- Runaway (Del Shannon song)
Infobox Single
Name = Runaway
Caption = "Runaway" by Del Shannon
Artist =Del Shannon
from Album =
A-side =
B-side = "Jody"
Released = February 1961
Format = 7" single
Recorded =21 January 1961
Genre =
Length = 2:20
Label = BigTop 45-3067 (USA) London HLX 9317 (UK) Heliodor453099 (Germany) LondonHL-1796
Writer =Del Shannon ,Max Crook
Producer = ?
Certification =
This single = "Runaway"
(1961)
Next single = "Hats Off to Larry "
(1961)
Misc =Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = Runaway (Del Shannon song).ogg"Runaway" was a number oneBillboard Hot 100 song in the spring of 1961 byDel Shannon . It was written by Shannon and keyboardistMax Crook , and became a major international hit.It is #466 on
Rolling Stone 's list of The500 Greatest Songs of All Time .Original recording
Singer-guitarist Charles Westover and keyboard player Max Crook performed together as members of "Charlie Johnson and the Big Little Show Band" in
Battle Creek, Michigan , before their group won a recording contract in 1960. Westover took the new stage name "Del Shannon", and Crook, who had invented his ownclavioline -based electric keyboard, the Musitron, became "Maximilian".After their first recording session for Big Top Records in New York had ended in failure, their manager Ollie McLaughlin persuaded them to rewrite and re-record an earlier song they had written, "Little Runaway", to highlight Crook's unique instrumental sound. On
January 21 ,1961 , they recorded "Runaway" at the Bell Sound recording studios, with Harry Balk as producer, session musicianAl Caiola on guitar, and Crook playing the central Musitron break. "Runaway" was released in February 1961 and was immediately successful. In April, Shannon appeared onDick Clark 's "American Bandstand " helping to catapult it to the #1 spot on the Billboard charts where it remained for four weeks. Two months later, it also reached #1 in the UK. [ [http://www.delshannon.com/fulllengthbiography.htm DELSHANNON.COM - Full Length Biography ] ]Other versions
The following year champagne music maker
Lawrence Welk who hosted a musictv series released and had a hit with the song. The next notable cover of "Runaway" was by theSmall Faces in 1967, appearing on the "From the Beginning" album. Elvis Presley also covered it in 1970, while theBeach Boys were known to have played it live. Charlie Kulis charted with a cover of "Runaway" onPlayboy Records in 1975 at #46 [ [http://www.wac77.com/features_pages/music_top40/1975.html Top Songs from 1975 ] ] while two years laterBonnie Raitt 's cover performance of the song reached #57 in 1977 [ [http://www.wac77.com/features_pages/music_top40/1977.html Top Songs from 1977 ] ] and was included album "Sweet Forgiveness " and later on her 1990 greatest hits album.Country versions of the song have been recorded by
Narvel Felts in the70s , the bluegrass-based groupThe Cox Family in1996 , the latter produced byAlison Krauss , and byGary Allan on his album "Smoke Rings in the Dark ". "Runaway" was covered byThe Sensational Alex Harvey Band on "The Penthouse Tapes" album. Marty Friedman and Rolly covered "Runaway" on Rock Fujiyama. The song was covered in French by Dutch singer Dave; the cover was called "Vanina". The song was later covered by thepunk rock groupMe First and the Gimme Gimmes on their "Blow in the Wind ", as well as horrorpunk bandThe Misfits on their covers album "Project 1950 ".1986 brought a rock cover byLuis Cardenas .It was also recorded by the
Traveling Wilburys during sessions for their second album, released as "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3" in 1990. The Wilburys had all been involved in sessions or production for Shannon's last album, released posthumously as "Rock On", and had it not been for his tragic death in 1990, there was some speculation that he would have played and sung on their album as well, perhaps as a replacement forRoy Orbison , a former Wilbury who had died in 1988. However, this has never been documented.In 1988, influential Chicago punk band,
Screeching Weasel , covered the song on their 'Boogooda, Boogooda, Boogooda' album.The Misfits cover "Runaway" on their album "Project 1950 ".Blood For Blood cover "Runaway" on their album "Serenity".Me First and the Gimme Gimmes cover "Runaway" on the album "Blow In The Wind". Samhain drummerSteve Zing , with some members of the bandMourning Noise , recorded a cover of "Runaway" that was released as a single in 1986.John Frusciante , guitarist of theRed Hot Chili Peppers , is known to do a live version of "Runaway" at his solo concerts."Runaway" briefly returned in 1986 when Shannon recorded a revised version for the
theme song of thetelevision show "Crime Story". Coincidentally, one episode of the show's second season featuredBonnie Raitt 's cover of the song.The Disco/Soul band Eruption covered this song in 1981 with new lead singer
Jane Jochen Brazilian band
Ultraje a Rigor covered the song on their albumPor quê Ultraje a Rigor? .Queen + Paul Rodgers covered the song as aniTunes -only bonus track on their 2008 album, "The Cosmos Rocks ".Cajun Dance Party have covered the song as a b-side to their new single "The Colouful Life" in 2008
Movie appearances
The song "Runaway" has appeared in the following movies: :*"
American Graffiti " (1973):*"Yotzim Kavua" (1979):*"Running Scared" (1980):*"Christine " (1983):*"Purple Haze" (1983):*"Eddie and the Cruisers " (1983) :*"Children of the Corn " (1984):*"" (1993):*"Les Roseaux Sauvages" (French film, 1994)Notes
External links
* [http://www.delshannon.com/runaway.htm The Making of "Runaway"]
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