It’s no surprise Runaway topped the chart for 4 consecutive weeks, selling as many as 80,000 singles per day at the peak of its popularity and No 5 song of all of 1961. It’s just so darn ‘cool’! At a time when rock ‘n’ roll was still finding its groove, and radio waves were filled with the infectious sounds of young rebels with guitars. One such iconic tune that managed to transcend its era is Runaway by Del Shannon.
From the infectious country guitar intro to the high rollicking piano which accompanies it, then Shannon sings As I walk along I wonder…the baritone sax kicks in acting like a bass. Then keyboardist Max Crook’s Musitron solo. Just a fantastic music arrangement. From the get-go we are all feeling this guy’s pain of not love ‘lost’, rather love which ‘ran away’. That’s got to hurt.
The birth of Runaway is a tale of serendipity. Del Shannon, born Charles Westover, was a struggling musician playing in small-time bands in Michigan. He teamed up with keyboardist Max Crook, who had a penchant for tinkering with electronics. Together, they created a unique sound using Crook’s custom-built instrument called the Musitron, a precursor to the synthesizer. Legend has it that one night in 1960, Shannon and Crook were performing at the Hi-Lo Club in Battle Creek, Michigan. During a break, they decided to jam on a tune Shannon had been playing around with. Crook’s Musitron solo added a futuristic touch, and just like that, Runaway was born.
[Verse 1]
As I walk along I wonder
A-what went wrong with our love
A love that was so strong
And as I still walk on
I think of the things we’ve done together
A-while our hearts were young
[Chorus]
I’m a-walkin’ in the rain
Tears are fallin’ and I feel the pain
Wishin’ you were here by me
To end this misery
And I wonder
I wah-wah-wah-wah-wonder
Why
Why, why, why, why, why she ran away
And I wonder
A-where she will stay-ay
My little runaway
A-run, run, run, run, runaway
References:
1. Runaway (Del Shannon song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I’ve always loved that song and would consider it among my favorite early ‘60s songs. It was nice to learn about the background including that keyboard, which I didn’t know.
Yes, it’s fantastic. It’s hard to grow tired of it. I too learnt a lot researching this song including the pre-synthesiser contraption.
Funny you should write about this song, as I was thinking about it when I woke up this morning!
That is quite a coincidence Jeff. I think I was telling you recently how I was humming a song when I woke up and low and behold it appears somewhere.
Sweet…this song is classic….