Sings Ray Charles

'I'm proud to say that I was on the Ray Charles bandwagon when it was just a baby-carriage; even before the first album came out I was listening to his single releases. In fact, two singers - Fats Domino and Ray Charles - opened up my ears to a whole new world, different from anything I'd heard until then. They both became major influences when I realised these are the roots.' Bobby Darin's album therefore is no plain tribute album, rather a superbly crafted homage to an inspiration. 'We were not trying to imitate, emulate or assume a position; we just wanted to get into the same groove, get the same feeling.' To this end, The Blossoms, who worked with Charles during the 1950s, were brought in to assist on vocal backgrounds. The end result is an experience comparable with the original, which says much for Darin's own abilities.