The Runaways - Live In Japan (1977)

(U.S 1975 - 1979)

For those of you who do not know, The Runaways were an American girl group who released their first album in 1976. They were all aged about 16. The band came together in '75 in L.A. (of course) under the watchful eye of veteran rock hypester / houdini Kim Fowley, who has garnered himself a reputation (and rightfully so) of being truly crazed, fashioned a group containing young girls, all sixteen and seventeen. The girls, on command, played raunchy, overtly sexual music. In short, it was jailbait with a back-beat. The little boys (and the big boys, for that matter) went wild as the leather-encased, open-shirted batch of girls-next-door hit the road. Seeing the Runaways on stage, wielding their instruments like St. Valentine's Day assassins, was truly stirring, in a variety of ways.

The Runaways, though never a major success in the United States, became a sensation overseas, especially in Japan, thanks to the hit single "Cherry Bomb". As the Runaways were much better known in Japan than the U.S., it stands to reason that their only live album was recorded in that country and is the focus of this post.

Except for a handful of bootlegs, Live in Japan is the only documentation of the Runaways on stage. The album was never released in the United States. Consequently, the live LP was only available in the U.S. as a Japanese import and sold for around ten to 12 dollars, which was a lot to pay for vinyl in the late '70s. Luckily, the LP was released in Australia (sporting a different cover to the Japanese pressing) and of course I purchased a copy. Sadly, I sold it sometime later at the Camberwell Market back in the 90's.

But American Runaways fans who were willing to make that investment found a lot to admire about the album, which boasted superior sound quality (by '70s standards) and explosive, uninhibited versions of "You Drive Me Wild," "Cherry Bomb," "California Paradise," and other hard rock pearls. The original Runaways lineup (Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, and Sandy West) was still in place, and the rockers' primary focus is on material from The Runaways and Queens of Noise.

Album Review

"Tokyo. Good evening. Please welcome from Hollywood and California. The Queens Of Noise....The Runways!"

It ain't exactly the most riot inciting kill tape plunder and destroy them hype up but as soon as the band crashes into a raging version of Queen Of Noise you know it's just gotta be good. They're spunky sheilas after all. They gotta be good mite.

It's hard rock 'n' roll and this band has got (sorry, had) balls. Hardly feminine dear. But if it's sexy purring heavy breaths that you're after then forget it, cos Cherie Currie sounds like a rusty can opener.

Sandy West handles the vocals department on Wild Thing and comes across as hard and fast as her drumming does which is mixed up front. Lita Ford's lead guitar work has certainly improved since that debut album last year.

Lou Reed's Rock 'n' Roll is virtually unrecognisable; the Runaways tearing it apart with raw cracking precision. I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are is great. Lita soars above Joan Jett's grinding guitar and bassist Jackie Fox as Cherrie screams "I am the bitch with the hot guitar...I wanna fight where the boys fight." No wonder she quit.

Their first single Cherry Bomb is even raunchier than their original version but what, one wonders, did the Japanese (for that is where it went down) think of this raw L.A noise. They screamed just like any Sherbet audience did. They even shouted for "More More.." before the Runaways returned sounding like Quo, to do C'Mon.

Okay, so this is the last recording by the Runaways with Jackie Fox and Cherie Currie. If you claim to be into raunchy rock 'n' roll then get into this - at full volume nothing less - cos this is about as raunchy as it gets. Plus it's one of the few live recordings that I think works.

Oh yeah, when you get the album you'll find a note at the bottom with their fan club address - and they want you to send your photo so they can see what you look like. Cute huh. Hardly.

[Review by Andrew McMillan, RAM Magazine October 21, 1977 p17]

This post consists of FLACs ripped from CD and includes full album artwork for both CD and vinyl media. I have to agree with Andrew McMillan's critique of this 'live' album, it is well produced/recorded and has captured the true rock 'n' roll essence of these Queens Of Noise.  Enjoy!

Tracklist

01 Queens Of Noise

02 California Paradise

03 All Right You Guys

04 Wild Thing

05 Gettin' Hot

06 Rock-n-Roll

07 You Drive Me Wild

08 Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin

09 I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are

10 Cherry Bomb

11 American Nights

12 C'mon

Recorded at the Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan and the Sibuya Kokaido 5 / 6 / 12 Jun 1977

Band Members:

Joan Jett (Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals)
Lita Ford (Lead Guitar)
Cherie Currie (Piano, Vocals)
Jackie Fox (Bass, Vocals)
Sandy West (Drums, Vocals)

Runaways Live Link (362Mb)