Another Record of the Week cassette single. This one's from Joan Jett's covers album, "Hit List".
Love Hurts was originally a hit for Nazareth, but we think Joan does a damn fine job of covering this song.
Joan Jett - Love Hurts - Cassette Single
Joan Jett - Love Hurts - Cassette Single
Joan Jett - Love Hurts - Cassette Single
Joan Jett - Love Hurts - Cassette Single
The Video for Love Hurts:
'til Joan Jett puts out another covers album
Keep the Adventure Alive,
The second top ten single from Joan's I Love Rock and Roll album is our next Record of the Week.
The thing I remember most about this single is an interview with Joan that occurred while Crimson and Clover was climbing the charts. The interviewer asked Joan why she didn't change the line, "But I think I could love her."
Joan's reply?
"It doesn't rhyme."
There ya go.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Crimson and Clover - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Crimson and Clover - Picture Sleeve Back
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Crimson and Clover - Vinyl
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Oh Woe is Me
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Crimson and Clover Video:
'til Joan makes it rhyme
Keep the Adventure Alive,
And we continue with Joan Jett for this Record of the Week bonus.
This is from the Michael J. Fox / Joan Jett Film, Light of Day.
This track was written by Bruce Springsteen for Joan, and as the story goes Bruce originally sent Joan Born in the USA, but changed his mind and decided to keep that track for himself. He then wrote Light of Day and sent it to Joan for her to use in the film.
Joan's band in the film was The Barbusters, hence the band name on the sleeve.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Light of Day - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Light of Day
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Light of Day - Single
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Roadrunner
The Barbusters sing Light of Day:
'til the Barbusters go out on tour
Keep the Adventure Alive,
We continue the run of Joan Jett singles for our Record of the Week, with Everyday People.
This Sly Stone cover is also from "Album", and like Fake Friends just snuck into the Top 40, becoming Joan's fifth Top 40 record.
Great picture on this sleeve. Not exactly sure the picture reference, but I've always assumed it's just Joan sitting around in her pajamas.
The picture on the back of the sleeve is from the music video.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Everyday People - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Everyday People
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Everyday People
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Why Can't We Be Happy
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Everyday People Music Video:
'til Joan covers Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Keep the Adventure Alive,
Our current Record of the Week is the first single from my favorite Joan Jett LP, "Album".
I've got a lot of memories from this record, but the most vivid one is the first time I experienced the Joan Jett eye-lock.
In support of the record, Joan played the Carowinds Paladium. I got there early and managed to grab a spot right at the front of the stage. Shortly after the show began Joan looked my way. Her eyes locked on to mine and stayed there. She didn't just look at me, she looked into me. As a teenager with a serious crush on Joan it was amazing.
"Why is she starting at me?"
"Why is she still staring at me?"
She did this multiple times during the show, smiling all the while. It was as if she was flirting with me. I left that show walking on air.
I experienced this the next time I saw Joan, and though I was prepared for it that time it was still quite the experience.
Of course not long afterward I found out that this was a trademark of Joan performing. The "eye-lock" is something she does to select fans at every show, and this part of Joan's performance has managed to achieve something of a reputation of its own, a good reputation.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Fake Friends - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Fake Friends - Picture Sleeve Back
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Fake Friends - Single
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Nitetime - Single
The Fake Friends video:
'til I experience the Joan Jett eye-lock again,
Keep the Adventure Alive,
For our Record of the Week mid-week bonus we're going to continue with Joan Jett.
After the success of I Love Rock and Roll and Crimson and Clover, Boardwalk Records went back to the Bad Reputation album and issued Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah). It was a good choice as this single made the top twenty and pulled Joan's first album back onto the charts.
The song was originally written and performed by Gary Glitter, which makes it somewhat controversial today, as Glitter was convicted of crimes against children. Recently, the song has appeared in an HP adverstisement and an episode of Glee, and each time it was met with protest due to the fact that Glitter would collect royalties from its performance.
Despite the association with Gary Glitter it remains one of our favorite songs by Joan.
The Bad Reputation album was re-issued in 2012 on clear vinyl for Record Store Day.
Joan Jett - Do You Wanna Touch Me - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett - Do You Wanna Touch Me - Picture Sleeve Back
Joan Jett - Do You Wanna Touch Me - Single
Joan Jett - Victim of Circumstance - Single
Joan Jett performs Do You Wanna Touch Me
'til Joan buys the rights to the song, ending the association with Gary Glitter
Keep the Adventure Alive,
The Record of the Week this time is the first single from Joan Jett's Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth.
This is the second Joan Jett single cover of a Gary Glitter song, the first being Do You Wanna Touch Me.
I love this track and thought at the time it would receive significant airplay, but alas that was not to be. Despite a unique video, and the singalong anthemic nature of the tune, this song never really got much in the way of airplay at all and failed to gain much attention for the album. Joan is on record saying she didn't like the nursery rhyme theme of the video, but I think the whole thing is kind of fun, and not much more out there than Tom Petty's trip through the looking glass in "Don't Come Around Here No More".
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love You Love - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love You Love - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love You Love - Single
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Talkin Bout My Baby
The video for Joan Jett's I Love You Love
'til Joan goes back through the looking glass
Keep the Adventure Alive,
Our first Holiday Record of the Week for 2012 is something we just discovered last week. A seven inch single from the Blackheart Christmas compilation.
The 7" contains holiday tracks from The Dollyrots (Santa Baby), Girl in a Coma (Blue Christmas), and the oft-issued Little Drummer Boy by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
We were pretty excited to find this because we thought we had managed to collect all The Dollyrots on vinyl, so to find something we hadn't seen was a nice Christmas surprise.
You can still get a copy of the Blackheart Christmas LP on vinyl, but this 7" seems to be a pretty tough record to get your hands on.
A Blackheart Christmas - Single with Picture Sleeve
A Blackheart Christmas - Single with Picture Sleeve
A Blackheart Christmas - Single with Picture Sleeve
Here's The Dollyrots with a Brand New Christmas song:
'til Blackheart issues The Dollyrots Because I'm Awesome on Vinyl
Keep the Adventure Alive,
I can't think of a better transition Record of the Week to take us from Thanksgiving to Christmas than The Bangles "Hazy Shade of Winter".
Released as a single, the song was originally from the film Less Than Zero.
This great cover of a Paul Simon tune isn't exactly a Christmas song, but it is a great record to welcome the cold and nippy breeze of the holiday season.
A nice surprise is the inclusion of the Joan Jett track "She Lost You" on the B-Side. At the time this was the only place to get that song, but in 1993 it was included on the Joan Jett compilation CD, Flashback.
Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter Picture Sleeve
Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter Picture Sleeve Back
Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter - Vinyl Single
Joan Jett - She Lost You - Vinyl Single
Hazy Shade of Winter the video
'til Winter's not so hazy
Keep the Adventure Alive,
A Record of the Week mid-week bonus. This single represents one of Joan Jett's biggest hits and a mystery at the same time.
When Joan's first greatest hits record (Fit to be Tied) was released, this song was replaced by a live version. I thought that was odd at the time, but the mystery deepened when Blackheart released a two disc double album of Greatest Hits in 2010. Despite covering Joan's entire career, Little Liar was nowhere to be found. After being snubbed on two hits collections I'm beginning to think Joan doesn't like this song.
The Video for Little Liar
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Little Liar - Picture Sleeve
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Little Liar - Picture Sleeve Back
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Little Liar - Vinyl Single A-Side
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Little Liar - What Can I Do For You - Vinyl Single B-Side
'til Little Liar gets its due
Keep the Adventure Alive,
I knew the Runaways movie would bring the music back, and it has, all of the albums are now available. But, I never imagined that the most visibly striking feature of the band, Cherie's corset, would return.
After all, most movies get action figures, not lingerie.
Apparently the company that helped make the corset for the film are now selling it to the general public.
You can now own an authentic replica of the Cherry Bomb outfit.
Cherie's response to the reproduction? "Wow!"
No idea if she ordered one.
Get yours at Trashy.com
About those action figures? There's always Joan Jett Barbie.
Thanks for checking out my articles on The Runaways, Joan, and Cherie. If you love pop-punk as much as we do, please check out this new song from The Dollyrots. They've recorded two albums for Joan Jett's Blackheart Records and this is their new single. We hope that you'll like 'em as much as we do.
'til they make Joan's jumpsuit
Keep the Adventure Alive,
Apparently Jackie Fox isn't in The Runaways film which is going to be disappointing to the fans that have followed the band for a long time.
Lots of rumors and lawsuits flying around, but even with all that it seems to me if you make a film about this band without including ALL of the classic Runaways lineup (Cherie, Joan, Lita, Jackie, Sandy) you are making an incomplete film.
I'm sure Joan knows this. I guess the assumption is most people today won't notice the difference.
Some of us will.
As a teenager, the two band members I liked most were Jackie and Joan. At least part of it had to do with their look, after all I was 16, but there was something more. They were a band, and when you have a real band all of the members contribute. At the time of the "Famous Five" it wasn't just Joan's band, it was all five girls. That's what I'm going to miss in the film.
Hey, I love Joan, but that doesn't mean she's always right.
'til the bands we love learn to get along
Thanks for reading my articles on The Runaways. While you're here check out the following video. The Dollyrots have recorded two albums for Joan Jett's Blackheart Records and we think they're pretty awesome.
Keep the Adventure Alive,
The Rock Hall nominations are in and the furor has begun. I'm not a fan of the selection process, never have been. Some of my faves are in (Ramones), but the process is so biased as to make the entire membership suspect.
I read (and enjoy) the Listen Up music blog by Ken Barnes and he has been responding to readers comments regarding the Hall of Fame selections. Ken has a vote on the final ballot and has kindly offered some insight into all of the artists mentioned that have been ignored up until now. It's a good read and probably the best look you will ever get into the nomination process. The following is only a sample of comments, for all of Ken's comments visit the Listen Up blog. I pulled some of the artists I either grew up with or have a particular interest in.
Ken's comments are in blue and mine are in green:
I'm still sifting through the gratifying volume of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame suggestions, virtually all of which are artists who at least deserve serious consideration. As before, I'll try to strike a balance between my own opinions and what I believe to be the prevailing attitude of the Rock Hall nominating committee, of which I am not a member (I do vote in the final ballot, however).
> Go-Go's: A pop band? Made up of girls? I'd probably vote for them, but I doubt if the committee's ready for that. Let's see how The Ronettes do (although The Go-Go's had a lot more creative control). A LOT of young girls picked up guitars in the early eighties after seeing this "pop" band.
> Hall & Oates: It's that pop thing again. The Righteous Brothers instead of Daryl and John? I don't think so. The Righteous Brothers have had exactly one chart record (a reissue) since their glory days. D and J are not only the most succesful duo of the chart era, but have a string of 31 years of Billboard chart success. Most recent Billboard top ten in 2007.
> Boston: I could concoct an elaborate skein of reasoning justifying their inclusion -- sparse recording legacy, but the first album was a massive phenomenon, just like the Sex Pistols, and as for being influential, well, play More Than a Feeling next to Smells Like Teen Spirit some time -- but it feels specious. They're probably just as analogous to something like Iron Butterfly that was briefly huge and then evanescent. Other classic rockers have a better shot. I'd put Tom Scholz in for his guitar innovation. He created that layered guitar sound and a cool guitar gadget (The Rockman).
> Jimmy Buffett: Parrothead representation on the nominating committee is believed to be anywhere from low to nonexistent. Even those critics that pay attention to Buffett generally feel he's been coasting for the last 25 years or so. Thumb your nose at the music business and succeed for another thirty years. Jimmy redefined what it takes to mount a big time music career. He still sells records too.
> Cars: Hard to say why they're not in when acts such as Blondie are. Maybe it's the New York/CBGB factor lacking in The Cars, or some other nebulous perceived lack of cool. Or maybe a feeling that they peaked too soon and became a disposable pop-rock band after their first two albums. Borderline case for me. I love ya Debbie, but the Cars (not Blondie) deserved the New Wave nod.
> Cheap Trick: Even more puzzling. Longevity, image, cool factor, popular success, critical acclaim -- it's all there, but somehow hasn't added up to a nomination. Maybe they fall just short of some sort of "greatness" metric -- they haven't sold tons and tons of records, their critical acclaim has been uneven, they hung around too long, they weren't that cool, they did semi-cheesy power ballads such as The Flame ... I throw these ideas out there as possible reasons for their exclusion, and maybe some combination of all of them is part of the answer. Rick's guitars. Nuff said.
> Rush: Back when I worked at a Microsoft music site, you didn't dare diss Rush or you could count on getting no technical support for anything you were working on from the developers and testers, all of whom seemed to be mad about Rush. Hope that's not true with the tech types who maintain this site. But I don't think the Hall will ever take Rush seriously enough to consider them. If musicianship matters, there is no better band. The bias against these guys is just stupid.
> Genesis: Prog-rock. Forget it. Actually, of all the prog bands, Genesis is the one I would have given the best chance to make it, because a lot of critics either had a sneaking or an admitted liking for the Peter Gabriel-era band. Maybe the Phil Collins era works against them, but I tend to think if they don't make it, no prog-rockers will. The breadth of work is incredible and they put on a good show (even the Dave Clark Five medley).
> Heart: In past times I would have dismissed this idea out of hand, thinking of Heart as schlock-rock fronted by women. The committee may still feel this way. I'm warming to the notion myself -- Ann and Nancy Wilson were both extremely gifted at what they did, early stuff like Crazy on You, Barracuda and Magic Man is pretty impressive, and the '80s hits are generally holding up pretty well compared to the prevalent arena-rock competition. Ann and Nancy showed that women could lead an arena rock band. A lot of young girls also picked up guitars thanks to Heart.
> Joan Jett: A winner in the role-model/inspirational area, but maybe too brief a period at the top for the Hall to take seriously. Hard to think of too many people who better define the rock 'n' roll spirit, though. The essential female rocker. She is the female equivalent of Chuck Berry.
Joan Jett Late Late Show Photo: Monty Brinton
The Queen of Noise, I mean Rock.
> Monkees: Too much prejudice against "manufactured pop groups" to overcome, even though the music, as I'd be among the first to admit, is generally first-rate pop. (And yes, it's true the Dave Clark Five used session musicians extensively, but they never got tarred and feathered for it the way The Monkees did.) The session musician thing is moronic. You don't really think the Beach Boys played on all those records do you? This prejudice has many modern equivalents also. Rascal Flatts? Play on their records? Nope. Give credit to Nesmith and Tork, they revolted and took control of the PreFab recorded output. The rest of these guys remain content with their royalty checks.
> Pat Benatar: Some hits, a prominent '80s star, but no notable innovative or pioneering achievements. And if the Hall wants to go for a female rock & role model, other suggestions such as Heart or Linda Ronstadt (or the nominated Patti Smith, more to the point) would be more to its liking. Hey, she married her guitarist 25 years ago and they're still married! Okay, that's a dumb reason, but that voice is tough to beat.
In case you wondered here's the official membership criteria:
"Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artist’s contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll."
'til the Rock Hall gets a new nominating committee
Keep the Adventure Alive,
AT
There is an article currently at Billboard online talking about Courtney Love's upcoming album. It quotes Linda Perry and basically says Courtney is the only female worthy to be called a Rocker.
No Linda. Courtney is an idiot and if you believe she is all we have, then you too, are an idiot.
Joan Jett is the essential female rocker. Period.
While on the subject of Joan, we are sad to report that Runaways Drummer Sandy West passed away this week.
Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Jackie Fox, Sandy West, Cherie Curie - The Runaways
“I started The Runaways with Sandy West. We shared the dream of girls playing rock and roll. Sandy was an exuberant and powerful drummer. So underrated, she was the caliber of John Bonham. I am overcome from the loss of my friend. I always told her, we changed the world.” - Joan Jett
'til Courtney Love just goes away
Keep the Adventure Alive,
