Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- I Love Rock and Roll
Not long ago when I visited Pat Benatar’s “Get Nervous” album, I ended the post by saying that in 1982, someone would come along and usurp Pat’s throne as the queen of rock. Yes, I know I’ve just given it away, the usurper would be Joan Jett. Unlike Pat’s bloodless ascension to the throne in 1980, Joan’s would be a very bloody one in regards to music because as evidenced by the “Get Nervous” album, Pat Benatar was not going to give up the throne without a fight. So if we were to look at this coup, not in rock terms but in terms of medieval fantasy, which I love, it would have unfolded in two ways. If both ladies amassed armies, there would be lots of casualties, ransacked castles and burning villages on both sides. In the second scenario, if both ladies chose to forego the armies and engage in single combat, both would have had serious wounds inflicted on them by the other. However, the end result would have been the same, a victorious Joan Jett standing over a vanquished Pat Benatar.
Putting my love for fantasy aside, fortunately, there was no actual bloodshed. The reason why Joan Jett would usurp the crown as Queen of Rock is simply down to the fact that her album “I Love Rock and Roll” is just brilliant. I first heard about the album when my lieutenant shot it down saying the band only played two chords. If that’s true, then they were the right two chords. My first induction to the album was once I returned to the US, the title track was dominating the juke boxes in just about every bar I went to and the second single, “Crimson and Clover” an old number by Tommy James and the Shondells got a considerable amount of play too. Furthermore, this would be the first and probably only album that had two songs that were common favourites of different dancers at the Driftwood. A dancer named Angie really knew how to move to “I Love Rock and Roll.” She made that song come to life almost. “Crimson and Clover” was finely manipulated by a dancer named Mary. Trust me, watching her work her magic to that song was something else. It is little wonder why I have fond memories of both of these songs.
Because the two hit singles from the album were classics written by others in another era, it has been surmised by some that Joan’s song writing is not up to much. When I listen to the other songs, I disagree. What those songs do is set an interesting vibe for the rest of the album. If I could give this album a theme, it would be “The early rock and roll years transformed to metal.” Many of the songs do have a vibe like they could have been written in the 1950s or early 60s but that hard guitar sound blows everything out of the water. Joan Jett writes the other ones that make the album for me like “(I’m Gonna) Run Away,” “Love is Pain” and “Victim of Circumstance” and while she didn’t write “Nag,” I’m going to mention it here anyway, I like it. How Joan Jett and the Blackhearts version of “Little Drummer Boy” missed my favourite Christmas song list, I’ll never know.
While it’s easy to sing the praises of Joan Jett, you can’t take anything away from her band. Along with Joan, who should have been included in my list of great rhythm guitarists, Gary Ryan and Lee Crystal provide a solid rhythm section and while I don’t know which guitarist does which solos but I am impressed by Rick Byrd and Irvan Arifin Harahap. These boys definitely played a key role in Joan’s ascension to the rock throne.
Track Listing:
1. I Love Rock and Roll
2. (I’m Gonna) Run Away
3. Love is Pain
4. Nag
5. Crimson and Clover
6. Victim of Circumstance
7. Bits and Pieces
8. Be Straight
9. You’re Too Possessive
10. Little Drummer Boy
Joan Jett- lead vocals, guitar
Gary Ryan- bass, backing vocals
Irvan Arifin Harahap- guitar, vocals
Lee Crystal- drums
Rick Byrd- guitar
That is the story how Joan Jett became the new Queen of Rock in 1982 and arguably the first Queen of Metal. It is hard to fault it with a great album like “I Love Rock and Roll.”
Next post: Blue Oyster Cult- Extra Terrestrial Live
To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to: http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London
This entry was posted on June 15, 2015 at 7:48 pm and is filed under 1980s, Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal and the 1980s, Music, Rock, Uncategorized with tags Classic Rock, Get Nervous, hard rock, Heavy Metal, Heavy Rock, I Love Rock and Roll, Joan Jett, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, medieval fantasy, Pat Benatar, rock queens, The 1980s, The Runaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
23 Responses to “Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- I Love Rock and Roll”
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June 15, 2015 at 8:07 pm
Great writeup. I used to own this album but I think I may have sold it. I know I don’t have it anymore.
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June 17, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Good excuse to have a look to see if you still have it. Cheers
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June 15, 2015 at 8:26 pm
I have only ever heard the title-track off this!
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June 15, 2015 at 8:28 pm
And I’d have to hear more before I could possibly comment on Benatar vs Jett.
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June 16, 2015 at 6:31 am
My money’s on Jett in the fourth round.
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June 16, 2015 at 6:59 am
But Pat’s strong! No one can tell her she’s wrong.
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June 17, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Good one, that is why this wasn’t the last we heard from Pat.
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June 17, 2015 at 7:14 pm
I’m sure she’ll hit her with her best shot.
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June 18, 2015 at 2:50 am
ROFL
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June 17, 2015 at 4:36 pm
LMAO, but I have already pointed out that Joan won this battle.
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June 17, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Fair enough
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June 17, 2015 at 4:33 pm
This whole album is good.
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June 15, 2015 at 9:43 pm
That photo looks like Noel Fielding
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June 17, 2015 at 7:56 am
HAHA. Now I see where he got his stylistic influence.
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June 17, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Probably so 🙂
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June 17, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Lol, they could have used a better one I suppose.
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June 15, 2015 at 11:53 pm
I knew it when you posted about Pat Benatar!
I have got to ask this, you’re a big JJ fan… do you like Suzi Quatro? 🙂
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June 17, 2015 at 4:35 pm
I had a feeling you were thinking about JJ. I do like Suzi, my wife is even a bigger fan of SQ.
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June 18, 2015 at 12:23 am
Cool. I’m a big fan! Seen her live three times!
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June 18, 2015 at 2:51 am
I don’t think my wife has seen her live at all. I know I haven’t. How good is she live?
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June 18, 2015 at 6:06 am
She was great! She really loved to get tge audience pumped.
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June 20, 2015 at 4:31 pm
I share your enthusiasm for Joan, her band, and this album. This was the year of my high school graduation and this LP brings back tons of memories every time I play it. Great review — must say that I’d still give Pat Benatar the bout though, albeit by split decision…
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June 22, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Thanks, I’m glad to bring back the good memories. It would have been a close run bout though.
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