This was his final LP for the label. The album was arranged and conducted by Richard Wess. The album featured a number of arrangements by Ernie Freeman, including two Darin compositions.
The album debuted on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the issue dated July 10, 1965, and remained on the chart for four weeks, peaking at number 132.
The single from the album, "Venice Blue" Hot 100 Singles|bubbled under]" Billboard's Hot 100, for its sole week that began in the issue dated April 23, 1965, and peaked at number 130. and number 94 on the Cashbox singles chart and stayed on the chart for three weeks.
Venice Blue was released in the United Kingdom as I Wanna Be Around with a slightly altered cover using the same photo. A compilation CD was released by Capitol's parent company EMI in 1999 including You're the Reason I'm Living and I Wanna Be Around. It was released as one of two albums on one CD also by EMI in 2002, along with Darin's 1964 album, From Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie.

Reception

In his AllMusic review, critic JT Griffith wrote "Venice Blue is not a dramatic departure for Bobby Darin, but a solid collection nonetheless. Really of interest to fans looking to complete their collection. Well-arranged and well-sung, but not the most accessible album for the neo-swing set."
Billboard notes "Darin sings and swings his heart out and proves there are future standards being written"
Cashbox said the album "includes a hand-picked batch of goodies from the recent vintage crop of pop hits, handled in the traditional Darin style."
Record World notes "Redoubtable Bobby gives his easy once-over-lightly to this set of tunes."
In its review of the album from November 1965 as I ''Wanna Be Around, Record Mirror'' noted that "His own "You Just Don't Know" is, surprisingly, a stand-out track."

Track listing

  1. "Venice Blue" – 2:36
  2. "I Wanna Be Around" – 2:12
  3. "Somewhere" – 2:34
  4. "The [Good Life |The Good Life]" – 2:25
  5. "Dear Heart" – 3:14
  6. "Softly, As I Leave You" – 2:57
  7. "You Just Don't Know" – 2:25
  8. "There Ain't No Sweet Gal Worth the Salt of My Tears" – 3:03
  9. "Who Can I Turn To?" – 2:39
  10. "A [Taste of Honey |A Taste of Honey]" – 2:36
  11. "In a World Without You" – 3:11

    Charts

Singles

Personnel