Del Shannon - Runaway: The Very Best Of

Near complete package marking a tragic anniversary

Obituary writers only fleetingly familiar with Shannon’s music had a field day when he took his own life 20 years ago, his demise offering a crassly convenient epilogue to a creative output punctuated by heartbreak, loneliness and misery. The likes of Little Town Flirt, Cry Myself To Sleep and this compilation’s title track suggest a figure as troubled and wounded as Roy Orbison – but they were only part of the story.

The falsetto became his signature sound, especially in tandem with swooping organ instrumental breaks, but Shannon also possessed a rugged lower register capable of a beefy R&B growl. He wasn’t all doom and gloom either, as evinced on the upbeat doo wop of Sue’s Gotta Be Mine or the Schadenfreude revenge anthem Hats Off To Larry.

Like Orbison, Shannon underwent a renaissance in his later years, with diehard fans such as Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Dave Edmunds lining up to produce fresh pop symphonies for his remarkable voice, a handful of which add a pleasing coda to this hits collection. It’s a near perfect tribute to a singular talent, though a couple more tracks from 1967’s Andrew Oldham-produced Home & Away would have been welcome.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Universal | 5324782

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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