I Love Rock 'N' Roll ~ CD ~ Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Joan Jett is an originator, an innovator, and a visionary. As the leader of the hard-rocking Blackhearts, she's had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics “Bad Reputation,” “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” She sits at the head of her own independent label, Blackheart Records. Jett has acted in movies, including 1987's ‘Light of Day’, with Michael J. Fox and Gena Rowlands, and in a Tony-nominated Broadway musical, ‘The Rocky Horror Show’. As a producer, she has overseen albums by Bikini Kill, Circus Lupus, and the Vacancies, as well as the Germs' LA punk masterpiece, GI. Jett was even one of only two women named to Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitar players of all time. In the end, though, Joan Jett's life has been dedicated to one goal and one goal only – rocking the hell out of every listener she can reach. Since co-founding the Runaways, the pioneering all-girl punk quintet, at age 15, Jett's determi­nation and drive have kept her in the public eye. “Singer/songwri­ter/guitarist, Joan Jett's second solo album ‘I Love Rock 'N’ Roll' is the one that really cemented her musical reputation. Released in 1981, it wasn't until the following year that it shot to into the U.S. Top Ten, due to the enormous success of the dynamic, irresistible title track. The single spent seven weeks at number one and the follow-up single, a version of Tommy James & The Shondells' "Crimson and Clover”, also went Top Ten. Jett plays pure and simple rock and roll, which is why the direct title of this album is so apt. ‘I Love Rock 'N’ Roll' was her first record with the Blackhearts – guitarist Ricky Byrd, bassist Gary Ryan, and drummer Lee Crystal – who contributed to a more focused, muscular hard rock sound than presented on her excellent debut, ‘Bad Reputation’. Although nearly half the album is cover songs (including the two big hits), Joan co-wrote many of the tougher, cooler numbers, such as “(I'm Gonna) Run Away”, “Love is a Pain” and “You're Too Possessive” (originally performed with The Runaways). Other highlights include rowdy punk renditions of “Nag” and the old Dave Clark number “Bits and Pieces”, along with several other gems – now added as bonus tracks on this re-mastered, re-issued edition. Leading the way with her gritty, loud, hook-laden rock and attitude since the mid-70s, Joan Jett has been a major influence on countless other female rockers (L7, Girlschool, Vixen, Courtney Love, The Donnas, to name just a few). All of her musical talents are displayed to the full on the classic ‘I Love Rock 'N’ Roll'. GEOFF (30th July, 2010)