Rock On! is an album by the American musician Del Shannon, released posthumously in October 1991.[2][3][4]
| Rock On! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 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 | ||||
| ||||
Edsel Records included the album in the 2023 Stranger in Town: A Del Shannon Compendium box set.[5]
Production
editThe album was produced by Mike Campbell and Jeff Lynne.[6] Shannon unexpectedly committed suicide in February 1990 with work on the album mostly complete.[7][8] Tom Petty and some of the Heartbreakers played on Rock On![9] Richard Greene played fiddle on "Let's Dance".[10] "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am?" is a cover of the Tams song.[11] George Harrison played guitar on "I Got You"; he also contributed backing vocals to "Hot Love", a B-side to "Callin' Out My Name".[12][13]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [14] |
| Calgary Herald | C[15] |
| Chicago Tribune | [7] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [16] |
| Goldmine | [12] |
| Los Angeles Daily News | [10] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [17] |
The Calgary Herald lamented that "you'll hear a tired-sounding old rocker making one more half-hearted stab at a comeback."[15] 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."[18] The Indianapolis Star panned the production, writing that "the 10 songs are Electric Light Orchestra layered over '60s-style rock."[19]
Tim Sendra of AllMusic described the album as "passionate, dramatic, emotional, and full of great songs... Most of all it has that amazing voice, and yes, Shannon's majestic voice is as strong as ever here."[14]
Track listing
editAll 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.
- ^ "Album Release". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 41. October 12, 1991. p. 50.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Sendra, Tim. "Del Shannon Rock On". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ 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.