Two Silhouettes

Extensive liner notes by music expert Bill Dahl from Chicago.

A handful of bravura vocalists defined early 1960s rock and roll, standing staunch and true against the steady softening of the once-tough genre. They included Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, Gary (U.S.) Bonds, and Del Shannon, whose muscular lung power, laced with thrilling falsetto that seemed to soar to the heavens, receives full-fledged tribute on Bear Family's 33-song ''Del Shannon: The Drugstore's Rockin.''

Naturally, Runaway, Del's indelible 1961 debut smash, is here (in stereo), as are his monster followups for Big Top Records, Hats Off To Larry, Hey Little Girl, and Little Town Flirt. Also on board is Shannon's haunting Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow The Sun), a 1964 smash on the Amy label. But there are plenty of surprises, including his pre-Elvis original recording of (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame, the swaggering Mary Jane, and a snarling Move It On Over featuring Dennis Coffey's bone-crunching guitar.