Released in 1977, two years after the brilliant So Long Harry Truman, American Roulette goes another step in developing Danny O'Keefe's mature pop style -- displayed on the previous record by the amazing "Quits" and the title track -- though there are still some roots tunes in the set as well. O'Keefe employed the cream-of-the-crop of session players in his systematic and gradual recording process. "Runaway," the opener, is a mirror image of "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues," written about a 14-year-old girl who leaves home after being beaten by her father.