Search - Del Shannon :: Runaway / Very Best of Del Shannon

Great Collection

colinwoodward | Virginia | 11/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sure, the cover is dorky, and many post-modern rock fans weaned on a steady diet of hip hop and death metal may judge Shannon's music as "oldies." Yet, Del Shannon's music sounds as good today as it did in the early-60s. If you buy this album only for "Runaway," you will find many treasures. "Runaway" is simply one of the best rock and roll songs ever recorded, but much of this collection is as good, such as "Searchin'" which has the same minor-key sound as "Runaway." Shannon's version of "From Me to You," complete with its falsetto "I can do" lyric in the song's second line, is better than the Beatles version (which Shannon recorded first). In sum, I was simply amazed at how good this collection is, and also how modern it sounds. Shannon covers all the vocal bases. At times he sounds like Elvis, at other times like Roy Orbison, at other times like the Fifth Beatle. The strange organ instrument that Shannon used on "Runaway," and other songs here, sounds unlike any other I've heard, and pretty much serves as the first synthesizer in rock. The only misfire on the album is "Don't Gild the Lily," which is ripe with the most awful cliches imaginable. Other than that, however, the Best of Del Shannon is a great CD. Sadly, Shannon's success had pretty much ended by the mid-60s. But before then, he recorded some great work. Much of it is here."