Rock On! (Del Shannon album) explained
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] Shannon unexpectedly committed suicide in February 1990 with work on the album mostly complete.[5] Tom Petty and some of the Heartbreakers played on Rock On![6] Richard Greene played fiddle on "Let's Dance". "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am?" is a cover of the Tams song.[7] George Harrison played guitar on "I Got You"; he also contributed backing vocals to "Hot Love", a B-side to "Callin' Out My Name".[8] [9]
Critical reception
The Calgary Herald lamented that "you'll hear a tired-sounding old rocker making one more half-hearted stab at a comeback." 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."[10] The Indianapolis Star panned the production, writing that "the 10 songs are Electric Light Orchestra layered over '60s-style rock."[11]
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
- 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
Notes and References
- News: Mackie . John . Recordings . Vancouver Sun . 18 Jan 1992 . D23.
- Simels . Steve . Rock On! by Del Shannon . Stereo Review . Sep 1991 . 56 . 9 . 67.
- Cook . Richard . Comeback, Come Shine? . Punch . May 29, 1991 . 300 . 7844 . 54.
- News: Graff . Gary . Shannon Lives in Song . The Province . 6 Oct 1991 . B5.
- Book: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Virgin Books. 1997. Concise. 1-85227-745-9. 1075.
- News: Gnerre . Sam . Del Shannon rocks on with last album . Daily Breeze . December 2, 1991 . C5.
- News: Catlin . Roger . Petty's Return Recalls Legacy of Del Shannon . Hartford Courant . September 19, 1991 . Calendar . 4.
- Cohen . Stephen Elliott . Rock On . Goldmine . Dec 21, 2007 . 33 . 26 . 44.
- Book: Shapiro . Marc . Behind Sad Eyes: The Life of George Harrison . 2003 . St. Martin's Publishing Group . 228.
- News: Metella . Helen . Record Reviews . Edmonton Journal . 3 Nov 1991 . D4.
- News: Hawn . John . Del Shannon Rock On! . The Indianapolis Star . 2 Dec 1991 . B4.
