Theirs was a story truly born on the streets of Hollywood and left for all to review in the annals of recorded music. The history of the Runaways, now coming to life again on the big screen (with Kristen Stewart in the rol... more »e of Joan Jett), is one of discovery, strong determination, bravado, teen lust and what would later become, to some, "a can of worms." But what we have to reflect back on are four albums: The Runaways, Queens of Noise, Live in Japan, and Waitin' For the Night. All 42 songs that were included on those original albums made for Mercury are contained on two CDs and available now from Hip-O Select. In 1976, after making several personnel changes since their seminal formation just a year prior, the newly assembled, five-member, all-female, L.A.-based band--all underage minors at the time--and their Svengali-like producer, Kim Fowley, caught the attention of Mercury Records and, soon enough, the dotted lines were signed. In a span of under three years, with different band members and collaborators, they generated three studio albums and one live recording, taped at performances in front of enthusiastic crowds with their biggest fans present in Japan. The phenomenon of this early grrl band may have been lopsided with their spotty, regional appeal, but they broke the mold and set the trend for future female rockers to come. Comprised of teenagers using various "stage names," the original members often referred to as "jailbait rockers" within the industry--Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox--had stars in their eyes and a fire in their bellies. And they learned their instruments on the fly while developing their songwriting skills under the supervision of Fowley, who maintained his role of producer as tensions mounted over a few short years and the band, since all was not rosy below the surface, inevitably began to disintegrate and change course. That's happened to a lot of groups for various reasons if you check the record books. With the Runaways, it, too, was probably a matter of time--but their time is certainly now.« less
Theirs was a story truly born on the streets of Hollywood and left for all to review in the annals of recorded music. The history of the Runaways, now coming to life again on the big screen (with Kristen Stewart in the role of Joan Jett), is one of discovery, strong determination, bravado, teen lust and what would later become, to some, "a can of worms." But what we have to reflect back on are four albums: The Runaways, Queens of Noise, Live in Japan, and Waitin' For the Night. All 42 songs that were included on those original albums made for Mercury are contained on two CDs and available now from Hip-O Select. In 1976, after making several personnel changes since their seminal formation just a year prior, the newly assembled, five-member, all-female, L.A.-based band--all underage minors at the time--and their Svengali-like producer, Kim Fowley, caught the attention of Mercury Records and, soon enough, the dotted lines were signed. In a span of under three years, with different band members and collaborators, they generated three studio albums and one live recording, taped at performances in front of enthusiastic crowds with their biggest fans present in Japan. The phenomenon of this early grrl band may have been lopsided with their spotty, regional appeal, but they broke the mold and set the trend for future female rockers to come. Comprised of teenagers using various "stage names," the original members often referred to as "jailbait rockers" within the industry--Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox--had stars in their eyes and a fire in their bellies. And they learned their instruments on the fly while developing their songwriting skills under the supervision of Fowley, who maintained his role of producer as tensions mounted over a few short years and the band, since all was not rosy below the surface, inevitably began to disintegrate and change course. That's happened to a lot of groups for various reasons if you check the record books. With the Runaways, it, too, was probably a matter of time--but their time is certainly now.
CD Reviews
Terrific collection of The Runaways four Mercury albums
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 03/22/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With the Runaways biopic getting a major market push, it was a no-brainer for their oft-ignored catalog to get a fresh reissue. Contained in this set are the three studio albums the group recorded for Mercury (The Runaways, Queens of Noise and Waitin' For the Night), and a live album originally released as an import (Live in Japan). This represents the heart and soul of the Runaways' catalog, and though a post-Mercury album (And Now... The Runaways), an odds `n' sods collection (Flaming Schoolgirls) and prehistoric demos (Born to Be Bad) can be found, they're the province of completists. For those new to the group's repertoire this four-LPs-on-two-CDs set will tell you everything you need to know - if not a bit more - about the group's recorded legacy.
The Runaways' self-titled 1976 debut tells most of the story: five girls who are both a legitimate rock group and puppets of their Svengali producer, Kim Fowley. The dynamic of teenage hormones, rock `n' roll dreams and jailbait marketing gave the album both muscle and sexual sizzle. Joan Jett proved herself a songwriter with an uncommon touch for evoking mid-70s Los Angeles teendom, and she and Cherie Currie sang with a conviction that couldn't be faked. The band's playing could be plodding and clumsy in spots, but it was still surprisingly powerful. The group's 1977 follow-up, Queens of Noise, followed the same template, but within it you could hear the group was a year wiser to the perils of rock `n' roll. Abused by their managers and worn down by the road, they were staring at the madness that would cause the band to implode.
The group's live album, recorded before an enthusiastic audience in Japan, shows how well the act translated to the stage. As on their debut, the playing isn't particularly refined, but Currie shows herself to be a commanding front-woman, and Sandy West holds down the beat with power and authority. The Runaways' final studio release for Mercury, Waitin' For the Night, saw the band reconfigured: Cherie Currie and Jackie Fox were gone, and with them went some of the band's overt sex appeal. The former's vocal spotlight fell to Joan Jett, the latter's bass playing to Vicki Blue, and the focus to the band's music. Jett seized the opportunity to assert herself as group leader, rising to the challenge of writing most and singing all of the album's tracks. In the album's wake Jett proved, at least to listeners, if not immediately to the record industry, that she was a star in the making. Lita Ford's two metal-tinged originals also pointed to post-Runaways commercial success.
"In 1976 I was a hard core record collector in my early 20's.I heard about a new release by a group of 16 year old girls from L.A.When the album came out,I bought it immediately.I loved the pic.of Cherie Currie on the cover and when I got it home,I was blown away by the kick-ass rock inside.The 'hit',"Cherry Bomb" was first and I've loved it ever since that first hearing.Unlike many critics,I thought their version of The Velvet Underground's "Rock and Roll" was great.Don't get me wrong,it can't outshine the original,but,it's a great cover version transposed to L.A.The rest of the album was good and worth listening to over and over.
When "Queens of Noise" came out,I bought it right away.Again,the first track,the title track was great and as good as anything on the first album.My next favorite song was "I Love Playin' With Fire".It's another great,kick-ass rocker.Another exercise in Teenage Punk/Metal.
After the live album came out,I didn't buy it.I was not a big fan of live albums.To me it was a way to take my money with inferior sounding versions of songs I already had in my collection.It took live albums by REO Speedwagon , Bob Seger and a couple of other 70's staples to change my mind.When I finally bought the "Live in Japan" album,I was really surprised at how much I liked it.The hits were rocking and their cover of The Troggs'"Wild Thing" was a great talk/sing version sung by their drummer,Sandy West.The back-ground harmony by Cherie and Joan is just killer!
The last great Runaways album was,in some ways Joan's first album.Cherie had left the band and Joan Jett suddenly became the lead singer as well as the rhythm guitarist and main songwriter.Every song on "Waitin' For The Night" was great! In my life their have been only about 25 or 30 non-Beatles albums that I liked every song on,"Waitin' For The Night" is one of them.10 songs of Metal/Punk fusion.8 songs were written or co-written by Joan Jett.The other two,"Fantasies" and "Trash Can Murders" were two examples of Lita Ford showing her blood and gore,Metal-Maniac side.Every song is worth listening to over and over.The best is probably the "ballad","Waitin'For The Night".It's really an early power ballad with loud,wild lead guitar to keep your heart beating.Every song has its own charms,but the opener,"Little Sister" and the closer,"You're Too Possessive" are stand-outs.
One of the reasons why,as much as I've liked every Joan Jett solo album,The Runaways' albums included most of my favorite work of hers was the group chemistry.The biggest thing that they had going for them was Joan Jett's punk-princess kicked into a higher gear by Lita Ford's metal-head mania.This is a collection that all rockers should own.If you like Joan Jett or Lita Ford,this is where they learned how to kick out the jams and take no prisoners.Buy it,and buy it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The Runaways rule!
Kurt Woods | 03/24/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's about time we got this collection. The Runaways may not have been hugely successful in America in the Seventies, but they certainly deserved to be. They weren't taken too seriously by many people, but those people probably never bothered to listen to the music. Their musicianship shouldn't be dismissed, either. Lita is a good lead guitarist, Joan is a riff monster on rhythm, and Sandy is rock solid on drums. The Runaways kicked ass, and their music holds up today.
I've been a Runaways fan since the beginning. I have all five of their original albums on LP (the fifth album, And Now...The Runaways was not released domestically). I hadn't listened to those albums in many years until I got this collection. I have the best-of set released by Mercury a few years ago, but I hadn't heard most of their music in many many years. I was surprised by how good it really is. There are very few weak songs in the entire two-disc set.
The first album sets the tone for their career. "Cherry Bomb" still seems outrageous after all these years. Today we have boring crap like the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. I don't think you'd hear any sixteen-year-olds today singing songs like "Cherry Bomb" or "Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin." For me, the best track on the first album is the cover of Lou Reed's "Rock & Roll." It just kills.
The second album, "Queens of Noise", picks right up where the first album left off. They continue to rock hard with songs like "I Love Playin' With Fire", "Born To Be Bad", and the title track. "Johnny Guitar" is not one of their finer moments. It doesn't help that Cherie's vocals are so far down in the mix that you can barely discern the words. Other than this track, it's a killer album.
The third album, "Live in Japan", has some tracks from the first two albums, plus a couple new songs and a couple of excellent covers. Especially noteworthy is the killer cover of "Wild Thing."
The final Mercury album, "Waitin' For The Night", finds Joan as the undisputed bandleader, following the departure of Cherie. While this is a killer album, I still wish Cherie had stayed with the band. I just love her "throaty bellow" (as one critic called it). Don't get me wrong: I'm a huge Joan Jett fan, but Cherie's voice is unique. While Joan had been the primary songwriter from the beginning, she now found herself fronting the band. Though she was still developing her vocal skills, her songwriting on this album is excellent, especially on "Don't Go Away" and the title track. Her genuine teenage rage comes through clearly on such songs as "You're Too Possessive."
I have one complaint about the packaging. The booklet has more pictures of the four-piece version of the band than of the original five-piece, which seems very odd, considering that their first three albums were done as a five-piece. Also, while the album covers are reproduced in full CD-booklet size, it would have been nice to have the back-cover pictures of the albums, and the great picture of the band from the inside of the first album.
All in all, this is a most worthy collection of killer music by a band that didn't receive the attention it deserved when they were around. Perhaps the new film will help rectify that to an extent."
Four Albums On *2 CDs*!
Alex Honda | Los Angeles, CA USA | 03/31/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm new to the Runaways, my only intro was through Cherie Currie's role in Foxes, and after seeing the new "The Runaways" movie, which was pretty good, my interest was piqued.
I also kind of knew the song "Cherry Bomb" because a friend of mine was always singing it. Anyway, research on Amazon led me to the THE RUNAWAYS: MERCURY ALBUMS ANTHOLOGY, which is a pretty good deal.
At first, I was going to buy the The Runaways/Queens of Noise CD, but for about $13 more I decided on this MERCURY ALBUMS ANTHOLOGY. This is a newly remastered release that features the first four albums by the Runaways-"The Runaways," "Queens Of Noise," "Live In Japan," and "Waitin' For The Night."
It's been remastered by Hip-O-Select, who do a fantastic job with re-issues, and sounds fantastic.
Cherie Currie's voice is really gruff and grown-up sounding (unlike in the movie where Fanning sounds like a teenage-girl), and Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West, Jackie Fox et al. play their respective instruments with furious talent, even though they were all under age at the time. Listening to the tracks and you'd never know they weren't full fledged adults! Looking at the song credits and you'll find that most of the songs were co-written by Jett.
The Runaways' music is a cross between 70's hard rock and punk, so if you like groups like Blondie or the Pretenders you'll like The Runaways.
This set comes with a small booklet with bio info on the group, written by Bud Scoppa (2010) and includes some pictures. Also included is a small sheet with four temporary tattoos: the group, a cherry, "The Runaways," and a razor blade with "The Runaways" on it.
Even though this costs a little more, I'd go with this set because you're getting four albums for about $8 each. And they've been remastered and collected on 2-CDs.
"
Queens Of Noise long overdue collection
Bloodbath_and_Beyond | usa | 04/03/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the mid 70's if you wanted to be a female performer you had to be a Joni Mitchell folkie/singer-songwriter, or a maybe a Linda Ronstadt type. The Runaways, 5 teenage rockers that sang about booze, sex, and rock lifestyle just as good as the pioneers of the style at the time (Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Kiss, Foghat, AC/DC) did it..were pretty much trailblazers in creating hard rocking female bands. The only other comparable forerunners being England's Girlschool, because honsetly, while they were cool at the time the Go-Go's and the Bangles just weren't rocking. Featuring lead singer Cherie Curie (decked in lingere), guitarists Joan Jett and Lita Ford, bassist Jackie Fox and drummer Sandy West; the band was put together by Kim Fowley who had been an unsuccessful record producer since the 60's, and also had a rep for gimmick acts. So this one wasnt taken very seriously in 1976/77 when this group of jailbait punker chicks emerged. Fowley of course wanted to get to the top with the band and Joan Jett just wanted to actually be in a band and make rock n roll. The other members had similar ambitions but unfortunatly it didnt turn out well as mainstream America didnt know what to make of it and radio programmers ignored the bands 3 albums. The Runaways, Queens Of Noise (1977) and Waiting For The Night (1978), which was fronted vocally by Jett after Curie's departure. This collection features all 3 albums plus their Live In Japan(where they were huge) album which was recorded before Waiting For The Night but wasn't released in America.
The 2010 biopic spurred more interest in the group and Hip-O records issued this great 2 disc anthology. The sound is great, all four albums are there and the packaging is pretty cool, featuring the album covers in gatefold-outs, and a nice booklet with pics and a summary of the group. If you aren't familar with the Runaways musically this probably isnt for you but fans of the band should love this if they dont already have the CD's or want an easy place to get them all. If you want it put simply, The Runaways were teenagers and some members had just learned their instruments at the time, so its bare bones rock and roll. Although Jett's knack for hooky and melodic yet crunching rock n roll is the most apparent aspect of their sound. It's forceful party rock, in your face, and still 30 years later their most famous song Cherry Bomb sounds dangerous and cutting edge. Of course not everything is classic here but the major highlights include gems like Queens Of Noise, Take It Or Leave It, Thunder, School Days, I Love Playin' With Fire, Gotta Get Out Tonight, Little Sister, Neon Angels and the Joan Jett tour de force Don't Go Away. Out of 42 songs that might seem scarce, but its up to you to pick your own favorites, these are just the bonafied essentials that any novice should check out.
After all the credit given a little too late (heavily influential to all female rockers that came ahead, misunderstood in their time etc etc) this is just a great powerful mix of punk and hard rock. The tunes are killer no matter how simple some might sound. And Lita Ford's guitar showcase Johnny Guitar proved she wasnt a lightwieight on the strings, though you'd never tell just by hearing Kiss Me Deadly which revels in typical of the time 80's techniques, she plays some tasteful licks on here. Despite that so much is focused on Fowley's near exploitation and complete control of a bunch of teenage hopefuls of a once by gone 70's chick band, the music holds up and if you're into down and dirty rock this is a great set of music for you. So if you're dedicated, shell out the cash and dig into a great footnote of rock history."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1