• AllMyVinyl #106
• Band: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
• Album Title: Greatest Hits
• Release Date: 3 Apr 2019
• Date purchased: 11 May 2021
• Location purchased: Walmart
• Color of vinyl: red
• Number of discs: 1
• Links: [ Wikipedia | Discogs | Band Website | Complete album on Youtube ]

First off, this is officially called “Joan Jett & The Blackhearts”, but the way my blog is formatted, if I put that full title in there it would display weirdly, so I went with just Joan Jett for cosmetic purposes only.  :)

Joan Jett is one of the earliest artists I’d ever seen live.  My first ever band was Huey Lewis & The News, but Joan was second. That was a festival show, and Joan Jett was second out (of a lineup of five bands).  At that time it was June 1982 and she had JUST put out the “I Love Rock & Roll” album/single. She was massive, so I was quite pleased I got to see her then.  As time rolled on, she amassed quite a few hits from quite a few albums.  That makes it odd to me that I never saw her live again until 2017, 35 years later.  Still rockin it.  Then again in 2019.  I regret not seeing her live more in-between.  It’s a damn great show.   The bulk of her show is her hits. I bring that up, because that’s what this album is.  Sure, it’s a “Greatest Hits”, but for Joan Jett, this album felt like a soundtrack to her concerts of sorts.  Oh sure, yo could pick that statement apart (and probably I could too), but in 2021, I was looking around for vinyl to buy, and that day I was thinking of Joan Jett.  I didn’t have any so I looked.

Turns out she released a double CD Greatest Hits in 2010 with the same name.  Then in 2019, it was condensed down to 12 songs and released on this single vinyl. When I was looking around, I found that Walmart had an exclusive version beyond the standard black vinyl that Amazon and other places sell.  The Walmart version was a “cherry red” vinyl, which is the one I got.  it’s no different track wise, just the colored vinyl, so I jumped on it. When I play this, I almost feel like it’s live.  I know it’s not.  But given her setlist live is so packed with songs that fill this album, it kinda sorta feels like it to me.

Once again with it being a Greatest Hits album, people will complain about what’s left off this.  That issue is compounded by this specific version being a cut down version of the original from 9 years prior.  The original 2010 version of this had 21 songs, including three Runaways covers (just one on this edition).  I personally don’t have a problem with that, it distills her track listing down to the best of the best – there’s nothing on these 12 songs that I don’t like, it’s totally hot from front to back.  Not a single weak track, so I’m OK here.  But I have seen some snark from Joan Jett diehards that “such and such” deep cut from Album 7 isn’t on here.  Ah well, there’s always the full albums for that.

Enough of that.  Lets get into the 12 tracks that are on this vinyl.

Bad Reputation – If JJ has a signature song, it’s probably this one.  The lyrics really kind of fit my perceived attitude about herself.  I mean the lyrics are right there – “I don’t give a damn about my bad reputation”.  This works QUITE well as an album opener, as it’s a straight up punch to the face with Joan’s straightforward no nonsense brand of rock & roll. Oh no, no, no, no not me.

Cherry Bomb – This is a cover of the old Runaways song that Joan wrote back in the day.  Thing is – when I first ran into this song, I didn’t know about the Runaways, it wasn’t till later I found about all that. I always thought this was a Joan Jett song in my early days of knowing her.  She wrote it, she sings it, it’s basically her song anyway.  Short and to the point, it’s only 2 and a half minutes, but it’s a Jett staple.

I Love Rock & Roll – This was my on ramp with Jett. I was there when this song was released new in 1981.  What I didn’t know until MUCH later that it was a cover song.  It’s not a Jett original, but man, to me hers is the definitive version – the true original feels like it’s missing some balls that the Jett version has (snicker).  It’s her Paranoid or Smoke on the Water IMO.  Later covered by Weird Al (I Love Rocky Road).

Crimson & Clover – Came out on the same album I Love was on – and again, another cover.  This one is a bit slower.  The original is Tommy James & The Shondells.  This one I have mixed feelings about. I have times when I’m totally into it, and other times when I don’t care for it.  Today is one of those days where I like it, though.  Enjoyed listening to it today.  Ask me again in a month, I might not feel the same way.

Do You Wanna Touch Me – I remember at the time this was new thinking it was one of the more overtly sexual songs I had heard (yeah, I know that version of me was more sheltered).  It too is a cover, but given who wrote the original, it’s a bit of an eyebrow raiser given what happened to that dude (Gary Glitter).  I always felt it was designed to play to sexuality with Joan Jett being a woman, but I think at the time her being gay wasn’t out there yet?  So it probably played to that subject intentionally.  I love the middle part with the echoed singing and the drum beat – great sound.

Everyday People – Yet another cover – her catalog is littered with covers.  Another one I had no idea was a cover for the longest time – even today when I was looking up the songs, I had to remind myself it’s not her song originally.  I always liked this – as it’s not in your face with its riffing.  I do really dig this one, despite it not being the same sound she’s had to this point.

Fake Friends – This one isn’t a cover – written by Jett & Laguna (her keyboardist).  Came from the album after I Love Rock & Roll.  Has a more solid chugging riff that runs through it.  Not as in your face as her earlier stuff, but has a great vibe and a good solo.  Enjoy this song a bunch.

I Hate Myself For Loving You – Co written with Desmond Child (the prolific music author) – it comes from her 1988 album (the 6th overall).  She was pretty darned prolific in the 80’s with studio albums.  But that was the pattern then – album/tour/album/tour.  One of her biggest hits – still gets played today.  It’s one of those songs that people know the chorus for and not most of the rest of the song – since the chorus is eminently sing-able.  This song was six years away when I first saw her, but it was played in 2017 & 2019 – and man, the place pretty much sang along.  Good times.

Light of Day – This is a song I remember coming out in 1987 when Jett ventured into acting in a movie also titled “Light of Day” with Michael J. Fox.  What’s interesting about this song is that it was written by Bruce Springsteen for Jett/Fox to be played in the movie.  It later became staples of both Joan & Bruce’s tours.  There’s a little on Wikipedia about the history of this song that’s worth reading.  It doesn’t sound like a Jett song which is obvious cuz it was written by Springsteen – but not a bad song.  Just sounds different.

Love is All Around – I always assumed this was included because the TV show it comes from was something that Joan liked herself.  It’s the theme song to the old “Mary Tyler Moore Show“.  I think my wife enjoyed this more than I do.  It’s probably the one song in here I would have swapped out for something else from her catalog.  It’s not bad, it’s just

Any Weather (606 Version) – This song isn’t on the 21 song Greatest Hits album, which surprised me a little.  IT came from the 2013 album Unvarnished which was released AFTER the original 21 song version of this GH package.  It was co written with Dave Grohl, actually.  It’s a good song – more on the middle ground sound for her than the in your face sound.   Not sure what the difference between “606 version” and the regular one is – as I see both on her Youtube channel.  Anyone following me know?

Fresh Start – This is a far more recent song too – it came from the soundtrack to her biopic “Bad Reputation”.  It’s a great song, one I quite liked – she did it live when I saw her in 2019.  Don’t have a ton to say except I really like it.

As I said, it’s a pile of Joan Jett songs – most of which are 100% killer (perhaps the Mary Tyler Moore one not so much).  Great solid straightforward rock & roll, and the vinyl itself looks good.  Always a great time when I spin this disc.

Wanted to mention one other thing – it really has nothing to do with this album – but given this is my only Joan Jett on vinyl it’s the only time I’d be able to write about it, so here goes…  Joan was part of a Super Bowl commercial a couple of years ago when actual Rock stars (of which she was one) mocked people in corporate offices calling each other “Rock Stars”.  It’s one of the funniest f’in commercials I’ve ever seen.  I’ve embedded it below.  Take a look – Joan appears in that with Paul Stanley, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Clark Jr, & Billy Idol.