Bobby Darin Sings Doctor Dolittle is an album by American singer Bobby Darin, released in 1967. It was arranged and conducted by Roger Kellaway. The album sold poorly, received little label promotion and was subsequently dropped from the label’s catalog. This, in part, was to blame for Darin’s separation from Atlantic and the beginning of his own label, Direction. (by wikipedia)
Bobby Darin’s 1967 album, Sings Doctor Doolittle, was his personal pet project (pun intended). Darin chose to sing ten songs from the musical film over the objections of his label, extending his repertoire from standards to folk to rock and now (kind of) kids music. Atlantic must have wondered to whom to market Sings Doctor Doolittle, which is completely fair, considering that the theatrical bomb almost ruined 20th Century-Fox. (And that this is not the official soundtrack.) Songwriter Leslie Bricusse won an oscar for the song “Talk to the Animals,” which is included here. Not an essential Darin album, even to crazed fans. The songs are solid but the material is (obviously) neither his most weighty nor his most fun. An album of Oscar-nominated songs is one thing, but Sings Doctor Doolittle contains no great songs. It is interesting to note that only three of these songs appear on any Darin compilation: Swingin’ the 
Standards, Moods/Swing: The Best of the Atlantic Years 1966-67, and As Long As I’m Singin’. But none are on any greatest hits CDs. Not a coincidence. Worth buying for completists. But Sings Doctor Doolittle will not be among the most listened to albums in anyone’s collection. One of the few genuine missteps in Darin’s career. (by JT Griffith)
Bobby Darin’s Atlantic 1967 album of songs from the film Doctor Dolittle isn’t quite the anomaly that some suggest. After all, this is a film about love, acceptance and peace, and therefore lyrically the songs aren’t miles away from the themes that Bobby would explore for his own label the following year. Sadly, the album suffers from being split up into a ballad side and an upbeat side, but Beautiful Things and Talk to the Animals are classic Darin. Unfortunately, the release seemed to get lost amongst the official soundtrack album and the superior album of songs from the film by Sammy Davis Jr – someone who understood the songs of Leslie Bricusse better than anyone. But Darin’s Dolittle is much better than many biographies suggest.
Personnel:
Bobby Darin (vocals)
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unknown orchestra conducted by Roger Kellaway
Tracklist:
01. At The Crossroads 2.38
02. When I Look In Your Eyes 2.59
03. I Think I Like You 2.24
04. Where Are The Words 2.24
05. Something In Your Smile 3.33
06. Fabulous Places 2.20
07. My Friend, The Doctor 3.02
08. Beautiful Things 2.27
09. After Today 2.08
10. Talk To The Animals 3.20
All songs written by Leslie Bricusse
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