Rock On! (Del Shannon album)
Rock On! | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1989–1990 | |||
Studio | Rumbo Recorders, Sunset Sound, MC Studios, Posh Studios | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Label | Silvertone Gone Gator/MCA[1] | |||
Producer | Mike Campbell, Jeff Lynne | |||
Del Shannon chronology | ||||
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Rock On! is an album by the American musician Del Shannon, released posthumously in 1991.[2][3]
Edsel Records included the album in the 2023 Stranger in Town: A Del Shannon Compendium box set.[4]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Mike Campbell and Jeff Lynne.[5] Shannon unexpectedly committed suicide in February 1990 with work on the album mostly complete.[6][7] Tom Petty and some of the Heartbreakers played on Rock On![8] Richard Greene played fiddle on "Let's Dance".[9] "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am?" is a cover of the Tams song.[10] George Harrison played guitar on "I Got You"; he also contributed backing vocals to "Hot Love", a B-side to "Callin' Out My Name".[11][12]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [13] |
Calgary Herald | C[14] |
Chicago Tribune | [6] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [15] |
Goldmine | [11] |
Los Angeles Daily News | [9] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [16] |
The Calgary Herald lamented that "you'll hear a tired-sounding old rocker making one more half-hearted stab at a comeback."[14] The Edmonton Journal noted that "Shannon was always a first-class writer of merry melodies and ringing country guitar licks that poured upbeat empathy on our saddest moments."[17] The Indianapolis Star panned the production, writing that "the 10 songs are Electric Light Orchestra layered over '60s-style rock."[18]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Del Shannon, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Walk Away" | Del Shannon, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne | 3:37 |
2. | "Who Left Who?" | 3:20 | |
3. | "Are You Lovin' Me Too" | 3:14 | |
4. | "Callin' Out My Name" | 3:44 | |
5. | "I Go to Pieces" | 3:59 | |
6. | "Lost in a Memory" | 3:35 | |
7. | "I Got You (The Birds' Song)" | 3:41 | |
8. | "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am?" | Ray Whitley | 3:15 |
9. | "When I Had You" | 4:17 | |
10. | "Let's Dance" | 3:31 |
Personnel
[edit]- Del Shannon – vocals, guitar
- Jeff Lynne – guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mike Campbell – guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, backing vocals
- Tom Petty – guitar, backing vocals
- Benmont Tench – accordion, organ, piano
- Howie Epstein – backing vocals
- Phil Jones – drums, backing vocals
- George Harrison - guitar, backing vocals
- Richard Greene – fiddle
- Phil Hatton – backing vocals
- Randy Jones – backing vocals
- Andrew Williams – backing vocals
- David Williams – backing vocals
- David Campbell – string arrangement
Production:
- Jeff Lynne – producer
- Mike Campbell – producer, engineer
- William Bottrell – engineer
- Richard Dodd – engineer, mixing
- Mark Linett – engineer, mixing
- Bill Bottrell – mixing
References
[edit]- ^ Mackie, John (18 Jan 1992). "Recordings". Vancouver Sun. p. D23.
- ^ Simels, Steve (Sep 1991). "Rock On! by Del Shannon". Stereo Review. Vol. 56, no. 9. p. 67.
- ^ Cook, Richard (May 29, 1991). "Comeback, Come Shine?". Punch. Vol. 300, no. 7844. p. 54.
- ^ "Stranger in Town: A Del Shannon Compendium". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Graff, Gary (6 Oct 1991). "Shannon Lives in Song". The Province. p. B5.
- ^ a b Kampert, Patrick (7 Nov 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1075. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ Gnerre, Sam (December 2, 1991). "Del Shannon rocks on with last album". Daily Breeze. p. C5.
- ^ a b Shuster, Fred (November 9, 1991). "Shannon's Last Album Is No Runaway". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L17.
- ^ Catlin, Roger (September 19, 1991). "Petty's Return Recalls Legacy of Del Shannon". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
- ^ a b Cohen, Stephen Elliott (Dec 21, 2007). "Rock On". Goldmine. Vol. 33, no. 26. p. 44.
- ^ Shapiro, Marc (2003). Behind Sad Eyes: The Life of George Harrison. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 228.
- ^ "Rock On!", AllMusic
- ^ a b Obee, Dave (27 Oct 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C5.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1250. ISBN 9781846098567. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 629–630.
- ^ Metella, Helen (3 Nov 1991). "Record Reviews". Edmonton Journal. p. D4.
- ^ Hawn, John (2 Dec 1991). "Del Shannon Rock On!". The Indianapolis Star. p. B4.