20 Greatest Hits

Del Shannon, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 30 December 1939, Scored a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic with his first release.'Runaway' was leased to New York's Big Top Label and went on to become this chart-topping success with another million-seller in 'Hats Of for Larry', a Top Ten hit in both the UK and US. All of his subsequent singles included here became big worldwide its, particularly in England, where he retained his chart stature during the initial days of Beatlemania. Shannon was the first international artist to record a Lennon-McCartney ('From Me To You' in 1963) and had the Beatles as a support act on his British tour of the Previous year. His last mayor hit came in 1965 with 'Keep Shearcin''. By this time Shannon was suffering from appalling management problems; he virtually retired from the American scene to concentrate on international touring, being a mainstay of the English Club circuit into the late Seventies. Having had great success as a writer and producer, it is indicative of his talent and influence that he should have returned to the American charts in 1982 for the first time in 16 years with 'Drop down And Get Me', an album produced by and performed with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Bob Fisher, BBJ International