Music: A Bright Star Eclipsed

By JAY COCKS

During the 1950s, BOBBY DARIN was a teen idol who wrote and sang some classic rockers (Splish Splash, Dream Lover), then decided to turn himself into Sinatra. No one ever said Darin was modest. That brashness, in fact, was part of his whole charming, overreaching package, which is welcomely represented on two Atlantic CDs called The Best of Bobby Darin (Splish Splash and Mack the Knife). Mack, of course, became Darin's signature song, making him equally at home in supper clubs and on American Bandstand. He went to Hollywood, made movies, played Vegas and laid down some exceptional, swinging sides, but after Mack, consistent success was as elusive as a single, solid performing style. He died, far from a superstar, in 1973. The new CDs prove that his pop singing, had it not been eclipsed by the advent of the Beatles and the passing of Tin Pan Alley, could have become world-class. Tunes like Clementine and Skylark, even a chestnut like Bill Bailey, can still make your speakers jump. Darin was born a little out of time, but time has been good to his music. J.C.