Customer Reviews

Live in Japan

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My friend in the 70s, David Coston, had this album on Japanese import and I borrowed it all the time. It sounded so much bigger than the studio albums. I'm finally getting my own copy today, in loving memory of Sandy West, one of the great all-time rock drummers!

After making two enourmous studio albums The Runaways give them fans what they wanted for: a live recording. I like this live album so much because it is simpel and doesn't have anything strange: intros, outros, interludes, guitar solos, or anything absolutely nonesense. They just play and sing songs: that's what the audiences wishes for. There's three songs from their second album, Queens of Noise ("Queens of Noise", "California Paradise", "Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin"), four from their debut album ("Rock-n-Roll", "You Drive Me Wild", "Cherry Bomb", "American Nights"), and five previously unreleased songs ("All Right You Guys", "Wild Thing", "Gettin' Hot", "I Wanna Be Where the Boys Are", "C'mon"). I think there should have been at least one more track from "Queens of Noise"...maybe "Midnight Music" or "Heartbeat" would have been good. I think the previously unreleased songs are good in this live concert, especially "Gettin' Hot" and "I Wanna Be Where the Boys Are". The sound quality is very good and feels like you actually would be there listening to them. I like when audience sing with them "Rock-n-Roll" in the beginning of the song: "It's Alright!". Cherie Currie never loses her touch with the audience.
Stars: Cherry Bomb, Queens of Noise, I Wanna Be Where the Boys Are

My review is in honor of Sandy West the drummer for The Runaways who passed away on October 21, 2006. I also have been a fan of The Runaways since they began. I grew up with them - have all their albums and still listen to their music. For me, it is the kind of music I can put on and instantly feel energized and alive. I love Queen's of Noise, California, American Nights and of course, Cherry Bomb from this cd.

In the 70s, kids took things seriously.
Before there were Jonas Brothers or Hannah Montana, there were the Runaways - a more authentic and dangerous group of teens by far.
We were all the same age back then and I loved them.
Still do.
And as live recordings go, this was one of the better from that era.

It's authentic; it's raw; it's the real thing. It's the Runaways at their peak. I play this CD anytime I want to encourage my own raw, heartfelt, super confident feminist energy.

After two albums for Mercury that produced mixed artistic results and few commercial gains, this Los Angeles quintet took their act to Japan and found itself welcomed as stars. Though the tour was reported to be very rough on all five members (and bassist Jackie Fox quit the band before the tour's final show), this live recording shows just what they were capable of. Freed from the daily abuse of Kim Fowley's svengali-like machinations and pumped up by adoring Japanese fans, the quintet unleashed their full rock `n' roll spirit. Signature originals, "Queens of Noise," "California Paradise," "Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin" and "American Nights" finally became the teen anthems they were written to be, and covers of The Troggs' "Wild Thing" and Lou Reed's "Rock `n' Roll" rock harder than their studio counterparts. Originally released in Japan, and subsequently in Canada, this was a collector's item for nearly thirty years before seeing CD reissue.

As on their studio albums, Sandy West proved herself the motor of the band's muscular rock. In contrast to their studio recordings, the bass and rhythm guitars push the band with plenty of bottom end, and Lita Ford's lead guitar is more powerful for its restraint. Cherie Currie and Joan Jett are both in fine voice throughout, with Currie really acquitting herself as a true rock singer - albeit still a theatrical one. Those who saw the original Runaways quintet live know just how they were shortchanged by Fowley's jailbait marketing and the anemic, sludgy sound of their studio albums. Playing live, even as Currie strutted the stage in her corset and fishnets the group never failed to rock. There are a few bum notes and miscues here and there, but this live album is proof that the Runaways were a lot more rock band than Kim Fowley initially envisioned or ever really wanted to admit. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

The editors review here claims that this album came out after Cherie and Jackie left the band, but that is wrong.
Cherie Currie was still on lead vocals at the time this album was recorded, and she delivers them with more intensity than you will hear from her anywhere else. It's too bad she left the band, because she had some of the most intense vocals of any female rocker I've ever heard... and so hawwwt too. AGAIN... she IS on this record.
Joan Jett of course gets a few front appearances here too, but she was not at the helm just yet. Waitin' For The Night, the groups next album would be the first with Joan Jett on lead vocals. She has a rockin' sexy voice too, as can be heard on any Runaways album, but I gotta say that Cherie's voice is way more powerful, in that sleaze rock sort of way... you can't F' wit' it!
Anyway... Whats best about Live In Japan, is that it really lets you understand that these chicks, literally knew how to take what they had and make it rock. The magic was beyond studio tricks. These chicks had rock and roll in their guts. YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAH!

And a God Bless to Sandy West. Rockin on...

If you love great rock 'n' roll and also are a fan of The Runaways, you'll really love this album. I think this is the very best of their recordings. They really were their best for this tour and it shows in the music. Live in Japan

Okay I love the Runaways and I love this album, but I'm shocked that no one has said anything about Amazon posting the wrong cover!!! They're showing the cover for Waiting For The Night, which came out AFTER Cherie and Jackie left the band. But yeah, Live In Japan is a great album and Cherie was an amazing performer. I wish she hadn't gotten hooked on drugs and ruined her acting career; I think she was good and actually could've been successful.

The runaways were with fanny at the forefront of true all girl rock bands. And by the time of this one they were really getting to be as good as any male band. This live cd should be in any rock and roll fans library. In fact it's great melodic metal/hard rock done with true fever. Songs like "gettin hot" , 'wild thing" and other songs slam right into your face with fierce all girl power. Back then alot of people were angry saying that this band shouldn't even exist! But they really proved that even live they were as good as any rock band out there. It's well recorded and tightly played. Soon after this the lead singer would depart which was a shame. But drugs suck in any decade , they take away the future and for the runaways they had only two years left really at this point. And it was a very good band still but this was a powerhouse that really klicked musically. So grab this one and any runaways disc for that matter. RIP sandy west.