Runaway (Del Shannon song)

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"Runaway" (Shannon-Crook) was a number-one Billboard Hot 100 song in the spring of 1961 by Del Shannon. It is notable for its use of the Clavioline, an early form of synthesizer played by Max Crook, who referred to his heavily-modified instrument as the "Musitron". The following year champagne music maker Lawrence Welk who hosted a music tv series released and had a hit with the song. "Runaway" briefly returned in 1986 when Shannon recorded a revised version for the theme song of the television show Crime Story. Coincidentally, one episode of the show's second season featured Bonnie Raitt's cover of the song.

The first notable cover of "Runaway" was by the Small Faces in 1967, appearing on the From the Beginning album. The song was later covered by the punk rock group Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their Blow in the Wind, as well as horrorpunk band The Misfits on their covers album Project 1950. 1986 brought a rock cover by Luis Cardenas. In 1991, influential Chicago punk band, Screeching Weasel, covered the song on their 'Boogooda, Boogooda, Boogooda' album. It was also recorded by the Traveling Wilburys during sessions for their second album, released as Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 in 1990. Elvis Presley also covered it in 1970, while the Beach Boys were known to have played it live. Country versions of the song have been recorded by Narvel Felts in the 70s, the bluegrass-based group The Cox Family in 1996, the latter produced by Alison Krauss, and by Gary Allan on his album Smoke Rings In the Dark. It is also often covered live by John Frusciante, guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in his solo concerts. Charlie Kulis charted with a cover of "Runaway" on Playboy Records in 1975 at #46[1] while two years later Bonnie Raitt's cover performance of the song reached #57 in 1977[2] and was included album Sweet Forgiveness and later on her 1990 greatest hits album.

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 for Roy Orbison, a former Wilbury who had died in 1988. However, this has never been documented.

The song was covered in French by Dutch singer Dave; the cover was called "Vanina".

Both the song and Del Shannon are mentioned in Tom Petty's song "Runnin' Down a Dream."

Barenaked Ladies mention Runaway in their song "When You Dream."

Marty Friedman and Rolly covered "Runaway" on Rock Fujiyama.

In the movie Born on the Fourth of July, Tom Cruise sings a parody of “Runaway” about the Vietnam War, and mentions Del Shannon. In the song "Over the Wall" by Echo and the Bunnymen, Ian McCulloch sings some of "Runaway", ad-libbing a bit, while Will Sergeant plays the vocal line on guitar. The song “My Little Runaway” by the Stone Coyotes mentions both Del Shannon and the song “Runaway.” The Barenaked Ladies song, "When You Dream," features the lyric, "Do you hear Del Shannon's 'Runaway' playing on transistor radio waves?" The song Goodbye to You, by Scandal replicates the musitron solo from "Runaway" for its own instrumental break. In the music video for the Luis Cardenas cover of “Runaway,” Del Shannon has a guest appearance as a cop.[3]

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)
• Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)
• Les Roseaux Sauvages (French film, 1994)
• Good Will Hunting (1997)

"Runaway" was covered by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band on The Penthouse Tapes album.

John Frusciante, guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is known to do a live version of Runaway at his solo concerts.[4] Me First and the Gimme Gimmes cover "Runaway" on the album Blow In The Wind. The Misfits cover "Runaway" on their album Project 1950. Blood For Blood cover "Runaway" on their album Serenity. In honor of Shannon, The Traveling Wilburys covered the song in 1990 during the sessions for their third (techinally their second) album, which is available on The Traveling Wilburys Collection

[edit] External links

• The Making of "Runaway"