08-22-2016, 02:44 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-22-2016, 06:07 PM by Eric the Green.)
1960 was a huge year for the old rock n roll. The Twist, Tossin and Turnin, It's Now or Never; huge hits. And this one (actually Feb. 1961), is like what John Lennon did on " I Should Have Known Better "; episodic melody that takes you to unexpected highs. And just like the Beach Boys introduced the theramin on "Good Vibrations," Del Shannon (Charles Westover) introduced Max Crook's invention of a clavioline-based electric keyboard called a Musitron. It was a "Runaway" hit. It's the archetypal oldie-but-goodie too!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaway_(D...nnon_song)
A different version: https://youtu.be/ziLagAgoPCE
I see that The Beatles and The Beach Boys each performed "Runaway" a year or two before the songs by them that I mentioned. So did Elvis, introducing Del in the audience.
Unfortunately, Del had a hard time staying on top, and never had such a big hit again. His mid-60s song, "Keep Searching," was not as good, but it did OK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Shannon
Circa 1960 was the time when lots of macho white guys made it as rock n roll singers and teen idols for a while. Besides Del Shannon, there was Bobby Vee, who did a fine song called "Keep on Trying" in 1965. The DJ said that that's what Bobby was doing, since he hadn't had a hit since 1960-61, when he did "Rubber Ball" and "Take Good Care of My Baby." But in 1967 he finally hit again with "Come Back When You Grow Up." I guess he was all grown up by then. Bobby played with Bob Dylan in his early days.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Vee
The macho Dion did "Runaround Sue," circa 1960, but in 1968 sang the most poignant tribute to Abraham, Martin, John and Bobby. A fine classic song that didn't quite make my list.
https://youtu.be/a5hFMy4pTrs
Bobby Rydell was another one. Of course, the guy from everybody's favorite family, the Nelsons (Ricky). Fabian, and Bobby Darin "Splish Splash." Macho teen idols. How different did the idols become just a few years later, after the mop tops had swept through! How much more freedom of expression and style afterward, from the limited macho image that was pretty much the same for all young guys then.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaway_(D...nnon_song)
A different version: https://youtu.be/ziLagAgoPCE
I see that The Beatles and The Beach Boys each performed "Runaway" a year or two before the songs by them that I mentioned. So did Elvis, introducing Del in the audience.
Unfortunately, Del had a hard time staying on top, and never had such a big hit again. His mid-60s song, "Keep Searching," was not as good, but it did OK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Shannon
Circa 1960 was the time when lots of macho white guys made it as rock n roll singers and teen idols for a while. Besides Del Shannon, there was Bobby Vee, who did a fine song called "Keep on Trying" in 1965. The DJ said that that's what Bobby was doing, since he hadn't had a hit since 1960-61, when he did "Rubber Ball" and "Take Good Care of My Baby." But in 1967 he finally hit again with "Come Back When You Grow Up." I guess he was all grown up by then. Bobby played with Bob Dylan in his early days.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Vee
The macho Dion did "Runaround Sue," circa 1960, but in 1968 sang the most poignant tribute to Abraham, Martin, John and Bobby. A fine classic song that didn't quite make my list.
https://youtu.be/a5hFMy4pTrs
Bobby Rydell was another one. Of course, the guy from everybody's favorite family, the Nelsons (Ricky). Fabian, and Bobby Darin "Splish Splash." Macho teen idols. How different did the idols become just a few years later, after the mop tops had swept through! How much more freedom of expression and style afterward, from the limited macho image that was pretty much the same for all young guys then.