Country-surf-o-rama

Del Shannon - Runaway

I remember encountering this song when it was used as the title music for a TV show* in the 80s. I must have been 8 or 9 years old, so it was clearly very memorable. Listening to it with a more discerning ear, my overriding impression is that it's a deeply strange song. It starts off all minor chord and mopey, but it's a weird mix of country via Shannon's voice and the guitar sweeps, rhythm and blues courtesy of the staccato, punchy woodwind, and surf music thanks to the clean guitar, sax and bustling piano.

And then it gets really confusing. Shannon's voice is almost nasal except when you're trying to work out whether he's singing or whether they've craftily used a muted trumpet for the incredibly memorable "why-why-why-wonder" vocal hook. Add to this the extended clavioline-based electric keyboard, a.k.a the Musitron (futuristic!), solo courtesy of Maximilian Crook and the result is a little like an acid trip in a tuxedo, like the theme music for a 70s cowboys in space sci-fi tv show.

For all the weirdness, it's quite an innocent song, albeit being a clash of anachronistic elements. Maybe a true tribute to it's legacy is the list of people who've covered it, from punk banks Screeching Weasel, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and The Misfits, junked-out Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante to Roy Orbison, Bonnie Raitt, Lawrence Welk and Cajun Dance Party. In retrospect, I think some of them may have been taking the piss.

And hell, Del Shannon was just a hella weird-looking guy. You have to be pretty talented to make it in life if you look like a stroke has paralysed the right side of your face.

*Recollection alert - the show was Crime Story, Michael Mann's initially acclaimed Cop vs Mafia epic.

Verdict: If it's good enough for Me First and the Gimme Gimmes..

Tomorrow: Cheap Trick - Surrender