Venice Blue Explained

Venice Blue
Type:	studio
Longtype:	LP
Artist:	Bobby Darin
Cover:	VeniceBlueBobbyDarin.jpg
Released:	May 1965
Recorded:	1964–1965
Genre:	Pop
Length:	29:20
Label:	Capitol
Producer:	Steve Douglas
Prev Title:	From Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie
Prev Year:	1964
Next Title:	Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile
Next Year:	1966

Venice Blue is an album by American singer Bobby Darin, released in 1965. It peaked at 132 on the Billboard charts.

Venice Blue was also 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.

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.”

Track listing

1. ”Venice Blue” (Bobby Darin, Charles Aznavour, Gene Lees) – 2:36
2. ”I Wanna Be Around” (Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstadt) – 2:12
3. ”Somewhere” (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim) – 2:34
4. ”The Good Life” (Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon) – 2:25
5. ”Dear Heart” (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston, Henry Mancini) – 3:14
6. ”Softly, As I Leave You” (Giorgio Calabrese, Hal Shaper, Tony De Vita) – 2:57
7. ”You Just Don’t Know” (Darin) – 2:25
8. "There Ain’t No Sweet Gal Worth the Salt of My Tears” (Fred Fisher) – 3:03
9. ”Who Can I Turn To?” (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley) – 2:39
10. ”A Taste of Honey” (Ric Marlow, Bobby Scott) – 2:36
11. ”In a World Without You” (Rudy Clark, Darin) – 2:39

Personnel

• Bobby Darin – vocals
• Richard Wess – arrangements
• Ernie Freeman – arrangements
• Tommy Tedesco – guitar
• Carol Kaye – guitar
• René Hall – guitar
• Joe Mondragon – bass
• Chuck Berghofer – bass
• Earl Palmer – drums
• Emil Richards – tympani, maracas, vibes
• Ray Johnson – piano
• Tony Terran – trumpet
• Bill Pitman – trumpet
• Dick Nash – trombone
• Harry Betts – trombone
• Milt Bernhart – trombone
• Ken Shroyer – trombone
• Lew McCreary – trombone
• Lou Blackburn – trombone
• Dave Wells – trombone
• Paul Horn – saxophone
• Bill Green – saxophone
• Plas Johnson – saxophone