Little Town Flirt - Del Shannon

 

Hey, Little Girl

Little Town Flirt

Del Shannon

Arranged by Bill Ramal

Engineer: Eddie Smith

Bigtop Records 12-1308

An Embee Production

1963

From the back cover: Del thought a good deal of music but very little about making music-making as a career until he served his hitch in the Army. Before his service stint, he'd picked up guitar-playing and became nicely smooth at it,  but his playing was mostly for the amusement of himself and his friends. It was an Army buddy who first suggested that he do something more, persuading him to enter a 7th Army amateur talent contest. Del did just that thing – and walked off with a first prize. But, keep in mind; he won the award as a guitarist, not as a singer.

Back in civilian life, Del began working in night clubs in the Battle Creek, Michigan area, chiefly strumming a guitar, just now and then trying on a song for size vocally. However, it was one of those occasional vocal workouts that led him to his big future career. One night, Harry Balk, Irving Micahnik and Ollie McLaughlin heard Del singing and promptly steered him into a recording studio to cut four sides. And, those sides wound up at Bigtop Records. One of them became the runaway hit Runaway.

From Billboard - May 11, 1963: Del Shannon's current hit is teamed with a flock of his other winners on the LP. "Runaway," the lad's first is included along with "Hats Off To Larry" another one of his big ones. Dealers will want to stock this one.

Two Kinds Of Teardrops

Dream Baby

Happiness

Hey, Little Girl

She Thinks I Still Care

Runaway

Runaround Sue

Hats Off To Larry

Kelly

Hey Baby

Go Away, Little Girl

Little Town Flir