Two Silhouettes: The Drugstore’s Rockin’ (CD) – Del Shannon

Extensive liner notes by music expert Bill Dahl from Chicago.

A handful of bravura vocalists defined early 1960s rock and roll, standing staunch and true against the steady softening of the once-tough genre. They included Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, Gary (U.S.) Bonds, and Del Shannon, whose muscular lung power, laced with thrilling falsetto that seemed to soar to the heavens, receives full-fledged tribute on Bear Family’s 33-song ”Del Shannon: The Drugstore’s Rockin.”

Naturally, Runaway, Del’s indelible 1961 debut smash, is here (in stereo), as are his monster followups for Big Top Records, Hats Off To Larry, Hey Little Girl, and Little Town Flirt. Also on board is Shannon’s haunting Keep Searchin’ (We’ll Follow The Sun), a 1964 smash on the Amy label. But there are plenty of surprises, including his pre-Elvis original recording of (Marie’s The Name Of) His Latest Flame, the swaggering Mary Jane, and a snarling Move It On Over featuring Dennis Coffey’s bone-crunching guitar.

Track List

1. Runaway (Stereo)
2. (Marie’s the Name of) His Latest Flame
3. Little Town Flirt
4. That’s the Way Love Is
5. My Wild One
6. Wide Wide World
7. Torture (Version 1) (Instrumental)
8. Hats Off to Larry
9. The Wamboo
10. Don’t Gild the Lily Lily
11. From Me to You
12. Two Silhouettes
13. Froggy
14. Sue’s Gotta Be Mine
15. Hey Little Girl
16. Misery
17. Hey Baby
18. Now She’s Gone
19. Nothin’ (Instrumental)
20. Lies
21. So Long Baby
22. The Swiss Maid
23. Dream Baby
24. Ginny in the Mirror
25. The Search (Stereo)
26. Mary Jane
27. Keep Searchin’ (We’ll Follow the Sun)
28. I Don’t Care Anymore
29. You Never Talked About Me
30. Runaround Sue
31. I Won’t Be There
32. Cry Myself to Sleep
33. Move It on Over