DELSHANNON.COM - Del Shannon and Roy Orbison

Del Shannon and Roy Orbison

Shirley Westover on Del Shannon: “He loved Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’,” Shirley Westover commented one night in August 1999. “He actually cried when he heard that song. He so wished that he was the one that wrote that song. He loved Roy’s music so much, he would always cry.”

Del Shannon on Roy Orbison: "I got the idea for singing full on 'Stranger In Town' from Roy Orbison: 'So we run, yeah we run, yeah we ruuuuuuuuuuuun, from the stanger in town...' I got that from 'Crying': 'Oooh, oooo-verrr you!!...' at the end of 'Crying'. I used that same idea for singing full on the B-side to 'Stranger In Town,' 'Over You'. The same story, I took that from Roy: 'Over You' was inspired from 'Crying'."

Roy Orbison on Del Shannon: "Del was the reason I decided to tour England. I read about Del’s rave reviews talking about his cover versions of my songs. I thought, 'if Del can sing my songs and get a good reaction, then perhaps I can sing my songs and get a similar response.'"

Del Shannon Covered the Following Roy Orbison Songs:

Dream Baby (Little Town Flirt Album)
Crying (Handy Man Album)
Runnin' Scared (1,661 Seconds with Del Shannon album)
Oh, Pretty Woman (This Is My Bag Album)

"Crying" and "Pretty Woman" became staples in Del Shannon's Live Sets. When Shannon included "Runnin' Scared" in his live set in his 1965 British Tour, it was said that the audience was quiet and you could hear a pin drop as the fans held their breath for the climax. Del also re-recorded "Pretty Woman" in the mid-70's in Dublin, Ireland, which has yet to be released. Some bootlegs have surfaced, but are in poor audio condition.

Del Shannon and Roy Orbison shared the same stage on the television show "Midnight Special" in the mid-70's.

Del and Roy both had strong albums at the time of their death, in which both Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty played part. Roy's "Mystery Girl" produced the hit "You Got It" with a latter cover version by Bonnie Raitt (who also cut "Runaway"). Del's "Rock On!" album included "Walk Away" (though never a hit). Shannon did not live long enough to promote his forthcoming album, and "Rock On!" was a posthumous delay in it's release, which may have hurt potential sales. However, the album sparked many cover versions of the last cut, "Last Dance".

Was Del Shannon to become a Traveling Wilbury? We shall never know for sure. Food for thought though: "Runaway" was the only recording by the Traveling Wilburys legitimately released that was not written by a Wilbury.

Send any Del Shannon - Roy Orbison connections to:

Del Shannon Appreciation Society
P.O. Box 44201
Tacoma, WA
98444-0201
USA

Or email to:
delshannon@comcast.net