Venice Blue is a studio album by American singer Bobby Darin, released in May 1965 by Capitol Records.[2] This was his final LP for the label.[3] The album was arranged and conducted by Richard Wess.[2] The album featured a number of arrangements by Ernie Freeman, including two Darin compositions.[2]
The album debuted on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the issue dated July 10, 1965, and remained on the chart for four weeks, peaking at number 132.[4]
The single from the album, "Venice Blue" bubbled under" Billboard's Hot 100, for its sole week that began in the issue dated April 23, 1965, and peaked at number 130.[5] and number 94 on the Cashbox singles chart and stayed on the chart for three weeks.[6]
Venice Blue was released in the United Kingdom as I Wanna Be Around with a slightly altered cover using the same photo. A compilation CD was released by Capitol's parent company EMI in 1999 including You're the Reason I'm Living and I Wanna Be Around.[7] It was released as one of two albums on one CD also by EMI in 2002, along with Darin's 1964 album, From Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie.[8]
In his AllMusic review, critic JT Griffith wrote "Venice Blue is not a dramatic departure for Bobby Darin, but a solid collection nonetheless. Really of interest to fans looking to complete their collection. Well-arranged and well-sung, but not the most accessible album for the neo-swing set."[9]
Billboard notes "Darin sings and swings his heart out and proves there are future standards being written"[12]
Cashbox said the album "includes a hand-picked batch of goodies from the recent vintage crop of pop hits, handled in the traditional Darin style."[13]
In its review of the album from November 1965 as IWanna Be Around, Record Mirror noted that "His own "You Just Don't Know" is, surprisingly, a stand-out track."[11]