Runaround Sue

"Runaround Sue"
Single by Dion
from the album Runaround Sue
B-side "Runaway Girl"
Released September 1961[1]
Genre Doo-wop, rock and roll[2]
Length 2:41
Label Laurie
Writer(s) Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca
Producer(s) Gene Schwartz
Certification Gold
Dion singles chronology
"Somebody Nobody Wants"
(1961)		 "Runaround Sue"
(1961)		 "The Wanderer"
(1961)

"Runaround Sue" is a pop song, in a doo-wop style, originally a US No. 1 hit for the singer Dion during 1961 after he split with the Belmonts. The song ranked No. 342 on the Rolling Stone list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[3] The song was written by Dion with Ernie Maresca, and tells the story of a disloyal lover.

Lyrics

The lyrics are sung from the point of view of a man whose former girlfriend, named Sue, was extremely unfaithful. He warns all potential lovers to avoid her at all costs, as Sue "runs around" with every guy she meets and never settles down with any man in particular. He advises "Now people let me put you wise, Sue goes out with other guys" and suggests that potential suitors should 'keep away from Runaround Sue'. Dion stated in his autobiography "The Wanderer" that although his wife's name was Susan, Runaround Sue had nothing to do with her.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1961-62) Peak
position
New Zealand [4] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1961) Rank
U.S. Billboard[6] 46

Leif Garrett cover

"Runaround Sue"
Single by Leif Garrett
from the album Leif Garrett
B-side "I Wanna Share a Dream With You"
Released November 1977
Genre Pop
Label Atlantic 3110
Writer(s) Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca
Producer(s) Michael Lloyd
Leif Garrett singles chronology
"Surfin' USA"
(1977)		 "Runaround Sue"
(1978)		 "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"
(1978)

"Runaround Sue" was covered by Leif Garrett in 1977. The song was the second of four releases from his debut album, all of which became chart hits. All four songs were covers of major hits from 1959 to 1963, including Dion's two biggest hits. Of the four, "Runaround Sue" was the most successful for Garrett. In early 1978, his version reached number 13 on Billboard and number 18 on Cash Box. The song also reached number 15 in Canada.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1977-78) Peak
position
Australia[7] 8
Canada RPM[8] 15
Germany 19
New Zealand[9] 23
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 13

Year-end charts

Chart (1978) Rank
Australia[7] 70
Canada[10] 119
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11] 101

Other cover versions

References

  1. ↑ Strong, M. C. (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd. p. 220. ISBN 0-86241-385-0.
  2. ↑ Richie Unterberger. "Runaround Sue - Dion | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  3. ↑ "500 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - Lever hit parades". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  5. ↑ "Dion – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Dion. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1961/Top 100 Songs of 1961". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  7. 1 2 Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  8. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  9. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1978-04-02. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  10. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  11. ↑ "1978 Year End". Bullfrogspond.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  12. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (March 28, 2014). "A Rapper Appropriating Dion's Cool". New York Times.
  13. ↑ Stewart, Allison (February 14, 2013). "G-Eazy's musical education is an ongoing process". Chicago Tribune.

External links

Preceded by
"Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles		 Billboard Hot 100 number one single
October 23 - November 5, 1961 		Succeeded by
"Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean
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