Runaway (Del Shannon song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Runaway
| cover = Runaway (Del Shannon song).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Del Shannon
| album = Runaway with Del Shannon
| B-side = Jody
| released = {{Start date|1961|02|18}}
| recorded = January 21, 1961{{cite book|author=Laura R. Ashlee|title=Traveling Through Time: A Guide to Michigan's Historical Markers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd-mh9r0zEkC&pg=PA60|year=2005|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=0-472-03066-3|page=60}}
| studio = Bell Sound (New York City){{cite book|author1=Dafydd Rees|author2=Luke Crampton|title=Rock Stars Encyclopedia|url=https://archive.org/details/rockstarsencyclo00rees|url-access=registration|year=1999|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|isbn=978-0-7894-4613-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/rockstarsencyclo00rees/page/898 898]}}
| venue =
| genre = Rock and roll
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=20}}
| label = BigTop
| writer =
| producer = Harry Balk
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Hats Off to Larry
| next_year = 1961
| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|gaHgHrCwQBA?|"Runaway"}}}}
{{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Runaway (Del Shannon song).ogg
| description = "Runaway"}}
}}
"Runaway" is a number-one Billboard Hot 100 song made famous by Del Shannon in 1961. It was written by Shannon and keyboardist Max Crook, and became a major international hit. It topped the Billboard charts for four consecutive weeks, and Billboard ranked it as the No. 5 song for 1961.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1961 It was No. 472 on the 2010 version of Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and No. 466 on the 2004 version.
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 own clavioline-based electric keyboard called a Musitron, became "Maximilian".
After their first recording session for Big Top Records in New York City 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 unusual instrumental sound. On January 21, 1961, they recorded "Runaway" at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, with Harry Balk as producer, Fred Weinberg as audio engineer and also session musicians on several sections: session musician Al Caiola on guitar, Moe Wechsler on piano, and Crook playing the central Musitron break. Other musicians on the record included Al Casamenti and Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, and Joe Marshall on drums. Bill Ramall, who was the arranger for the session, also played baritone sax.{{cite web |url=http://mixonline.com/recording/tracking/classic-tracks-del-shannon-runaway/ |title=Young, Bryan, "Classic Tracks: Del Shannon's 'Runaway'", Oct 1, 2008, Mix Magazine |publisher=Mixonline.com |date=2008-10-01 |access-date=2013-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015143832/http://mixonline.com/recording/tracking/classic-tracks-del-shannon-runaway/ |archive-date=2013-10-15}} After recording in A minor, producer Balk sped up the recording to pitch just below a B-flat minor.Classic Tracks Back To Back: Thunder Bay Press, 2008. "Runaway" was released in February 1961 and was immediately successful. On April 10 of that year, Shannon appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, helping to catapult it to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for four weeks.[https://www.billboard.com/artist/del-shannon/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 – Del Shannon Runaway Chart History], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018. Two months later, it reached number one on the UK's Record Retailer chart, spending three weeks in that position.[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/9683/del%20shannon/ Del Shannon – Full Official Chart History], Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2018. On Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B Sides, "Runaway" peaked at number three.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=521}}"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1961/Billboard%201961-05-15.pdf Hot R&B Sides]", Billboard, May 15, 1961. p. 49. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
The song was ranked No. 5 on Billboard{{'}}s end of year "Hot 100 for 1961 – Top Sides of the Year""[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1961/Billboard%201961-12-25.pdf Chart Toppers]", Billboard, December 25, 1961. p. 10. Retrieved March 11, 2018. and No. 9 on Cash Box{{'}}s "Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961"."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/60s/1961/CB-1961-12-30.pdf Top 100 Chart Hits of 1961]", Cash Box, December 30, 1961. p. 11. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
= Chart performance =
=Weekly charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1961)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
|---|
| Australia[https://archive.today/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ David Kent's "Australian Chart Book 1940-1969"]
| style="text-align:center;"|2 |
| UK[http://www.sixtiescity.net/charts/61chart.htm#top100 The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1961]
| style="text-align:center;"|4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1961.htm Musicoutfitters.com]
| style="text-align:center;"|5 |
| US Cash Box[http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1961YESP.html Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1961]
| style="text-align:center;"|9 |
== All-time charts ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2018)
! Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 14, 2019}}
| style="text-align:center;"|364 |
{{col-end}}
Other recordings
Del Shannon re-recorded "Runaway" in 1967, intended for his album Home and Away (shelved until 2006), with John Paul Jones, Nicky Hopkins and Jimmy Page as session musicians. This version was issued as a single, and reached No. 122 on Billboard{{'}}s Bubbling Under the Hot 100 and reached the Top 20 in Australia."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-10-07.pdf Bubbling Under the Hot 100]", Billboard, October 7, 1967. p. 24. Retrieved March 12, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.delshannon.com/homeandawaystudio.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204509/http://www.delshannon.com/homeandawaystudio.htm |archive-date=2016-03-03|title=Home and Away Studio Session Photos |work=Del Shannon Enterprises official website |accessdate=April 27, 2015}}
Shannon re-recorded the song a second time in 1986, this time as the theme music for the NBC television series Crime Story, which starred Dennis Farina and was set in the early 1960s.Rybin, Steven (2013). [https://books.google.com/books?id=mY3sxE9D00IC&pg=PA97 Michael Mann: Crime Auteur], Scarecrow Press. p. 97. Retrieved April 21, 2018.Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=BwwLBaH9488C&pg=PT196 1,000 UK Number One Hits], Omnibus Press. p. 196. Retrieved March 12, 2018. This version featured new lyrics to make the song more fitting for a crime drama.
Shannon appeared on Late Night With David Letterman on February 10, 1987, performing "Runaway" with Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band.{{Cite web|url=http://epguides.com/LateNightwithDavidLetterman/|title=Late Night with David Letterman (a Guest Stars & Air Dates Guide)|website=epguides.com|access-date=2017-08-05}}{{Citation|last=Don Giller|title=Del Shannon, "Runaway," on Late Night, February 10, 1987|date=2017-08-05|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DnweMnI1Lw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9DnweMnI1Lw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-08-06}}{{cbignore}} Letterman introduced Shannon as having sold as many as 80,000 singles of "Runaway" per day at its peak in popularity.
The best-known original version is in mono. However, in subsequent compilations a different take from the same recording sessions is available in stereo. {{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}
Lyrics
The song is sung from the point of view of a man whose girlfriend has left him. She is mostly referred to in the third person, but she is briefly addressed in the second person in the lyric "wishin' you were here by me".
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Del Shannon|title=Runaway|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|accessdate=July 6, 2024|id=5641-6829-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Covers
- In 1962, an instrumental version was released by Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra. Welk's version spent 6 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching No. 56,[https://www.billboard.com/artist/lawrence-welk-and-his-orchestra/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 – Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra Runaway Chart History], Billboard.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-05-12.pdf Billboard Music Week Hot 100]", Billboard, May 12, 1962. Accessed July 29, 2016. while reaching No. 5 in Hong Kong,"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-06-23.pdf Billboard Music Week Hot 100]", Billboard, June 23, 1962. p. 14. Accessed July 29, 2016. and No. 8 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.{{cite web |url=http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=264 |title=1050 CHUM – CHUM Charts |access-date=2016-07-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718144559/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=264 |archive-date=July 18, 2006 |publisher=CHUM }} Chart No. 264, April 23, 1962.
- A version by the Small Faces was released on From the Beginning in June 1967.
- Elvis Presley covered the song while performing at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in August 1969, appearing on the 1970 album On Stage. During Presley's August 26, 1969 midnight show, Presley performed "Runaway" and then introduced Del Shannon in the audience. This performance was later released on the box set Collectors' Gold. Years later, Shannon would relate this story to Bob Costas on his late-night television program Later with Bob Costas.{{cite web|author=ON |url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6gge4_bob-costa-s-later-show-with-del-sha_shortfilms |title=Bob Costa's "Later" Show with Del Shannon – part 2 of 2! – Video Dailymotion |publisher=Dailymotion.com |date=2012-09-02 |access-date=2013-08-01}}
- Austin Roberts recorded a medley of this song and The Beau Brummels song "Just a Little" on the Philips Records label in 1970.
- In 1974, Dave, a Dutch singer who sings in French, covered the song under the title "Vanina", the song having been adapted by {{ill|Patrick Loiseau (singer)|lt=Patrick Loiseau|fr|Patrick Loiseau|WD=}}. "Vanina" reached No. 1 in France{{Cite web |last=Chartsventes |date=2016-10-29 |title=World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries: DAVE |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries}} and No. 27 in Flanders.[http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/3f077/Dave- Dave (NL) – Vanina], Ultratop. Retrieved March 12, 2018. Dave also covered the song in German in 1975 ("Mein Mädchen Monika")[http://www.norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Dave+%5BNL%5D&titel=Mein+M%E4dchen+Monika&cat=s Dave (NL) – Mein Mädchen Monika], norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018. and Spanish ("Vanesa").{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/en/Dave-Vanesa-Canta-En-Español/release/6572343 |title=Dave – Vanesa Canta En Español |website=Discogs |year=1975 |access-date=2016-06-17}} In 2011, he released a soul version of "Vanina" on the album Blue Eyed Soul,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-eyed-soul%21-mw0002285837 |title=Blue-Eyed Soul! – Dave |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=June 24, 2018}} along with a music video, that reached No. 90 in France.[http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Dave+%5BNL%5D&titel=Vanina&cat=s Dave (NL) – Vanina], lescharts.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- In 1975, Charlie Kulis, a schoolteacher from New York, released a cover version on Playboy Records. Promotion for the single included an appearance on American Bandstand. Kulis's version spent eight weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 46,[https://web.archive.org/web/20180521063537/https://www.billboard.com/music/charlie-kulis/chart-history/hot-100/song/338024 Hot 100 – Charlie Kulis Runaway Chart History], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018. while reaching No. 40 on Billboard{{'}}s Easy Listening chart.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180514102906/https://www.billboard.com/music/charlie-kulis/chart-history/adult-contemporary/song/338024 Adult Contemporary – Charlie Kulis Runaway Chart History], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- In 1977, Bonnie Raitt included a bluesy version of the song on her album Sweet Forgiveness. Also released as a single, it reached No. 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[https://www.billboard.com/artist/bonnie-raitt/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 – Bonnie Raitt Runaway Chart History], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- Narvel Felts covered the song in 1978 and took it to No. 30 on the Hot Country Singles charts.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|page=143|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}
- In 1986, Luis Cardenas, lead singer of the rock band Renegade, reached No. 83 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with his cover version,[https://www.billboard.com/artist/luis-cardenas/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 – Luis Cardenas Runaway Chart History], Billboard.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018. which is best remembered for its live action/animated video that features cameo appearances by Del Shannon and Donny Osmond.
- In 1987, Swedish pop legend Fredrik Willstrand recorded a cover version for his eponymous album.{{Cite web|title=Fredrik Willstrand-Runaway. (hi-tech aor) - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqwoZe94jZY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/tqwoZe94jZY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2020-11-04|website=www.youtube.com| date=21 June 2012 }}{{cbignore}}
- The supergroup Traveling Wilburys recorded a version of the song in 1990, with Jeff Lynne singing lead vocals; it was released on a 2007 CD reissue of Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3.{{Cite web|url=http://www.georgeharrison.com/albums/traveling-wilburys-vol-3/|title=Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 – George Harrison|website=www.georgeharrison.com|access-date=2018-05-16}}
- Australian artist Ed Kuepper included a 10-minute live version of the song on The Aints 1991 album S.L.S.Q – Very Live!
- A cover by Gary Allan reached No. 74 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 2000, despite not being officially released as a single."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-01-22.pdf Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks]", Billboard, January 22, 2000. p. 48. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- Australian group 3 Piece Suite covered it in 2002; it rose to No. 54 on the ARIA charts.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
- The joint venture of Los Coronas and Arizona Baby covered the song in their 2011 live album Dos Bandas y un Destino.{{cite web|last=Prunes |first=Mariano |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dos-bandas-y-un-destino-el-concierto-mw0002185921 |title=Dos Bandas y un Destino: El Concierto – Arizona Baby, Los Coronas | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2013-08-01}}
- English rock band Kasabian covered the song on the album Dermot O'Leary Presents the Saturday Sessions 2011.{{cite web|last=O'Brien |first=Jon |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dermot-oleary-presents-the-saturday-sessions-2011-mw0002232396 |title=Dermot O'Leary Presents the Saturday Sessions 2011 – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2011-11-07 |access-date=2013-08-01}}
- American metal band Avenged Sevenfold released a punk rock-style cover of "Runaway" on the deluxe edition of their 2016 album The Stage. Warren Fitzgerald from punk rock band The Vandals features on guitar.
- American punk rock band Misfits included "Runaway" on an album of cover songs from the 1950s and 1960s called Project 1950.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.delshannon.com/runaway.htm The Making of "Runaway"]
{{Narvel Felts}}
{{Del Shannon}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Me First and the Gimme Gimmes songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:UK singles chart number-one singles
Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients
Category:Songs about loneliness
Category:Songs written by Del Shannon
Category:Music videos directed by John Lloyd Miller