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'.

Chart performance

Weekly singles 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. 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 singles charts Chart (1977-78) Peak position Australia [7] 8 Canada RPM [8] 15 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 13 WLS-AM (Chicago) [9] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Rank Australia [10] 70 Canada [11] 119 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [12] 101 WLS survey (Chicago)[13] 42

Other cover versions

• In 1980, English group Racey released a cover version which reached number 13 on the UK charts.
• John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band covered the song in 1983, for the movie Eddie and the Cruisers.
• Gary Glitter also covered it on C'mon... C'mon The Gary Glitter Party Album (1997).
• G-Eazy sampled the song in his 2011 album The Endless Summer.^[14][15]
• Human Nature covered the song on their 2014 album Jukebox.

References

1. Strong, M. C. (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd. p. 220. ISBN 0-86241-385-0.
3. "500 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
4. http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=Lever%20hit%20parades&qyear=1962&qmonth=Jan&qweek=11-Jan-1962#n_view_location
5. "Dion – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Dion. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
6. http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1961.htm
7. http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092
8. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5533a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c31r7corqoaerbbjcvtsluums4
9. http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls010778.htm
10. http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092
11. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0070b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=ctskm3kf2e47sef5bf30noab62
12. http://www.bullfrogspond.com/whitburn/1978wye.htm
13. http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls89of78.htm
14. Caramanica, Jon (March 28, 2014). "A Rapper Appropriating Dion’s Cool". New York Times.
15. Stewart, Allison (February 14, 2013). "G-Eazy's musical education is an ongoing process". Chicago Tribune.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics