The Runaways (album)

The Runaways is the debut studio album by American rock band The Runaways, released on March 16, 1976 through Mercury Records.

According to multiple sources, including Cherie Currie (in her memoir Neon Angel), the liner notes of the 2003 Cherry Red Records reissue of The Runaways, and Jackie Fox herself, bassist Nigel Harrison played bass on the album, due to manager Kim Fowley refusing to let Fox play on the record. Buick keyboardist Billy Bizeau played uncredited on the tracks "American Nights" and "Secrets". The Runaways was recorded in the first week of February 1976.

The documentary film Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways states that the album's first track "Cherry Bomb" was written ad hoc during the audition of lead singer Cherie Currie and the title is a play on the pronunciation of Currie's first name. Currie was told to prepare a Suzi Quatro song for the audition; she picked "Fever", a song the band did not know how to play. Instead, guitarist Joan Jett and Fowley came up with the song and had Currie sing it for her audition.

On January 5, 2009, "Cherry Bomb" was ranked 52nd on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs list. A cover of "Cherry Bomb" is featured in the music video game Rock Band as a downloadable single track. The song also featured in the films Dazed and Confused, RV, Cherrybomb, The Runaways, and Guardians of the Galaxy, and is played in the opening scene of Margaret Cho's stand-up comedy DVD I'm the One That I Want.

"You Drive Me Wild" is featured in the 2010 film about the band. Actress Dakota Fanning covers "Cherry Bomb" as well as "Dead End Justice" with Kristen Stewart, as they portray Currie and Jett, respectively.

Music ratings
AllMusic has praised the album (especially band members Cherie Currie, Joan Jett and Lita Ford), comparing the band's music to material by Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.

Track listing
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Runaways (lead vocals is uncredited).

Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Runaways (lead vocals is uncredited).

The Runaways
 * Cherie Currie – vocals and piano (credited only)
 * Lita Ford – lead guitar
 * Joan Jett – rhythm guitar and vocals
 * Jackie Fox – bass and vocals (credited only)
 * Sandy West – drums and vocals

Additional musicians
 * The Runaways – arrangements
 * Scott Anderson – arrangements
 * Kim Fowley – arrangements
 * Rodney Bingenheimer – orchestration
 * Nigel Harrison – bass (uncredited)
 * Billy Bizeau — piano on tracks "American Nights" and "Secrets" (uncredited)

Technical
 * Kim Fowley – production, direction
 * Andy Morris – sound
 * Scott Anderson – production coordination
 * Gilbert Kong – mastering
 * Bill Jimmerson – recording
 * Lawrence W. Wendelken – recording

Artwork
 * Tom Gold – photography
 * Desmond Strobel – design