Favorite BIG #1 HITS Through the Years: 1961 Pop

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Sheesh, I’m too old for that. I spent seven hours doing — gasp — manual labor today. I’m going back to typing tomorrow. I made a dollar and a half walking around the conference table, though, based on the mileage payments. Enough of that. I have a tub with hot water and epson salt calling my name, so I need to give you another big hit from the first 25 years of my life. Unlike my regular countdowns, you’ve probably actually heard this song. Here it is. 1961 (Pop): Runaround Sue - Dion Dion was put in a sadly awkward position in 1959. He was a performer on the Winter Dance Party tour, which was being headlined by Buddy Holly. After the plane crash killed Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, Dion and the Belmonts became the “headline” act for the remainder of the tour. Dion’s career went from teen idol to “protest” singer (“Abraham, Martin, and John,” about as far removed from this song as you can get), to Christian music, and eventually into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is one of his classic songs, which has been covered a number of times (we won’t discuss the Leif Garrett version because it might lead to violence). It’s a happy, upbeat, doo-wop-type song about a woman who is as unfaithful as they come (“people, let me put you wise, she goes out with other guys”). What’s not to like....unless your name is Sue (hopefully not a boy named Sue ) and this song gave you an undeserved “reputation.” Runaround Sue Written by Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca Recorded by Dion From Runaround Sue, 1961 #1 for two weeks I should’ve known it from the very start: