Come Back to the Five and Dime, Bobby Dee Bobby Dee

Former child star Bobby Driscoll, fired by Disney in the mid-‘50s after getting severe acne, was unable to find much work in Hollywood afterwards and eventually became a homeless drug addict before dying alone at age 31. It’s odd subject matter for an album to say the least, but what’s remarkable is that this doesn’t matter. Knowing the backstory helps explain the references, but it’s not necessary in order to enjoy these songs, many of which are unusually good, and which encompass glam rock, doo-wop, and off-center pop. Benjy Ferree is a gifted songwriter and arranger and the themes of isolation and loss of innocence are certainly universal and not confined to his subject. He has a direct and forceful voice that brings to mind both Marc Bolan and Freddie Mercury and he knows how to control it. He’s equally good with raucous, hook-filled rockers (“Big Business,” “Blown Out”) and soulful ballads (“The Grips,” “Whirlpool of Love”). In the end, it’s hard to tell if the album is wildly ambitious, ridiculous, or both. And that’s only part of the charm of this surprisingly cohesive and rewarding work.