The French Song – Joan Jett comes out on her greatest album Album. A masterpiece of sexuality and arrogance and seduction with the Blackhearts attacking while Joanie, she sings “I wanna make love with you tonight” in French throws in a liberating “I know what I am, I am what I am, Ia m what…” and finally nails her with “don’t think that I’m uncouth, I only speak the truth”. One of er greatest moments.
Crimson And Clover – Ready to take over the world with another cover of another UK invasion song. No change of gender (cheeky!!) and the it is all chorus, all melody.
Cherry Bomb – If you compare the Runaways original to Joan Jetts cover of her own song, Cherie Curry owns this song: she swaggers it and though it is rock not punk, it still has an amateurish kilt feel and the moans in the middle. Plus Lita Ford’s great guitar break. Joan is more aggressive but she short changes the sex though the Blackhearts are the better band and the amplified handclaps move it much more confidently. No moans any more.
Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) – Brought up on glam rock, when Joanie went solo she returned to her roots with this Gary Glitter cover. Thrilling stuff.
Queens Of Noise – This isn’t the anthem it should be because the US didn’t react to it the way it should. But it is the embodiment of what Kim Foley was after with the Runaways. How it failed to blow away teen US baffles me to this day.
Star Star – The Stones cover and this is pure magic. I prefer it to the Stones original,. All about groupies and one night stands and touring. Singalong? “You’re a starfucker, starfucker starfucker, star”. Best moment? Jett’s “Yeah I will” just before the second chorus and the late great Jimmy Johnson (Chuck Berry’s band) type piano roaring along. Great, great, great song. Get it if you’ve never heard it.
Fake Friends – Joanie looks back at where she got to and can only see betrayal in her path. When I broke up with Julie I sent her a line (didn’t tell her it was from a song!!) “You’ve got nothing to lose, you don’t lose when you lose fake friends”.
Light Of Day – Springsteen wrote it and Jett does a fine job but it is as if “Just around the corner till the light of day” doesn’t really resonate with her.on this recorded version. I’ve heard her play it and get all of it live and Springsteen kills in a boot version I have. from the movie which kinda sucked as well.
I Love Rock N Roll – Joanie once explained to me her Blackhearts sounds: “I love English anthems, like at soccer games where everybody is clapping and stamping their feet. That’s my type of music. And you know it’s an anthem when it gets to number two. If it reaches number one I will personally flip out”. It did. She did.