"What makes a Rock and Roll number a hit? A good tune? A solid beat? Sure. Catchy lyrics help, too. And many a song is given a boost by a solid arrangement. Anything else? You bet.

"Call it drive. Maybe verve. Perhaps 'personality' best sums it up. One thing, you can tell when an artist has it - you can tell when he 'jumps.' Just slip this record on a turntable and you'll see what we mean. Dion 'has it.' He jumps and the hall jumps with him. No doubt you've heard him belt out Runaround Sue. Dion pushed this hit through the Top Ten right up to the head of the list. Because Runaround Sue is Dion's biggest selling hit up till now, we're naming the album after that fickle filly.

"But 'Sue' only gets the show on the road. There's plenty of bounce in the other eleven numbers. One thing Dion does in this album is to pay tribute to Rock and Roll songs that have become standards. You'll know what we mean when you hear jump hits like Kansas City and Little Star. Of course you've hear them before, but Dion's unique style makes them sound fresh and original.

"There's lots of stuff that's brand new, too. For instance, a dance called The Majestic. It's got feeling, an excitement that catches you unaware. Go ahead, try to keep your feet still! Better yet, learn the steps, because the whole crowd will soon be dancing to The Majestic.

"Many new fans have written in asking about Dion. Where's he from? Is 'Dion' his first or last name? Or just one that he uses professionally? Phone numbers we don't give out, but here's a thumbnail sketch of this fast-rising young star...

"First off, Dion is his real name - his first name. And it's pronounced 'Dee-on', to rhyme with 'neon.' Maybe you've heard him sing I'm The Last Of The First Name Singers. If he sounds as if he means it, well, he really does.

"The rumor that Dion could sing before he could talk isn't exactly true, but Dion has been lining out songs for quite a few years. He was born in the Bronx, a town that also produced Bobby Darn. Today, Dion makes his home in White Plains, New York.

"His Rock and Roll fans may be surprised to learn that Dion has a growing reputation as a nightclub singer. He has received rave reviews in New York and Washington, for instance. But Dion's fans know his knack with a jump song, and his nightclub work is just an example of his amazing versatility.

"What about a steady girl? Says Dion, 'The closest I've come to a steady is my career. Right now she's a pretty demanding chick. But in a couple of years, who knows?'

"If you're a Dion fan - and the number grows every day - we at Laurie Records think you'll find this album is Dion's finest so far. And if you're new on the Rock and Roll scene, Dion's Runaround Sue album can be a 'first' you'll be playing for years to come."

Laurie Records/George Werthner