"Runaway" was released in 1961 and became the biggest hit of Del Shannon's career. Written by him and Max Crook, the track has a classic '60s rock and roll sound with an iconic Musitron organ riff (an instrument created by Crook, based on a modified organ).
Released as a single, it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. Del Shannon's signature falsetto and Musitron's innovative sound helped define early '60s rock. The song is a timeless classic, has been covered by various artists and to this day is considered one of the greatest songs of the pre-Beatles era.