Darin 1936 – 1973, Bobby Darin – (No longer available on CD, I still have to mention it and will leave a Rhapsody link at the end of my review for downloading purposes.) This is simply an incredible record which so demonstrates the metamorphosis of a great singer. Darin did start out recording teen 50’s rock ‘n roll party cuts before sliding so gracefully towards jazz standards and lounge, finally ending his career and life with folk vocals. What is so musically brilliant about Darin’s three stages is that you can hear the singer, and who he actually is, through all phases. I’ve been playing this record a lot lately ’cause it fits into more than a few facets of life as equally as it fits into facets of home entertaining. You can play it alone, with a friend, or during a party. Released just weeks after Darin died, his live, soft performances of I Won’t Last A Day Without You, The Letter, Mac The Knife and especially, If I Were A Carpenter will floor you. He was at the top of his game at game’s end, and we’re fortunate enough to have it still.

– Say you are Audrey Hepburn or Albert Finney, and you are in Rio in the late 60’s, sipping daiquiris while filming a romantic comedy . This is the soundtrack to your movie! Sergio Mendes and his band did it again with Equinox. Like the album Brasil ’66, this record is a bit less summer than their other album reviewed in our music section, but it’s still sophisticated latin jazz that justifiably holds its own forty years later. Mendes invented this sound, and while others do it well, Brasil ’66 put their mood into it. You’ve not heard many of the songs on this album, but they will feel familiar as much as rhythmically exotic. This is a steamy, steel-string guitar-spiced record with those amazing Brasil ’66 vocal harmonies wrapped around everything. Electric pianos, maracas, bongos … all the forgotten 60’s instruments intertwine to bring the listener such an exotic , yet melodic , sound you’ll be thrilled to rediscover it. This is sophisticated, grown-up cocktail music in all its glory. Songs include Cinnamon & Clove, Constant Rain, Night & Day, and more.

– Produced by Sergio Mendes back in 1969, this is another South American jazz album that will absolutely carry a warm weather cocktail party. This is an extremely optimistic record, just loaded with 60’s bossa nova voices and a groovy Hammond organ. Very poppy without being a sugar-coated 60’s pop record. Bossa Rio sounds like they were made to play the pool patios of ritzy South American hotels as fruit-coolers were served in tall glasses. Think “the house band that played behind Sean Connery” in a hotel scene in one of his Bond films. Very dated but still very cool, this record will be one to play as you barbeque and the pitcher of Planters Punch is emptied. Songs include Do You Know The Way To San Jose, Wave, Old Devil Moon, and Nana.