SINGLES GOING STEADY: "RUNAWAY" BY DEL SHANNON

"Runaway" by Del Shannon

One could make the argument that before The Beatles released Rubber Soul in 1965, Del Shannon's 1961 number one hit "Runaway" was the rock song to beat.  Why? In 1961 you weren't hearing such pessimistic and cynical songs on the radio.  If it was Rock & Roll, you pretty much sang love songs and only love songs.  Since "Runaway" is about losing love, it was absolutely ahead of it's time.  It was also innovative sonically.  Take the eerie organ solo, for instance.  It's dissonance and unpredictable twists and turns made it a very risky move for the time—and it probably influenced The Doors' Ray Manzarek.  In less than two minutes and twenty seconds, "Runaway" has three very distinct and equally melodic sections, which probably made fellow songwriter's jaws drop—for an entire month.  For four weeks, the song peaked at the highest position on the charts and in 2004, "Runaway" was included as #466 in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 500 greatest songs of all time.  

"Runaway" by Del Shannon

I also believe "Runaway" was a partial melodic inspiration for the Bob Dylan favorite "One More Cup Of Coffee."

"One More Cup Of Coffee" by Bob Dylan