Runaways & Queens of Noise

Perhaps like myself, you were unaware of the origins of Joan Jet and Lita Ford and thought they just appeared out of nowhere in the eighties. Maybe you even saw "The Little Foxes", one of Jodie Foster's best roles, and noticed how convincingly a troubled Cherie Currie portrayed a teen "runaway". Well, as inexcused as I feel now, being a female rocker also obsessed with David Bowie, I didn't realize or connect the dots back to one of the most amazing all girl bands ever until the movie "The Runaways" came out a few years back.If a bit far-fetched in truthful events of the past, the movie introduced me to a mostly underated, post-glam, pop-punk group of gals that gauged out a place for women in the hard rockin world previously only populated by men. Since they were largely dismissed in their own country and in their own time in general, it is not surprising that they would have to wait for the 21st century for their importance to have impact. Yes, much of the lyrics at first seem underware drawer fantasy stuff, there is in ironic quality backed by a fierce, almost desparate honesty, that belies any whiff bubblegum. These women were in your face soldiers that believed in themselves, and if you want proof, check out the live footage to see how these albums are backed up with undeniably powerful performances.I found the first album to be a little more solid in song writing, however it is fascinating to see the rise of Joan as the front woman and subsequent retreat of Cherie on Queens of Noise. The bonus track, "Trash Can Murders", are particularly telling of the struggle these women faced and in which we all face as women still. If you too are seeking to rail against the agony of being a lady with an electric voice of tough defiance, sheer raw power, and a hell of of a lot of fun, this is where to find it! All politics aside, it's just great music.

This compilation CD on an Australian label consists of the first two albums by the Runaways in their entirety, along with two tracks from their third. The Runaways were of course the first all-girl metal band, and enjoyed a short-lived, turbulent career in the mid-1970s. Two members, Lita Ford and Joan Jett, later went on to become successful solo artists. In their time, they achieved only limited success. The band’s image earned them more infamy than record sales. Critics frequently panned them. With the advantage of hindsight, they were underrated. The main reason to buy this edition, however, is the sound engineering, which is impressive by any standard. On the original albums, the sound was poor, with too much compression and bass distortion. On this edition, the engineers chose to emphasize the highs, with the result that all the instruments, as well as the vocals, are crystal clear. Running 74 minutes, this CD is an outstanding value for the price.

I've always been a fan of the Runaways. Back in 1978 I stumbled upon their debut album in my local record store (remember those?) and I bought it on a whim... Okay, I'm lying, I saw Cheri Currie on the cover and started drooling on my shoes, but the gamble paid off and I went onto buy their next 3 albums wearing them out before the Band's break-up. Then, sadly, it became near impossible to find one of their albums unless you could forkout a small fortune for an import vinyl. Thank God for Hollywood and a film that Dakota Fanning and Kristin Stewart agreed to do, otherwise we may have never again been blessed with the sound of thee ultimate Bad Girls of Rock & Roll. For anyone out there who believe that men and women are equal, then one listen to, "Cherry Bomb" will convince you that there is no other song more fitting as the greatest of independant women anthems. This double CD of the Runaways first 2 albums is a must own for the lover of the bad girl in all of us...

I haven't heard these Runaway song's since I was about 13, they was in my older sisters record collection and when she moved away, I couldn't find them in the store's. The thing that I really liked about these two albums was that all the song's were uniqe in their own way, (I liked all of them).

The songs are rock and roll in it's purest and raw form! I love "Thunder", and "American Nights"! The music featured inspired me to pick up my guitar again, man how I missed the hunger of music as raw as what the Runaways made for us to hear!

When they came out I thought they were just a nubile teenage overkill. Listening to them now I realize there was some real talent that suffered from real poor promotion. They rock.

This is what teenage girls should listen too -- empowering! But, as I'm in my mid-40s, not as cool but I'm still enjoying memories it brought back of my teen age years.

not for everyone. but these are the 2 best albums. kinda pop, kinda punk, kinda rock. 70's california teenage girl style .

A great collection of solid beat, toe-tapping, excellent Rock 'N Roll music featuring the teen anthem 'Cherry Bomb' 'Midnight Music' 'Rock And Roll' and the trade-mark 'Queens Of Noise'.This group of highly talented 'rock-chicks' were pioneers in the female band genre, and was a fantastically good grounding from which Joan Jett would emerge and go on to become, perhaps the Greatest Female Rock Musician for many generations. She was well supported on this CD by Lita Ford and Cherie Currie.All tracks are good and provide a very fond memory of or introduction to, a classic unadulterated timeless 'Rock' experience.

excellent. that raw 70's rock sound

Deux très bon CD d’un groupe mythique des années 70

Album fantastici!! Ho cominciato ascoltando la grande Lita e i suoi riff da paura ed anche agli esordi è un piacere da ascoltare. La spedizione è stata velocissima, una sera l'ho acquiststo e due giorni dopo ce l'avevo già a casa. Assolutamente da avere!!!

love all the runaways and others members