Editing Bobby Darin (section)

=== Direction Records ===
Returning to Los Angeles in 1969, Darin started his own record label, Direction Records, putting out folk and protest music. Darin wrote "Simple Song of Freedom" in 1969, which in an interesting turn of events, was first recorded by Tim Hardin, and the song became Hardin's best-selling record. It reached number 48 on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top 100 Singles list in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6023.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - August 30, 1969}}</ref> Also in Canada, a version by ''Buckwheat'' reached #52.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.7700.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - May 6, 1972}}</ref> Darin himself sang the song "live" on several television variety shows.

Of his first Direction album, Darin told the press, "The purpose of Direction Records is to seek out statement-makers....The album is solely {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} compositions designed to reflect my thoughts on the turbulent aspects of modern society."<ref>{{cite book |last1=DiOrio |first1=Al |title=Borrowed Time: The 37 years of Bobby Darin |date=1981 |publisher=Running Press |location=Philadelphia |isbn=0894711113 |page=181}}</ref>[[File:1972 Bobby Darin show.JPG|thumb|''Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Amusement Company'', L-R: [[Dick Smothers]], [[Tom Smothers]], and Bobby Darin as the [[Marx Brothers]] (1972) ]]Darin was struggling with his finances as his music career was dwindling. Darin's venture into protest music was not received favorably and generated little or no profits. In late 1969, Darin sold his songs, his record label (Direction Records), and publishing company (TM Music), losing the copyright to his own music and eventually, their worth. The company to which  Darin sold them went bankrupt. During his final days, Darin was believed to have been still trying to gain back the rights to his music.<ref name=":0" />