Ah, the Runaways. Cherrie Curie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford etc. Burned fast and bright in the 1970s didn’t they?
Thanks to an email from Cherry Red Records featuring that they’ve done a re-press of the CD the girls’ album And Now the Runaways and having that remind me I bought the original back in 1979 on some obscure coloured vinyl – well, time to relive my youth…..
It’s not their strongest album in my opinion. Generally moves from the snarling rockers of the Cherie Currie albums in to more melodic territory though does have its moments.
Saturday Nite Special is a nice chugging melodic pop-rocker with a catchy chorus and hook for starters.
Then we have two covers. Hmmmm…..A rather insipid version of the Beatles’ Eight Days a Week which goes nowhere followed by a tame cover of the old Slade classic Mama Weer All Crazee Now. This should be a riotous affair, but its not. No bite. Spoiled by use of some keyboards too.
I’m a Million perks things up nicely though. A brooding, moody song which goes back to the good stuff with Lita showing up nicely how good a guitarist she is. Have a listen:
Right Now shoots straight in to bubblegum pop rock as does My Buddy and Me. Both songs infectiously catchy. Sandwiched in between we have Takeover which is quite a nice melodic rocker.
Little Lost Girls not a bad one then another cover – Black Leather – to close it out and it has some attitude to it.
This was the fourth and final studio album from the Runaways marking the end of the road for them. Joan Jett of course would go on to massive success as a solo artist as would Lita Ford.
Whilst it’s not a bad album overall I do feel it’s soured by the uninspired covers and their earlier albums are far stronger.
If you’d like to check out And Now, here’s a link to the Cheery Red re-press of the CD:
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/and-now-the-runaways/