Venice Blue | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album LPby | ||||
Released | May 1965 | |||
Recorded | 1964–1965 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 29:20 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Steve Douglas | |||
Bobby Darin chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Venice Blue | ||||
|
Venice Blue is a studio album by American singer Bobby Darin, released in May 1965 by Capitol Records. [2] This was his final LP for the label. [3] The album was arranged and conducted by Richard Wess. [2] The album featured a number of arrangements by Ernie Freeman, including two Darin compositions. [2]
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. [4]
The single from the album, "Venice Blue" bubbled under" Billboard's Hot 100, for its sole week that began in the issue dated April 23, 1965, and peaked at number 130. [5] and number 94 on the Cashbox singles chart and stayed on the chart for three weeks. [6]
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. [7] 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 . [8]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Mirror | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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." [9]
Billboard notes "Darin sings and swings his heart out and proves there are future standards being written" [12]
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." [13]
In its review of the album from November 1965 as IWanna Be Around, Record Mirror noted that "His own "You Just Don't Know" is, surprisingly, a stand-out track." [11]
Chart (1965) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Top LPs (Billboard) [4] | 132 |
Year | Title | U.S. Hot 100 [5] | U.S. Cashbox [6] |
---|---|---|---|
1965 | "Venice Blue" | 133 | 94 |