Customer Reviews

Waitin' for the Night

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had just about given up hope. After years and years of going into, say, Tower Records, rushing right to the "R" section, looking under "Runaways", and seeing only a compilation CD, IF that....FINALLY: The greatest Runaways album has been released on CD. From the first CRUNCHING chords of the first track, "Little Sister", to the final fade of the last track, "You're Too Possesive", this record ROCKS. Joan does all the lead vocals here, giving the band true punk status. Lita Ford's guitar playing reaches new heights, as does Sandy West's drumming. It's amazing to me that this record was basically ignored. It's punk, rock and metal all in one. "Wasted" has one of the coolest riffs ever played on the guitar; "School Days" captures the anthemic feel of Joan Jett's later, chart topping stuff, "Fantasies" haunts with it's sexual ranting, "Trash Can Murders" is a true punk rock hidden treasure. Each song has it's own life and story; "Little Sister", driven by Sandy West's power drumming, is my favorite rock and roll song of all time. And as for "Don't Go Away", well...if you never had the chance to go to CBGB's in NYC back in its hey-day, this track will take you there. If you're a Runaways fan, or even a little curious about this group, HURRY UP and BUY THIS CD. It's what you've been waitin' for.

The Runaways 3rd studio album, "Waitin' For the Night", has finally been released on CD. The Runaways are my favorite group and WFTN is their finest album. After 2 studio albums,a great live album, and lots of critical and managerial abuse as a 5 piece band, singer Cherie Currie and bassist Jackie Fox left the band. Rhythm guitarist Joan Jett took over lead singer duties and Vicki Blue was hired as the new bass player. I was worried how these changes would affect the band's 3rd album, but after hearing the first notes of "Little Sister", I was in awe! The Runaways, in my opinion, went from being a 5 piece rock 'n pop novelty girl group to a full-fledged, kick-a** rock 'n roll band with WFTN. Every song on WFTN is a winner, and all of the band members shine on this effort. Along with Joan and Vicki, lead guitarist Lita Ford and drummer Sandy West finally proved to the world that they were a legitimate rock and roll band. My favorite songs on this CD are "Little Sister", "Wasted", "Gotta Get Out Tonight", "School Days" and "Trash Can Murders". "Trash Can Murders" may be my all time favorite rock song. Lita has a killer guitar solo and Sandy's drum work is relentless on this one. It was a shame back when WFTN was released that is was basically ignored by radio stations, the critics and even their own record label. If you are a fan of real ROCK 'N ROLL get this CD!! You will not be disappointed. Thanks to Cherry Red Records for finally releasing this should have been classic album. And thanks to Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Vicki Blue for sticking together through tough times to record this great album.

If you're gonna get into the Runaways,get this album first.I don't care what anyone says,this album is there hardest,heaviest,and greatest.Joan Jett did a way better job on lead vocals than Cherrie.This album has a very differnt feel than their first 2 studio albums.Where as the first 2 albums had a bit of a more poppier sound to them,this one does not.This one is way more grittier,dark and filthy.Joan's punkish vocals go very well with Lita's heavy "70s hard rock" riffs.

If you look on the "Best Of" album,half of this album is on there.That basically says it all.

Just having discovered The Runaways after having heard about them for years, I finally got turned onto them by a friend of mine with "queens of noise". I decided to try this cd first. It's amazing, I can't stop listening to it. Joan's style of punk/glam on top of Lita's rock goddess metal playing makes for some amazing rock and roll. Really, really great cd. Original riffs, punky lyrics, sounds best played loud.

I love my new CD copy of WFTN. But I noticed something almost funny. The first half second of "Gotta Get Out Tonight" has a very clear (and well known among fans) "raspberry" sound just before the first guitar chord. It is completely missing in the CD version. Isn't it ironic that a label known for punk (Cherry Red) would edit out a fake flatulence sound?

17 and 18-year-old girls playing punky hard rock--and its Heaven! I agree with the reviewer who complained about the "raspberry" being edited out on "Gotta Get Out Tonite"(only vinyl die-hards will notice of course, but who else worships the Runaways??). I have no idea what "Little Sister" refers to(with roller skates rhyming with "date" and "Watergate"!), but Joan Jett's snarl starts the record off with an intoxicating fervor. In fact, this is Jett's record all the way, co-vocalist Cherie Currie having bailed out just after the Japanese tour. "Fantasies" is too long and droning, but Lita Ford's "Trash Can Murders" is a hoot, as is Kim Fowley's "Wasted" ("china white don't treat ya right"). Lots of garage band, spiked-leather-collar fun.

It's not that I didn't like Cherie Currie's vocals or Jackie Fox's bass playing... it's just that this album is better written and better produced than the others (just listen to those guitars!!!) and Joan did such a great job of carrying the torch. It all fell apart after this (listen to the disappointing "And Now The Runaways" for proof) but this in my opinion was when the girls hit the bullseye. The contrast between Joan's glam/glitter influenced playing and Lita's Richie Blackmore approach accent eachother perfectly, and Sandy West's rock-solid meat and potatoes drumming is dead-on. I'm just guessing here, but this album came out in 1977, when Punk was hitting big... and I can definitely hear some Sex Pistols in Joan's guitar... which makes sense since a few years later Steve Jones and Paul Cook would back her on a few songs on her debut solo album. All the pieces fit (for the most part) on this album and the remastering on this CD is just awesome! It sounds HUGE and when played at high volume it makes me feel 14 again.

A great album by a criminally overlooked and underrated band.

There is something wonderfully harsh and abrasive about this recording. I have waited YEARS to find this on CD, finally it is here. The packing is extra nice with fold out, lyrics, photos, and interviews. Huge respect goes out to Joan for her lead vocals and taking on the role of front person on this release. It is way more "punk" than the 1st 2 Runaways releases (also big time favs of mine!) All the songs glorify the nighttime and going out and having fun. I miss those days. Were the Runaways "technically brilliant" No! And that how we love em'....raw and dirty. The production is gritty and garage-like, but also pretty well put together. Nice crunchy chords from Lita, soild drumming from Sandy (RIP by the way!!) and over the top vocals and guitar from that gum-snappin' tough gal, JOAN!! (big love, Joan!) This is truely a "classic" gem from the later 70s. I was so desperate to have this on CD originally, I used a program to burn scratchy lps, thru the pc, onto disc. But now it's released. Why did it take 30 years?? Wow. I was only 13 when I bought this on vinyl. The cover brings back many memories from my youth, thinking, when I purchased it...hey, it's a 4 piece, and, wait, who's missing? Our Joan carries this release on her back, and screeches her soul out here! This was their last glory moment....so buy it!

THIS ALBUM IS AMAZING. However, some GENIUS for whatever reason decided to cut off the `raspberry` at the beginning of "Gotta get out tonite", that`s one thing, and I could live with that, but in doing so this editing prodigy clipped off the first few notes of the intro of the song(!) leaving us with what sounds like a mix tape made by a 10 year old on cassette. Idiot....Shame on this company for letting this go. There is also an overall echo on the vocals that was not on the original album...WHY??? It sounds like Joan is singing karaoke...Idiot...
The music is so cool that it gets 5 stars no question, but I would hope that eventually this gets a proper release.
Till then this will have to do.

One of the MOST influencial bands of Women in Rock. Before Hole, L7, and The Donnas, there were... The Runaways.