Two of a Kind (CD - 1961)

Although the title is TWO OF A KIND, this classic 1961 album actually presents the meeting of three great musical minds--singer Bobby Darin, composer/lyricist/occasional vocalist Johnny Mercer, and conductor Billy May. The interplay between this trio of pop legends is magnificent, with Mercer's husky, mature voice perfectly complementing Darin's youthful, dynamic croon, and May's arrangements allowing for bold, intuitive orchestral backing.

Somewhat surprisingly, the vibrant set features only a handful of Mercer-penned tunes, most notably the buoyant, freewheeling title track, which he co-wrote with Darin, and the easy-going "If I Had My Druthers." Regardless of the songwriter(s), the performances on TWO OF A KIND are stellar, with Darin and Mercer displaying a genuine simpatico that is warmly welcoming and eminently entertaining. Though both Darin and Mercer have outstanding solo releases, each artist is in exemplary form on this disc, a truly remarkable outing that should not be overlooked by fans of classic pop vocals. minimize