The Definitive Collection

Not going to write a 'history' about the oft-told stories ( often in error ) of the great Del Shannon.Charles Weedon Westover was born on 30-December-1939 at Coopersville, Michigan.By the age of 13 he knew he wanted to be a musician and at 16 he did not want to be a " sports-jock "After high school, he was drafted ( what else is new? ) and spent part of his tour in Germany working at AFN RadioIn 1960, he returned to Michigan and met up with Max Crook and they began playing around Battle Creek at venues such as the Hi-Lo Club.Later, they were spotted by D.J. Producer and well-known Michigan music man Ollie McLaughlin and won a contract with the small EMBEE label ( TWIRL )At their second studio session, they recorded " Runaway " and through Harry Balk ( TWIRL ) placed the master with New York City-based BIG TOP Records.Balk later stated: " That record was so strong, we were shipping eighty thousand a day using five ( pressing ) plants ! "" The biggest hit BIG TOP had was " Lavender Blue " by Sammy Turner in ' 59 "Del Shannon remained with BIG TOP for more hits, and in 1963 toured England with The Beatles on the bill.When he returned to the U.S. he was th very first American artist to record a Lennon-McCartney tune that made the lower reaches of the charts: " From Me To You "After a dispute with BIG TOP, he tried to release material on his own BERLEE imprint, then signed with AMY Records.He was one of the few American artists that enjoyed chart hits during the ' British Invasion "His re-working of the Jimmy Jones hit " Handy Man " and the massive " Keep Searchin " both from 1964 and another hit in 1965 " Stranger In Town "He kept his hand in composing " I Go To Pieces " a huge hit for Peter & Gordon as well as " Under My Thumb " picked-up by The Rolling Stones.He signed with LIBERTY Records who refused to release an LP he did with Anfdrew Loog Oldham.He produced the DUNHILL Records group Smith and was responsible for their hit " Baby It's You " from 1969 ( a re-working of the Shirelles hit ) and he produced Brian Hyland's " Gypsy Woman " in 1970 ( another re-working of a former hit by The Impressions )Later, he worked with Jeff Lynne, Dave Edmunds, and Tom Petty.Suffering from long-term depression, he was put on Prozac and on 8-February-1990 he shot himself.His wife, LeAnne Westover blamed the Prozac for his actions and sued the manufacturers.NOT FROM ANY LINER NOTES

This is most possibly the best Del Shannon collection there is around, certainly the best that I have ever come across.Contains a few rarities that don't often appear on collections like these such as "The Snake" that is a non Del Shannon track but recorded by Max Crook the keyboardist who played in the instrumental break of "Runaway" that was accidentally released as the B side on the first few thousand copies of the single (a real collectors item!) and the recordings for Pepsi Ads which I previously had never heard before but obviously another gem.Another few other tracks I hadn't heard before were: The Wamboo, Since She's Been Gone, Time of Day, Stains on My Letter & This is All I Have to Give.There is another collecton which bears the same title also released by Charly under the Snapper Music label, THIS ONE IS BY FAR MUCH BETTER! More tracks and more comprehensive (covers all areas - A/B-Sides, album tracks, covers, and rarities)BUY WHILST YOU CAN!

This, as far as I can tell, is one of the best collections of Del Shannon's work currently available. This two disc collection collects together 40 of his best tracks, including all the big hits such as `Runaway' and `Hats off to Larry'.I bought this as I was looking for a copy of `Runaway', and found myself amazed at the quality of the other tracks. There is a wealth of material here, mostly in the vein, all with Del's distinctive vocalisations and all uniformly excellent. There are covers of quite a few tracks that were hits for Roy Orbison (`Running Scared' and `Crying' for example), and I am starting to prefer Del's versions to Roy's (quite an accolade from a die hard Orbison fan such as myself!)The sound quality is OK, and there is a decent booklet with an essay about Del Shannon's recording career. This really is a great set even if you only want one or two of the big hits - I can assure you you'll be listening to it over and over again.

Del Shannon became a pop icon in the 1960`s, then he disappeared for a while, started along the comeback trail, but passed on before he could make a second impact.This collection marks the early forays into the pop world and for the most part they stand up well. This 40 track 2 CD collection contains all the hits and for the most part the "B" sides as well. Included are some album tracks, again mostly good. However, there are four dire tracks, which were big hits for other people, and that does not help. "Running Scared" and "Crying" (Roy Orbison), "His Latest Flame" (Elvis Presley) and "I`m Gonna Be Strong" (Gene Pitney). On three of these tracks Del lacks the powerful voice needed for impact and on the other one the arrangement is poor.To compensate for this he does some good to excellent covers of "Runaround Sue", the backing is a little overbearing, "Hey Baby", "Dream Baby" and "Go Away Little Girl". Three Hank Williams songs are handled well too, "Cold, Cold Heart", "I Can`t Help It" and "Your Cheatin` Heart".CD 2 offers much of the same. His versions of "Twist And Shout", "From Me To You", "Needles And Pins" and "Rag Doll" make you believe that he is, in fact a group rather than a solo artist. "Two other outstanding songs made famous by other people are "World Without Love" (I preferred the Bobby Rydell version to Peter and Gordon) and "Handy Man" a hit for the recently departed Jimmy Jones. Good value for the price, and if you can overlook a few of the tracks you will enjoy this collection.

a good overview of Del Shannonsrcording career covering the period 1961 to 1965 and as well as including his hit singles their are also album tracks and less successful singles There ar 40 tracks on the 2cd set and not a bad one amongst them and all show what a fine artist he was.and his version of Handyman is a gem..This cd is a real bargain.

Great music 🎶

Erstmal war ich erfreut über die gelungene Stereo Version von 'Runaway'.Es sind alle seine großen Hits auf den beiden CD's und die Klangqualitaet ist sehr gut.Ich besitze die Doppel CD schon seit genau 10 Jahren und habe es nicht bereut.Schade das Del Shannon's Leben so tragisch endete.

Having recently purchased and viewed the 80’s detective series Crime Story – The Complete Collection, I was pleasantly surprised and excited to hear Del Shannon’s “Runaway” as the theme song in the opening and closing credits, although it is an alternate version with some new lyrics and a much stronger rock beat than the original. I just couldn’t get that song out of my head, so it gave me a desire to hear a lot more of his music.This is a great collection, containing 40 songs, all of his early biggest hits like ‘Runaway’, ‘Keep Searchin’, ‘Hats Off To Larry’, ‘Little Town Flirt’ and ‘Two Kinds Of Teardrops’, among others and also cover versions of Roy Orbison’s ‘Running Scared’, ‘Crying’, and ‘Dream Baby’, Elvis’ ‘His Latest Flame’, Dion’s ‘Runaround Sue’ and ‘Ruby Baby’, Gene Pitney’s ‘I’m Gonna Be Strong’, Jay And The American’s ‘She Cried’, The Beatles ‘Twist And Shout’ and ‘From Me To You’. And there’s a sprinkling of old country tunes and other rock n’ roll classics. So this double CD is highly recommended. While you’re at it , check out the DVD of Crime Story – The Complete Collection and catch Del’s upbeat, updated version (‘Runaway’) in the opening/closing of each episode. This series also contains a lot of original rock music from the 60’s as well as an appearance by Paul Anka (see my profile) as a gangster in one of the episodes.This is like finding an old treasure chest of lost memories.

【SMDCD 197。全40曲(49:19+47:19)2011年英編集盤。】個人的には収録曲順は発表順にして欲しかった。8Pジャケ冊子内にロジャー･ドプソン編集者の詳しいライナーが有るが英文に疎く誠に残念。デル本人のオリジナル15曲(共作含む)は[ディスク１]Tr-01「悲しき街角」Tr-03「花咲く街角」Tr-08「さらば街角」Tr-10「ヘイ･リトル･ガール」Tr-15「クライ･マイセルフ･トゥ･スリープ」Tr-20「街角のプレイガール」[ディスク２]Tr-02「二つぶの涙」Tr-03「ケリー」Tr-06「恋のシルエット」Tr-07「スーズ･ゴッタ･ビー･マイン」Tr-09「マリー･ジェーン」Tr-17「太陽を探せ」Tr-18「アイ･ゴー･トゥ･ピーセス」Tr-19「街角のストレンジャー(さすらいの街角)」Tr-20「ブレイク･アップ」と中にはヒットしなかった作品でも傑作揃い｡他25曲はカバーで、アメリカンポップス史に名を残すチャート･インのものとマージー・ビートの当時最先鋒のレノン/マッカートニーの2作品ディスク２のTr-05「フロミ･トゥ･ユー」Tr-11「愛なき世界」とで当時のヒット･パレードの様。[Disc 1]Tr-02、07、12、ベルベットボイスとは、また違う味。｢恋のむせび泣き｣｢夢見る乙女｣。Tr-04、ポームス/シューマンのジャングルビートが面白い。Tr-05、バカラック/デビッドの切ないバラード。Tr-06、17、19、C&Wのレジェンド、H・ウィリアムスの曲調は、のどかだが心情吐露の内容は重い。Tr-09｢浮気なスー(悲しい恋の物語)｣。Tr-11、ブルース・チャンネル1962年3月US、3週1位。Tr-13｢涙のさよなら｣。Tr-14、コーラスを混じえたC&W。Tr-16、ロジャーミラー作品。得意の裏声とヨーデル。Tr-18、ゴフィン/キング作、ステーブ・ローレンスの｢かなわぬ恋｣[Disc 2]Tr-01、これぞロックンロール。Tr-04、ジョンには、負ける(？)Tr-08、ニッチェ/ボノ作。ジャッキー・デシャノンの｢ピンと針｣。Tr-10、インパラス、1959年5月2位2週。Tr-12、C・ベリーの乗りの良いリフと落ちの有る歌詞。Tr-13、｢悲しきラグドール｣これぞジャージー・ビート、崇高な慈愛の唄、イントロから泣かせる。Tr-14、その後1977年にもジェイムス・テーラーがカバー。Tr-15、｢ダンスはいかが？(踊ろよベイビー)｣身体も踊れば心も躍る!。Tr-16、TVドラマ主題歌｢ローハイド｣を唄ったフランキー・レインのロッカ・バラード。以上、カバー曲も変にアレンジせず原曲に忠実にリメイクされているようで、これはデルが才能が無いのではなく、他人の作品を尊重してのことだと思います。本作品はなかなかの選曲好編集盤だと思います。~団塊爺い。

Für das Alter der Aufnahme erstaunlich gute Qualität!