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August 2001
Jamie McGregor reviews
James Darren
'BECAUSE OF YOU'
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In some ways, Because of You is a re-invention of a re-invention. In the 1950s and '60s James Darren was a noted teen-idol movie star and Grammy-nominated recording artist. A junior member of the Rat Pack, during the 1970s he headlined in Las Vegas teamed with comedian Buddy Hackett before taking to TV in the 1980s, at first as an actor in T.J. Hooker and then as a respected small-screen director. With his singing days supposedly left well behind him at the age of 62, his decision to take the role of Vic Fontaine, a cool and swinging Rat Pack-style crooner, on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, reawakened the singer inside of him.
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Following phenomenal fan acclaim of his performances, Darren took up a recording deal with Concord Jazz, and started touring the United States either performing in casinos or partnered with full orchestras, all the while appearing at the odd Star Trek convention. Because of You is the second album produced from Darren's Concord deal, and it is a departure of sorts from the previous CD, the extraordinarily brilliant This One's From the Heart.
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Heart was filled with many well-known big-band classics and was very much Sinatra-esque in flavour; the great achievement was Darren's ability to make each song feel fresh again, thanks to his peerless velvet rasp and easy phrasing, the exceptional arrangements and eminent jazz musicians comprising the big band. But, while retaining Darren's talent and most of the featured musicians, Because of You takes a step away from Heart, instead delivering a slower, more mellow take on some swing standards, and lush string-backed ballads. Where Heart was Frank Sinatra, Because of You is more Tony Bennett.
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Part of the reason for this, perhaps, comes from Darren's desire not to re-visit too heavily that which has gone before. In an interview with CDNow, Darren says when Deep Space Nine executive producer Ira Steven Behr told him about singing "Come Fly With Me" on the show, he said, "Oh, forget about it. I'm not doing that tune ... Frank did it." Behr said, "Frank did about half the tunes you're doing." Darren replied, "Yeah, you're right. But this is so identified with him. I can't do this."
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Of course, he did end up doing it, and superbly! But with Heart's track listing taken almost entirely from songs performed on DS9, Because of You is Darren's opportunity to pick a repertoire not so closely identified with the Rat Pack Vegas style.
And so gone are the kicking Pete Christlieb mid-song sax solos of Heart; Christlieb has but one solo in this CD, an almost melancholy performance perfectly complimenting Darren's heartfelt rendition of the jazz classic "My Old Flame". Yet the Sinatra influence is still present with "Just One of Those Things" (one of the best tracks without doubt, and featuring some great work by bassist Chuck Berghofer), the emotional "I'm a Fool to Want You", and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (which is surprisingly one of the more upbeat and swinging recordings on the CD).
Sinatra aside, it is the Bennett-signature trio of "Because of You", "The Good Life" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (the latter done here in semi-bossa-nova style) that has the most influence here. It must be said that when James hits the final few notes in "Boulevard", he sounds incredibly like Bennett himself; while in "The Good Life" his delivery of the word 'alone' is pure unadulterated Darren, a totally unique sound. Darren has said, "Someone once commented, 'You sing like the way you talk.' And I said,'Well, gee, that's a nice compliment.'" It's certainly true, and especially noticeable in the slower "Good Life", "Our Day Will Come" and "My Kind of Girl".
While Darren makes every song on this CD a winner, there are a couple of mis-steps. "I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" is done ingeniously as a ballad, with nice harmonies from Monica Mancini (wife of the CD Producer and drummer Gregg Field), but is sadly a touch over-engineered. Meanwhile, Patrick Williams unfortunately gives "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" a ponderously stilted arrangement. However, Williams' other arrangements are fantastic, including a chic brass beginning in "More Today Than Yesterday", very reminiscent of his start to "That Old Black Magic", the only song he arranged on Heart.
Leaving the best to last, besides "Just One of Those Things" and "My Old Flame", the standouts for me are firstly "Blame It On My Youth", a rare title which had one of its definitive recordings made by Darren's close friend, the breathtaking Sammy Davis Jr accompanied by the legendary Marty Paich Dek-Tette. Here though, "Blame" features a perfect mix of Darren's moving expression and the rich string backing. Secondly is "Dream a Little Dream of Me", which is a joy thanks to an effulgent Bob Krogstadt arrangement that allows Darren's vocals to blend seamlessly with both woodwinds and strings in an appropriately dreamy finish to the album.
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My final notes refer to the Concord packaging; the liner notes are great (except Darren uses the word 'swing' a touch too liberally!), but what were they thinking with the front cover? It has poor Darren in an airbrushed photo/painting looking categorically preserved - and this when there are two stunning photographs of the man on the dedication page and on the back cover, either of which would have made a great cover. Oh well!
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Overall, I must admit I prefer the more upbeat and happening style of Heart, but Darren's undeniable talent and palpable charm makes Because of You simply irresistible, and a must-buy for DS9 fans and lovers of big band and romantic jazz. If only there were more tracks; I can't wait to hear the news that James is either cutting another CD or touring Australia! So as Vic Fontaine once said in toast "To whatever makes you happy!", I raise my glass to JD and respond that this CD sure did!
'Because of You' Concord Jazz CCD-4969-2
Featuring
Vocals: James Darren, Monica Mancini (track 3); Piano: Tom Ranier; Bass: Chuck Berghofer; Drums and Percussion: Gregg Field; Guitars: Jim Fox; Trumpet: Warren Leuning; Tenor sax: Pete Christlieb.
Tracks:
Just One Of Those Things
My Kind Of Girl
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
More Today Than Yesterday
Blame It On My Youth
Because Of You
Good Life
I'm A Fool To Want You
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
Our Day Will Come
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
My Old Flame
Dream A Little Dream
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