"Runaway was a minor defining moment in rock," - bit of an understatement - pretty major as I recall it. Listening to Radio Luxembourg every night and trying to turn the tranny round to boost the fading reception was particularly annoying the night Runaway was first played. The reaction back at school the following morning was amazing - "Did you hear it!!!!!" - didn't have to say what; everyone knew immediately. Of all the songs I sing now that one still gets as good a reception as any other - and all the young 'uns know it well and sing along with gusto. I reckon only "Hey Baby" gets as positive a response.

I bought his first 10 singles, and have to admit some similarity in one or two, but you can't deny the originality of "Swiss Maid" and "Little Town Flirt". If you're not familiar with his other songs you should go buy his greatest hits CD. "Hey Little Girl" is not like his first two hits, and is a smashing song. He also did a great job of "Handy Man" the great Jimmy Jones hit.

Runaway will always be my number one desert island disk. I sang it in a pub once and shattered a wine glass when hitting top "E" - or maybe Del was in the room..