Del Shannon“Runaway” by Del Shannon was recorded during a one-day session and released as a single in January of 1961. It reached the #1 position on the Billboard (US) chart in April of that year. It immediately became a rock ‘n’ roll classic. I suppose you could say it was a “runaway hit.”

Some songs become personal favorites because they have particular meaning. I associate them with specific events or circumstances in life. Others are just great songs, period. “Runaway” by Del Shannon is an example of the latter. In 1961, “Runaway” had what I thought was a unique sound, as compared to what else was popular at the time.

Del Shannon‘s voice was incredible. His range could go from a brooding growl to a piercing falsetto and back again in an instant. The song itself had such a catchy melody it was hard to resist. Lyrically, “Runaway” portrayed the requisite teen angst of breakup common at the time, which (at the age of 12) wasn’t a factor for me.

But I think what really hit me about “Runaway” was that instrumental bridge. It was provided by Max Crook, a keyboardist, playing his own invention, the musitron. It was an early version of a synthesizer, and had a totally unique sound in its day.

“Runaway” by Del Shannon is more than just an oldie but goodie. It’s a legitimate baby boomer rock ‘n’ roll classic. It was re-recorded and re-released by Del Shannon himself twice – first in 1967, as “Runaway ’67,” and again in 1986, with new lyrics, to be the opening theme for the television series Crime Story (1986 – 1988). “Runaway” has also been covered by The Ventures, as an instrumental, by Bonnie Raitt and by The Traveling Wilburys, with Jeff Lynne re-creating Max Crook’s musitron solo note-for-note. In 2009, “Runaway” by Del Shannon was used in an episode of the TV series Heroes (ep. 21, season 3).

Until recently, I had only ever heard “Runaway” in its original mono version. I was totally overjoyed to find an actual stereo release on a CD called Radio Gold, where it’s listed as an “alternate stereo take.” The sound had been digitally re-mastered, and sounded better than ever. Much of Del Shannon’s back catalog has since been re-issued and may still be available.

Del Shannon, having suffered bouts of alcoholism and depression, committed suicide on February 8, 1990. The music world lost one of its greats.

Recommended Del Shannon:

1. 25 All-Time Greatest Hits (Sample/Purchase)

2. Runaway With Del Shannon (Sample/Purchase/Download)

3. Complete Career Anthology (Purchase)