Customer Reviews

And Now... The Runaways

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The Runaways' final effort is an interesting mix of different tastes and styles of music. Recorded in 1978, lead vocalist Joan Jett's style had started to lean heavily towards punk, while powerhouse guitarist Lita Ford and drummer Sandy West had tastes which leaned towards Heavy Metal. This on top of some hints of New Wave music just beginning to come about at the time) makes for an interesting and often fun recording. Many of the songs here are covers, which is uncharacteristic for the band. However, the different musical directions of the band members coupled with constant attack from the press may contribute to the slight incoherency of style. My personal favorite track is "Black Leather", written by Sex Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook, which is a great representation of the Punk Rock era. The Beatles "Eight Days a Week" is taken down to a rather drippy ballad, and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" (often covered by various bands) is a fun, up tempo track. Bonuses on this CD, especially for Runaways fans, are solos from drummer Sandy West ("Right Now", which I believe was released as a single in Japan-a great track) and Lita Ford's first lead vocal "I'm a Million". Though the bands' chemistry is a bit off if this disc is compared to previous efforts of theirs', it should be noted that they were in their late teen years and each hungry to come in to their own, which some were eventually able to do to greater commercial success. A cool purchase for those interested in early "riot grrl" music, and a must own for Runaways fans.

After the personnel changes that occured at the conclusion of the girls' 1977 Japan tour this record shows the Runaways at the end of their existance. Starting with "Queens of Noise" the band had a formula for types of songs. For example, at least one track could be considered an anthem (Queens of Noise: title track, Waitin' for the Night: Little Sister), one track showcased Lita Ford's talents on lead guitar (Queens of Noise: Johnny Guitar, Waitin' for the Night: Fantasies). The only break in this pattern is Waitin' for the Night's title track, which is the Runaways' only (albeit hard-rock) ballad. For "And Now.. the Runaways!!" the anthem is Saturday Night Special and Lita Ford's guitar exhibit is on I'm a Million. This album is not the best of the bands work, that goes to the Live In Japan LP, but this is a historically significant work considering the later solo successes of both Ford and Joan Jett.

As we Runaways fanatics wait(in vain?)for the domestic CD releases of the debut album, "Queens Of Noise" and(most especially)"Waitin' For The Night"(which was difficult to find on VINYL even when it first came out in Dec.'77), this is still a precious item to pick up. Joan Jett's vocals on the searching "My Buddy And Me" and (on Lita Ford's composition) "Little Lost Girls" are some of her finest moments to date, Sandy West's vocals on "Right Now" are charming, and the cover versions of Slade and the Beatles are excellent. Get it! Get it! Get it!

After making three great studio albums and a live album The Runaways made an album that isn't even nowadays appreciated...it was a flop. Although it didn't manage to chart well in Europe or America, it has some great songs that I would count as classics. I myself like this album although at first it sounded quite soft and lazy. It isn't their heaviest work...not even near...but it own kind of speciality...it is quite relaxing album. If you aren't relaxed by the songs "Eight Days a Week" and "Little Lost Girls" then try Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"...it is your only help. So, this is kind of a soft rock album...near pop music. Some song still represent the rock world..."Saturday Nite Special", "Mama Weer All Crazee Now", and "Black Leather". "Black Leather" is like their old material. The line-up in this album is the same as it was in The Runaways album "Waitin' for the Night"...so Joan Jett in rhythm guitar and vocals, Lita Ford in lead guitar, backing vocals and lead vocal on "I'm a Million", Sandy West in drums, backing vocals and lead vocal on "Right Now", and Vicki Blue in bass guitar and backing vocals. I miss Cherie Currie on vocals but I think Joan Jett and the girls cover her quite well.
Stars: Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Saturday Night Special

This is the final Runaways album, also known as "Little lost girls". Good music, several covers, but not the same as they were with Cherie Curry as lead singer. Still a must for any Runaways fan.

And now...The Ruanways is the crowning jewel in The Runaways catalog. They were almost at the end of their career when this was recorded and it has a meloncholy feel to it. Its nowhere as in your face as their earlier albums. And now....The Runaways is somber, and like another reviewer stated, its relaxing. Saturday Night Special and Right Now should have been top ten hits for the band as they are extremely catchy with a hook you cant get out of your head. The guitar solo in Little Lost Girls is cool because it sounds like a cross between a synthisizer and a guiter. It reminds me a little of and old television shows theme song. Remember The Rockford Files???? Little Lost Girls reminds me of that opening theme song. When this album was first released it came out on vinyl as a picture disk and i still have it today and now i have the CD. And now...almost 30 years later i'm still listening to it.

New look, same hard edged music. If your a fan it's a must have. If your new to The Runaways I suggest their first self titled album.
RIP Sandy

This was it for the runaways, cherie curry was gone and joan jett was still around leading the band. The girls were shattering to pieces by this point. This was the original successful all girl band in history and they played their instruments and even wrote songs. They could lay down metal to punk and did it well. This isn't as great as the previous releases from them. The runaways, queens of noise, live in japan, waiting for the night had come before and had laid down some great tunes. This however had some cool songs on it from as they at last coming apart. It was put out in 1979 and they were done soon afterward. The songs are good and mostly sung by Joan jett and that's a good thing. By this time only she and lita ford and sandy west ( who died a few years back from cancer RIP) were left from the original band. The playing is tight though and the songs good. This isn't as great as their mercury releases but it's a good end to the band. A band that stood up against chauvinism and said 'we can rock hard too!" . The sound quality is good too.