From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rock On!
Studio album by
Released1991
Recorded1989-1990
Genre Rock
Label Silvertone
Gone Gator/ MCA [1]
Producer Mike Campbell, Jeff Lynne
Del Shannon chronology
Drop Down and Get Me
(1981)
Rock On!
(1991)
Home and Away
(2006)

Rock On! is an album by the American musician Del Shannon, released posthumously in 1991. [2] [3]

Production

The album was produced by Mike Campbell and Jeff Lynne. [4] It was mostly completed when Shannon committed suicide, in February 1990. [5] Tom Petty and some of the Heartbreakers played on Rock On! [6] Richard Greene played fiddle on "Let's Dance". [7] " What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am?" is a cover of the Tams song. [8] George Harrison played guitar on "I Got You"; he also contributed backing vocals to "Hot Love", a B-side to "Callin' Out My Name". [9] [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [11]
Calgary HeraldC [12]
Chicago Tribune [5]
Goldmine [9]
Los Angeles Daily News [7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [13]

The Calgary Herald lamented that "you'll hear a tired-sounding old rocker making one more half-hearted stab at a comeback." [12] 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." [14] The Indianapolis Star panned the production, writing that "the 10 songs are Electric Light Orchestra layered over '60s-style rock." [15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Del Shannon, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Walk Away" Del Shannon, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne3:37
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 Whitley3:15
9."When I Had You" 4:17
10."Let's Dance" 3:31

Personnel

  • 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
  • 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

  1. ^ Mackie, John (18 Jan 1992). "Recordings". Vancouver Sun. p. D23.
  2. ^ Simels, Steve (Sep 1991). "Rock On! by Del Shannon". Stereo Review. Vol. 56, no. 9. p. 67.
  3. ^ Cook, Richard (May 29, 1991). "Comeback, Come Shine?". Punch. Vol. 300, no. 7844. p. 54.
  4. ^ Graff, Gary (6 Oct 1991). "Shannon Lives in Song". The Province. p. B5.
  5. ^ a b Kampert, Patrick (7 Nov 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  6. ^ Gnerre, Sam (December 2, 1991). "Del Shannon rocks on with last album". Daily Breeze. p. C5.
  7. ^ a b Shuster, Fred (November 9, 1991). "Shannon's Last Album Is No Runaway". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L17.
  8. ^ Catlin, Roger (September 19, 1991). "Petty's Return Recalls Legacy of Del Shannon". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
  9. ^ a b Cohen, Stephen Elliott (Dec 21, 2007). "Rock On". Goldmine. Vol. 33, no. 26. p. 44.
  10. ^ Shapiro, Marc (2003). Behind Sad Eyes: The Life of George Harrison. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 228.
  11. ^ "Rock On!", AllMusic
  12. ^ a b Obee, Dave (27 Oct 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C5.
  13. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 629–630.
  14. ^ Metella, Helen (3 Nov 1991). "Record Reviews". Edmonton Journal. p. D4.
  15. ^ Hawn, John (2 Dec 1991). "Del Shannon Rock On!". The Indianapolis Star. p. B4.