I'm preparing a new chronological post, but until then I'm updating with my current obsession, Del Shannon.

Shannon was an early 60s pop singer/songwriter, generally discarded as a mere sub-Beatles teen idol. But his songs generally have a weird, distressed undercurrent of abandonment and loneliness ("Misery") that floats them far above the usual teen-idol fare. Or with songs like "Hats Off to Larry", which is about Del cheering for the guy who broke his ex-girlfriend's heart--and, awesomely enough, Del wants his ex to know that even though her new man has thoroughly broken her, he (i.e. Del) still wants her back. Lesson: don't ever leave me.

He had a few big hits in the mid-60s ("Runaway"), but his tendency towards lyrical heartbreak eventually became full-blown clinical depression and he was ultimately a drunk and a suicide. He's also one of the few male singers to make falsetto sound cool. Check him out.

Del Shannon - Misery

Del Shannon - Hats Off to Larry

Del Shannon - Little Town Flirt

Del Shannon - Do You Want to Dance

Del Shannon - Stranger in Town

Del Shannon - Break Up