Wednesday November 12, 2020 “Sea of Love” Del Shannon
This song was originally recorded by the songwriter Phil Phillips (not the American Idol Phillip Phililps) and has had several covers not the least of which was by Robert Plant (The Honeydrippers) but this Del Shannon version is my favorite.
Del Shannon burst on the rock & roll scene with a runaway number one hit coincidentally called “Runaway” that included the strange sound of a musical instrument called the musitron and the falsetto sounds of Charles Westover (Del Shannon). He had several strong charting follow-ups and would also be the first American artist to record a Beatles tune “From Me to You” and a Rolling Stone’s song, “Under My Thumb”.
He produced the one hit wonder “Baby It’s You” by the Smiths and British duo Peter & Gordon would have a top ten international hit with the Del Shannon’s “I Go to Pieces”. He became a close musical friend of Tom Petty, is referenced in Petty’s song “Runnin Down a Dream” (“Trees flew by, me and Del were singin' a little Runaway”) and was rumored to be a replacement for Roy Orbison in the Travelling Wilburys when Orbison passed.
Troubled by depression and alcoholism, Del Shannon unfortunately took his own life in 2007 but he left behind a remarkable musical legacy.
Stay safe and well... and keep swimming in the sea of love.