That’s All: Bobby Darin On Record, Stage & Screen

Revised and Expanded Second Edition

By Jeff Bleiel

Book Details
Reviews
About the Author
To Order

358 pages, Paperback

ISBN 0-9675973-4-X

$24.95

Book Details

Originally published in 1993, That’s All was hailed as the “ultimate Darin reference book” – the first and only book to provide in-depth coverage of the music and career of the great Bobby Darin.  Long out of print, it became a highly sought-after collector’s item.

The new second edition, published in October 2004 has been completely updated and expanded. 

Bobby Darin: Singer, Songwriter, Oscar-nominated actor, Television personality, Musician, Teen idol, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Consummate Las Vegas entertainer, Record producer.  Darin had “the most interesting career of any performer of the second half of the 20th century,” according to author Jeff Bleiel.

Bleiel was co-producer of the critically-acclaimed 4-CD box set As Long As I’m Singing: The Bobby Darin Collection, released by Rhino Records in 1995.

Based on extensive archival research and interviews with over 25 professional associates (including producers, arrangers, musicians, and actors) who worked with Darin, That’s All provides coverage and analysis of:

• All of Darin’s classic hits, including “Splish Splash,” Mack The Knife,” “Beyond The Sea,” “If I Were A Carpenter,” “Dream Lover,” “Queen of the Hop,” Things,” “Lazy River” and many more
• Darin’s appearances in 13 movies (including three in which he co-starred with wife Sandra Dee)
• Darin’s own 1972-1973 NBC variety series, as well as his guest appearances on nearly 100 other television shows
• Darin’s legendary live performances in Las Vegas, at The Copacabana in New York, and elsewhere
• His acclaimed work in different musical genres (rock’n’roll, pop standards, folk, jazz, country)
• His success as a songwriter, indicated by the fact that he wrote nine of his own hits as well as over 35 different songs recorded by other artists
• His largely-unpublicized activities in the political and social movements of the 1960s 

Among those interviewed for the book were: Atlantic Records president Ahmet Ertegun; Byrds founder (and one-time Darin guitarist) Roger McGuinn; record producers Nik Venet, Charles Koppelman and Don Rubin; arranger Billy May; jazz composer and pianist Bobby Scott; and legendary studio musicians Steve Douglas and Carol Kaye.

The revised second edition includes a completely new introduction, an updated and expanded text (including material gleaned from new interviews), and updated discography, filmography, and television appearances sections.

Reviews

Critical Praise for That’s All: Bobby Darin On Record, Stage & Screen by Jeff Bleiel

“The ultimate Darin reference book…Darin was an artist of diverse talents who proved to be ahead of his time in many ways…This bio provides in-depth coverage and analysis of his evolution as a multi-talented artist.” — Billboard

“A meticulously chronological and openly affectionate musical biography…A study of the music done in the clear belief that’s the meat of any Darin discussion.” — New York Daily News                                                                 

“Bleiel has researched well…His details about Darin’s recordings are unimpeachable.” — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“Straightforward and laudably unsensationalistic…The book concentrates principally on Darin’s professional activities, providing informed commentary on virtually every Darin recording.” — Goldmine

“An articulate, thoughtful, and sympathetic overview of Bobby Darin’s hectic performing career…Bleiel makes a strong case for Darin’s lofty place in music-making history…Well worth reading.” — Popular Music and Society

“The book is far more than a simple reference, and in fact proves to be an entertaining page-turner…There is much in the text that gives readers a view of Darin’s near-obsessive drive, his professionalism and perfectionism…Through Bleiel, Darin at last receives his due as a rock and roll pioneer.” — Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal

“When you finish reading That’s All, you’ll conclude that Bobby Darin was a true one-of-a-kind.” — Dick Clark

About The Author

Jeff Bleiel was co-producer of the 4-CD box set As Long As I’m Singing: The Bobby Darin Collection, released by Rhino Records in 1995.  He is co-editor of the book Add Some Music To Your Day: Analyzing and Enjoying the Music of the Beach Boys, and his writing about pop music and entertainment has appeared in Goldmine, The Pittsburgh Press, Billboard, The Alexandria (Va.) Gazette, and other publications.

To Order

Send $24.95, plus shipping ($4 in the U.S.; $5 to Canada and Mexico; $10 outside North America)

Tiny Ripple Books
P.O. Box 1533
Cranberry Township, PA 16066

Check or money orders (U.S. Dollars) only made payable to: Tiny Ripple Books.

Pennsylvania residents add 6% sales tax.

Questions?: info@tinyripple.com

Home