About The Song
“Little Town Flirt” is a rock and roll single by American singer-songwriter Del Shannon, released in December 1962 by Bigtop Records as the lead single from his third studio album of the same name. Co-written by Del Shannon (real name Charles Westover) and keyboardist Maron McKenzie, the song was recorded in New York City in late 1962 and marked Shannon’s return to the upper reaches of the charts after two relatively weak-performing singles earlier that year (“The Swiss Maid” No. 64 and “Cry Myself to Sleep” No. 99).
The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 97 in late December 1962, steadily climbed the chart, and peaked at No. 12 during the week of March 2, 1963, spending 14 weeks on the chart in total. On the Cash Box Top 100 it reached No. 11. Internationally, the track performed even stronger: No. 4 in the United Kingdom, No. 1 in Australia and Ireland, No. 7 in New Zealand, and No. 9 in Canada. The success helped re-establish Shannon’s career momentum heading into 1963.
Production was handled by Shannon’s longtime manager Irving Micahnik and engineer Tommy “Snuff” Garrett. The arrangement features Shannon’s trademark falsetto in the chorus, double-tracked lead vocals, a prominent girls’ backing chorus, and the Musitron (a modified clavioline) played by Max Crook—the same instrument that defined Shannon’s 1961 breakthrough “Runaway.” The B-side was the upbeat instrumental “The Wamboo.”
The accompanying album, Little Town Flirt, was released on June 22, 1963, and became Shannon’s first LP to chart in the United States, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and remaining on the list for 26 weeks. The record mixed originals with covers of contemporary hits such as “Dream Baby” (Roy Orbison), “Go Away Little Girl” (Steve Lawrence), and “Runaround Sue” (Dion).
“Little Town Flirt” has been widely cited by music historians as one of the standout pre-Beatles American rock singles of the early 1960s. Its tight two-minute-twenty-second running time, infectious guitar riff, and cautionary lyric about a seductive small-town girl made it a radio and jukebox favorite. The song later appeared on numerous Del Shannon compilations and was covered by artists including Phil Seymour (1982), The Boppers (Sweden, 1980s), and Altered Images (1982 for the British film Party Party). In 2004, Bear Family Records included the original mono single mix in their comprehensive Del Shannon box set Home and Away.
Video
Lyric
[Verse 1]
Here she comes (here she comes)
That little town flirt (here she comes)
You’re fallin’ for her
And you’re gonna get hurt
Yeah, I know it’s so hard to resist
The temptation of her tender red lips[Chorus]
But you can get hurt, hurt, hurt
Yeah, you can get hu-hu-hu-hurt
Foolin’ around (foolin’ around)
With that little town flirt[Verse 2]
Here she comes (here she comes)
With that look in her eye (here she comes)
She plays around
With every guy that goes by
Yeah, I know she’s gonna treat you wrong
So your heart just better be strong[Chorus]
‘Cause you can get hurt, hurt, hurt
Yeah, you can get hu-hu-hu-hurt
Foolin’ around (foolin’ around)
With that little town flirt[Bridge]
Now I know how you feel
You think her love is real
You think this time she’ll be sincere
But you think you’ve got a paper heart
When she starts to tear it apart
That’s when she’ll let you go
Whoa-oh-oh-oh[Verse 3]
Here she comes (here she comes)
Just look at that style (here she comes)
She’s lookin’ at you
Givin’ you that smile
But I know she’s gonna treat you wrong
So your heart just better be strong[Chorus]
‘Cause you can get hurt, hurt, hurt
Yeah, you can get hu-hu-hu-hurt
Foolin’ around (foolin’ around)
With that little town flirt[Outro]
You better run and hide now, boy
You better pass her by now, boy
You better run away now, boy
(Fade out)