- advertisement -

- advertisement -

THE RUNAWAYS changed the landscape and perception of women making music, and the influence of their short but bold career continues. The five teenagers who shattered glass ceilings with platform boots get feted by legendary artists, indie darlings and up-and-comers on Main Man Records’ June 28th release, Take It Or Leave It: A Tribute To The Queens Of Noise.

Take It Or Leave It is a 2-disc collection with 36 tracks that span The Runaways entire catalog. Their best known songs, like 'Cherry Bomb' and 'Queens Of Noise', are represented alongside more obscure tunes like 'Hollywood' and 'Born To Be Bad'. The fullness of the selection makes it evident how generations of artists, from L7 and THE GO-GOS to REDD CROSS and GUNS N' ROSES, call back to the passion-fueled rock sensibility of The Runaways.

While the individual interpretations of each track explore the original contributions of Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West, Jackie Fox, Vicki Blue, Take It Or Leave It also includes two performances by original Runaways band members: lead vocalist Cherie Currie’s rocking remake of fan-favorite 'American Nights', and 'Dirty Magazines', the last recording made by drummer Sandy West with her band BLUE FOX.

Artists from various musical backgrounds donated their time and resources to help Main Man Records honor The Runaways. Some of the participants include THE DONNAS, SHONEN KNIFE, THE ADOLESCENTS, THE DANDY WARHOLS, Richard Barone (of THE BONGOS), Derwood Andrews (of GENERATION X), TOILET BOYS, CARE BEARS ON FIRE (with Earl Slick of DAVID BOWIE/NEW YORK DOLLS), KITTLE, STARZ, David Johansen (of NEW YORK DOLLS) and Kathleen Hanna (of BIKINI KILL/LE TIGRE) and PEACHES, (whose collaboration was produced by Ad Rock of the BEASTIE BOYS) as well as members of FREHLEY'S COMET, MONSTER MAGNET, THE FASTBACKS, THE CUCUMBERS, THE DOUGHBOYS, and Cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch, ROBBIE RIST.

Interspersed with the music are interview clips with the members of The Runaways, mock radio ads by broadcast legends Rodney Bingenheimer, Carol Miller and "Mr. Marty" Martinez, candid comments from Johnny Ramone and a recollection of the band's appearance at CBGB's by noted radio personality Meg Griffin.

In Sandy West’s name, a donation from the proceeds of Take It Or Leave It will be made to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Since 1982, the AICR’s mission has been to fund, support and promote research as well as expand public knowledge through educational programs to bring its message of cancer prevention to millions of Americans. To that end, the AICR has committed more than $82 million, and was the first organization in the nation to support research into the role of diet and exercise as it related to cancer prevention.

Take It Or Leave It is available online and in select retailers on June 28th. The deluxe pre-order package at mainmanrecords.com includes a bonus disc with exclusive content, a 12” x 18” Take It Or Leave It poster and a commemorative Ernie Ball Take It Or Leave It guitar pick.

The tracklisting:

Disc One:
THE DONNAS - 'Queens Of Noise'
SHONEN KNIFE - 'Black Leather'
THE BINGES - 'I Love Playin' With Fire'
BEBE BUELL BAND - 'Heartbeat'
DEENA & THE LAUGHING BOYS - 'Lovers'
FRANKENSTEIN 3000 - 'California Paradise'
DELIRIUM TREMENS - 'Wasted'
RICHIE SCARLET - 'Wild Thing'
BLUE FOX - 'Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin'
THE EASY OUTS featuring GAR FRANCIS - 'Is It Day Or Night'
LAURA WARSHAUER - 'Little Lost Girls'
WHITE FLAG - 'C’mon'
CALI GIRAFFES - 'You’re Too Possessive'
TARA ELLIOTT & THE RED VELVETS - 'You Drive Me Wild'
PLANET SORROW - 'Thunder'
ROBBIE RIST - 'Yesterday’s Kids'
SERPENTEENS - 'Little Sister'
ADOLESCENTS - 'School Days'
BLUE FOX featuring SANDY WEST - 'Dirty Magazines'

Disc Two:
THE DANDY WARHOLS - 'Cherry Bomb'
RICHARD BARONE - 'Hollywood'
CARE BEARS ON FIRE with EARL SLICK - 'Saturday Night Special'
DERWOOD ANDREWS - 'Gotta Get Out Tonight'
DAVID JOHANSEN - 'Blackmail'
THE RIBEYE BROTHERS - 'Trash Can Murders'
DIGGER PHELPS - 'Rock & Roll'
TOILET BOYS - 'Born To Be Bad'
THE SWALES - 'Midnight Music'
FRANKENSTEIN 3000 featuring CHERIE CURRIE - 'American Nights'
F-13 - 'I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are'
THE STAY AT HOMES - 'Getting’ Hot'
KITTIE - 'Fantasies'
STARZ - 'Waitin’ For The Night'
JACK BRAG - 'Secrets'
CLINICAL TRIALS - 'Don’t Go Away'
KATHLEEN HANNA & PEACHES - 'Dead End Justice' (produced by Ad Rock)