Runaround Sue
Encyclopedia
"Runaround Sue" is a pop
song, originally a US No. 1 hit for the singer Dion
during 1961. The song ranked No. 342 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
and Dion DiMucci. It was recorded in 1961
by Dion, backed by vocal group The Del-Satins
. Released on Laurie Records
, it topped the Billboard Hot 100
for one week in October of that year, and also reached number 11 in the UK charts.
It is a song about a man whose ex-girlfriend had commitment trouble and "ran around" (hence the name of the song) "with every single guy in town". The song caught on with millions for its catchy backing hook
"Hey, hey, hum-ba-diddy-diddy".
In the liner notes of Dion's box set King Of The New York Streets, he writes:
Co-writer Ernie Maresca said:
The song's melody is very similar to "Quarter to Three
", a song released by Gary U.S. Bonds
a few months prior to the release of "Runaround Sue."
An answer song
was "I'm No Runaround Sue" by Ginger and the Snaps.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song, originally a US No. 1 hit for the singer Dion
Dion DiMucci
Dion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....
during 1961. The song ranked No. 342 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Original recording
The song was written by Ernie MarescaErnie Maresca
Ernest "Ernie" Maresca is an American singer-songwriter and record company executive, best known for writing or co-writing some of Dion's biggest hits....
and Dion DiMucci. It was recorded in 1961
1961 in music
-Events:*January 15 – Motown Records signs The Supremes.*January 20 – Francis Poulenc's Gloria receives its premiėre in Boston, USA.*February 12 – The Miracles' "Shop Around" becomes Motown's first million-selling single....
by Dion, backed by vocal group The Del-Satins
The Del-Satins
The Del-Satins were an American vocal group in the 1960s who recorded on their own but are best remembered for their harmonies on hit records for Dion and others....
. Released on Laurie Records
Laurie Records
Laurie Records was a record label started in 1958 by Gene Schwartz and Allan I. Sussel. Sussel was a multi-millionaire whose earlier record company, Jamie Records , had been unsuccessful. As a result, Sussel joined forces with Schwartz to found Laurie Records, this time named after his other...
, it topped the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for one week in October of that year, and also reached number 11 in the UK charts.
It is a song about a man whose ex-girlfriend had commitment trouble and "ran around" (hence the name of the song) "with every single guy in town". The song caught on with millions for its catchy backing hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
"Hey, hey, hum-ba-diddy-diddy".
In the liner notes of Dion's box set King Of The New York Streets, he writes:
- It came about by partying in a schoolyard. We were jamming, hitting tops of boxes. I gave everyone parts like the horn parts we'd hear in the Apollo TheaterApollo TheaterThe Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
and it became a jam that we kept up for 45 minutes. I came up with all kinds of stuff. But when I actually wrote the song and brought it into the studio to record it, well, her name wasn't actually Sue. It was about, you know, some girl who loved to be worshipped but as soon as you want a commitment and express your love for her, she's gone. So the song was a reaction to that kind of woman.
Co-writer Ernie Maresca said:
- Everybody was singing in the neighborhood, on the street corners and in the hallways. I was in a group called The RegentsThe RegentsThe Regents were an American doo-wop vocal group from New York, operating in the late 1950s and early 1960s.They are best known for writing and recording the hit "Barbara Ann" in 1961, which reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
at the time. They didn't have a hit yet. Everybody was coming to me for songs, which was nice, you know. ... I'd never even heard of Laurie Records until I went up there with Dion and met Gene and Bob [Schwartz] who owned the company. After they put out 'No One Knows', I would go up there with demos. I used to cut a lot of demos, you know. Then they cut an album and on it they put "Runaround Sue".
The song's melody is very similar to "Quarter to Three
Quarter to Three
"Quarter to Three" is a popular song, adapted and expanded from "A Night with Daddy 'G' - Part 1" , an instrumental by the Church Street Five, which was written by Gene Barge, Frank Guida and Joseph Royster, and sung by Gary U.S. Bonds...
", a song released by Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds is an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer. He is also a prolific songwriter.-Career:...
a few months prior to the release of "Runaround Sue."
An answer song
Answer song
An answer song is, as the name suggests, a song made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. It is also known as a response song. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s through 1950s...
was "I'm No Runaround Sue" by Ginger and the Snaps.
Other recordings
- A cover by teen idol Leif GarrettLeif GarrettLeif Garrett is an American singer and actor. He became famous in the late 1970s as a teen idol, but received much publicity in later life for his drug abuse and legal troubles.-Early life:...
hit the U.S. Hot 100 Billboard charts in late 1977, peaking at number 13. - British pop band, RaceyRaceyRacey was a British pop group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, by singer Phil Fursdon and Clive Wilson. The group was formerly known as Alive 'n' Rockin.-Career:...
reached number 13 in the UK Charts with a cover of the song in 1980. - Uruguayan punkabilly band Rudos Wild recorded the song for their album "Psychos With Wax!" in 2007.
- Linda LaurieLinda LaurieLinda Laurie was an American singer and songwriter, best known for the novelty record "Ambrose ", which went to #52 on the Billboard chart while she was still a high school student in 1959....
, best known for her novelty hit "Ambrose (Part 5)", recorded an answer songAnswer songAn answer song is, as the name suggests, a song made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. It is also known as a response song. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s through 1950s...
, "Stay-At-Home Sue" in 1962. - Mayté Gaos, Spanish teen singer who lived in Mexico and Venezuelan singer, Mirla Castellanos recorded two Spanish versions, independently. The cover was entitled "Susy La Coquetona"