Song of the Day: 'You Don't Know What You've Got' by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Somehow just came across this mesmerizing photo of Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde. There are conflicting captions on the internet, but an educated guess tells me it was taken on April 14, 1980, after Joan Jett and the Blackhearts played their first gig at the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip. (The Pretenders were in town for an April 12 show at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium; that's drummer Martin Chambers and bassist Pete Farndon in the background.) Photographer Donna Santisi wrote about introducing the women, who seem enraptured with each other and then later compared bruises they'd received courtesy of their guitars. (Joan even let Donna photograph hers!) 

Joan was regrouping after the recent disbanding of the Runaways while Chrissie had just become a bona-fide rock 'n' roll star with the Pretenders' stunning debut LP earlier that year. Joan, of course, would go on to rule the charts a year and a half later with "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" while Chrissie would lose half her band to drug overdoses. But all that was a million miles away that night in West Hollywood, when fans like me truly didn't know what they got. 

And Chrissie summed it up nicely, below: 

"They don't ... make 'em like they used to."

Song of the Day: '(I'm Gonna) Run Away' (acoustic) by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

 

Today's pick is a memorable album track from "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" that's been re-recorded for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' upcoming acoustic LP, "Changeup." See the full tracklisting HERE -- can't wait to hear unplugged versions of "Victim of Circumstance" and "Crimson and Clover"! 

Stream HERE.

Song of the Day: 'School Days' by the Runaways

 

I'm a casual Runaways fan, so I'm always surprised when I remember that Joan Jett took over lead vocal duties after Cherie Currie left the band. Not unlike the Bangles, Joan's songwriting has been obscured by her love of also recording covers. But "School Days" was penned by Joan, as were eight of the 10 songs that appear on the 1977 album "Waitin' for the Night," released when she was just 19.

Song of the Day: 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

This might not be the best cover -- or even Joan's best cover. But has she ever looked foxier?

 

Song of the Day: 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' by the Arrows

By now you probably heard that the guy co-who wrote and led the band that originally recorded "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" died over the weekend from complications of Covid-19. I'd always known Joan Jett's signature hit was a cover. But it wasn't until reading Alan Merrill's New York Times obituary did I learn so many other fascinating tidbits, including that the song was actually the B-side of "Broken Down Heart," which was the flop followup to the band's biggest hit, 1974's “Touch Too Much.” (The Arrows had some traction in the U.K. but not much here.)

The song eventually caught the ear of the freed Runaway, who recorded it for the first album with her band the Blackhearts, releasing it in 1981. It held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks the following year, and -- with a few tweaks to place the song from a woman’s point of view -- launched Jett’s career as a tough-talking rock star. (Jett would eschew the gender-reassignment for her "Crimson and Clover" followup.)

“I can still remember watching the Arrows on TV in London and being blown away by the song that screamed hit to me,” Jett recalled in a Facebook post on Sunday.

In a 2009 interview with the website Songfacts, Merrill described “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” as a “knee-jerk response” to the 1974 Rolling Stones song “It’s Only Rock ’n Roll (But I Like It),” and to Mick Jagger’s elite social circle.

“I almost felt like ‘It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll’ was an apology to those jet-set princes and princesses that he was hanging around with -- the aristocracy, you know,” Mr. Merrill said. “That was my interpretation as a young man: OK, I love rock ’n’ roll.”

And we loved this gem you gave us, Mr. Merrill. RIP.

Song of the Day: 'Magic Man' (live) by Heart ... and More!

As part of my later-in-life promise to continue seeing as many music legends as I can before it's too late, Damian and I caught Heart with special guests Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on Friday at the Prudential Center. To say it was a dream come true might sound hyperbolic. But the collective joy these two acts have brought into my life can hardly be overstated, so suffice to say tears were shed, face muscles hurt (from smiling) and I went home a very happy man. (Also ran into my old friend Tim Anderson and my ex-boyfriend Michael!) 

Kudos to Joan for being fun, accessible and giving the crowd exactly what it wanted. (When she opened with "Do You Wanna Touch Me" we knew she wasn't messing around!) Including her punk cover of the theme from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" only added to the stellar set list, which included "Victim of Circumstance," "Cherry Bomb"(!), "Light of Day," "Fake Friends," "Everyday People," "Crimson and Clover" (complete with Tommy James vocal-warble effects!), the Replacements' (more timely than ever) "Androgynous" and, of course, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and the codependent anthem "I Hate Myself for Loving You." 

And then the Wilson sisters took the stage. I had hoped the tour meant they had kissed and made up from their falling out a few years ago -- of course a horrible man is to blame -- but from the looks of things they just had taxes to pay. (They barely acknowledged one another.) Their fraternal frostiness did nothing to chill the mood, though. After opening with an album track -- "Rockin' Down Heaven" from 1980s's "Bebe le Strange" -- they immediately had the crowd eating out their unconnected hands with a one-two punch of "Magic Man" and "Love Alive."

 I wasn't sure how they were going to navigate their 1970s catalog (classic Heart) versus their 1980s comeback catalog (sellout Heart), but they found a nice middle ground. In addition to the aforementioned '70s gems, "Straight On" (cleverly melded into "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"), "Dog and Butterfly" (THE song of my family's 1979 move from Detroit to Phoenix, as it played constantly on the radio when we arrived in the desert), "Little Queen," "Even It Up," "Crazy on You" and "Barracuda" were all included. For fans of their more successful pop era, Ann hit all the right notes on the band's comeback smash "What About Love?" (Did you know it was written by and originally recorded by Canadian Heart wannabes Toronto, but half the band hated it so it was never released until years after Heart made it smash?!) Then Nancy took to the mic to sing lead on "These Dreams," which ironically wound up being their first No. 1 hit. During the encore they did their classic take on "Stairway to Heaven" -- it's so Led Zeppelinesque that Shazam thinks it's the original -- and then their other No. 1, "Alone."

While I'm on Team Classic Heart all the way, even I was willing to concede that they might have thrown the crowd another '80s bone or two -- a couple covers could have been replaced with maybe "Never" and "Nothin' at All." Or if they were insistent on rocking, "If Looks Could Kill" or "Who Will You Run to" would work in a pinch. (I wasn't complaining, though. I loved their versions Yes's "Your Move" and Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer.) But I think there was a collective sigh of relief that their last big hit, "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" was left in the rearview mirror. (We can all acknowledge what an embarrassment that was, right? Blame it on Mutt Lange!) The women may still be holding a grudge. But from the reaction of the crowd, the sisters' work has left an indelible mark on music history, something that will be remembered long after they -- and their squabble -- has been buried.

Song of the Day: 'Bad Reputation' by Joan Jett

Watched the new Joan Jett documentary over the weekend. Didn’t realize I could love this kind, talented and beautiful woman more than I already do. (Her “Crimson and Clover” video nearly turned me lez as a boy!) Sure hope she's happy in her sexuality, though -- it amazingly STILL doesn't come up. Check the film out if you can.  

Class Joan!

Film trailer

Remains of the Day (09/27)

The New York Times: After 40-plus years in rock, Joan Jett is as fierce and defiant as ever -- a new documentary charts her pathbreaking rise

Instagram: Tim Tebow and his sexy football player man friends

The Daily News: In emotional testimony, Christine Blasey Ford debunks right-wing theory she mistook Brett Kavanaugh for a "lookalike"

Baseline: When cute tennis players visit cute panda bears

Towleroad: Brett Kavanaugh had a gay roommate at Yale

Boy Culture: A tribute to Jake Gyllenhaal's hotness

The Randy Report: Barbra Streisand announces new album, "Walls"

Tennis.life: Great Britain, Argentina win Davis Cup wild-card lottery

Deep Dish: Here's a blond I'd like to have more fun with

The Washington Post: Fox News anchor says Kavanaugh case prompted his own daughters to reveal their stories

ET: Marcia Cross reveals she is "healthy" and "happy" as she recovers from anal cancer

OMG Blog: What straight guys really think about their butts

New York Post: Jeff Flake is now getting death threats over Kavanaugh hearing (I guess that answers why he isn't doing more)

Daily Intel: The backlash to the backlash at The New York Review of Books

BosGuy: Where do I sign up to lick him?

Hot Cat of the Day: The owner's accent is even scarier than the Halloween prop!

Teen Beat

All of these were taken by a teenage fanboy in the 1970s! Meet the photographer and see more classic photos HERE.

And in other music news, Webster Hall (formerly The Ritz) has been sold and will close soon -- to return as Spectrum Hall in 2020. (Sigh.)

Relive some of the venue's most memorable moments HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Doom or Destiny' by Blondie (Featuring Joan Jett)

Didn't expect an instant classic for the opening track from Blondie's new "Pollinator" album. It's like Debbie Harry and Chris Stein had written a demo for "Bad Reputation" and finally recorded it nearly 30 years later -- with Joan Jett on board to boot! 

Is it doom or destiny? Listen to find out.

Debbie Harry and Joan Jett narrate the impending apocalypse / Read HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Love Is All Around' by Joan Jett

 

Mary Tyler Moore was laid to rest during a private ceremony in Connecticut on Sunday. 

According to CBS, about 50 people attended the funeral and burial at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield. Police said actress Bernadette Peters was among those who attended. The gravesite was adorned with a statue of an angel and scores of flowers including white orchids and roses. 

The Emmy-winning actress best known for her TV sitcom roles in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” died Wednesday. She was 80 and lived in Greenwich. A small number of fans gathered outside the front gate of the cemetery with signs saying, “I Love You,” “Rest in Peace” and “Mary (equals) Love!”

P.S.

Finally saw Valerie Harper's messages about her late friend. 

Shooting the Women of the New Wave

An incredible collection of photos of Debbie Harry, Siouxsie Sioux, Joan Jett and more by photographers Brad Elterman, Chris Stein, Ray Stevenson and Jim Jocoy HERE.

Rocking the Vote

My friend Chad just sent me a picture of his pal Sunday, who just happened to run into Joan Jett while volunteering on the phone banks at Hillary Clinton's campaign headquarters. No need to hate myself for loving that one!

Song of the Day: 'Jezebel' by Joan Jett

Although I'm dreading schlepping out to Jersey or Jones Beach for the Heart/Joan Jett and the Blackhearts/Cheap Trick triple bill -- which I'd be a fool to let go by this summer -- I'm already in full Joan-prep mode over here. Damian played "Jezelbel" -- from her self-titled album (later re-released as "Bad Reputation") -- last night and now I'm already getting pissy in advance for when she doesn't play it! Joan is sometimes criticized for doing too many covers, but this is just one of dozens of her originals that the public cruely ignored.

Blondie and the Blackheart

These two must really be friends because I had a hard time picking just one "then" photo to go with this "now" shot Chris Stein posted on Facebook yesterday. I love rock 'n' roll!

UPDATE:

This just went up -- looks like a collaboration in the works! 

I HEART This Triple Bill

I nearly died when I heard Heart was touring this summer with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Then I had to sign my last will and testament when I heard Chesp Trick was also on the bill! Now how about adding an actual NYC date? I'd even settle for Brooklyn! 

'Peanuts' Gang

   I asked my sister to hold off on seeing the new "Peanuts" movie so I could go with A.J. and Ally when I'm home for Thanksgiving. It seems all the cool kids are into it!

Song of the Day: 'I Love Playing With Fire' (live) by Blondie

Not a huge fan of live recordings, but was awfully happy when my pal Jimmy sent me this newly released Blondie collection from a 1977 FM radio broadcast, featuring the Stones cover "My Obsession," this fun Runaways song and more! 

Order HERE.

This was recorded at CBGBs at a benefit show for Punk magazine on May 4, 1977. The benefit occurred on May 4 and 5, 1977, and involved several other major acts from the scene, including the Patti Smith Group, Richard Hell and the Dead Boys. Blondie played identical sets on both nights. On May 4 former member Fred Smith, then in Television, played bass with the band. The next day Frank Infante played with the band for the first time.

Happy 57th Birthday, Joan Jett!

Joan Jett is one of those people -- Jennifer Capriati and Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow are two others -- whose age always seemed to remain incredibly young even eons after the fact. Well, I'm starting to realize the reason this was so is because they were so ridiculously young to begin with -- but even now Father Time is catching up to them, chronologically if not physically. I'd say I hate myself for loving Joan after she failed to support her former Runaways band mate who came forward with a harrowing allegation of rape, but I could never do anything for love Joan. 

Enjoys 10 Facts About Joan Jett from today's Daily News:

10. Jett was born Joan Larkin on Sept. 22, 1958 in Philadelphia.

9. Jett’s love of music started early on. She reportedly received her first guitar at age 14.

8. Jett started the all-girl group, “The Runaways” at the age of 15 with drummer Sandy West.

The band consisted of Jett on guitar and vocals, West on drums, Jackie Fox on bass guitar, Cherie Currie singing lead and Lita Ford playing guitar. The song “Cherry Bomb” was one of the group’s biggest hits from their 1976 album.

At the time, girls performing rock music was often mocked and Jett has negatively remarked on this many times throughout her career.

“I grew up in a world that told girls they couldn't play rock 'n' roll,” Jett has said.

Jett later founded and fronted the group Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

7. Jett, the actress?

While most fans know Jett as a vocal powerhouse, she has also tried her hand at acting. She starred in the 1987 film, “Light of Day,” alongside actor Michael J. Fox.

6. “The Runaways” was a 2010 film that told the story of Jett’s band from her career’s early days. The film, based on bandmate Cherie Currie’s book, “Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway,” starred actress Kristen Stewart as Jett and actress Dakota Fanning as Currie.

5. After “The Runaways” ungrouped, Jett struggled to establish herself as a solo artist.

Several record companies were not interested in Jett’s solo project, leading to she and producer Kenny Laguna’s creation of their independent label Blackheart Records.

4. Jett was able to record her solo album with help from rock group, “The Who,” whose members and manager knew Jett’s producer Laguna.

She and Laguna promoted the solo album at Jett’s shows themselves but the album eventually caught bigger attention and was re-released by Boardwalk Records, newly titled, “Bad Reputation.”

3. Jett eventually formed the group “Joan Jett and the Blackhearts,” having major success in the U.S. with the group’s 1981 album, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

2. Jett’s covers of classic songs like, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Crimson and Clover,” “Do You Wanna Touch Me” and Jett’s originals, “Bad Reputation” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” are among her most well-known hits.

1. Jett was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” in 2015.

Fun Couple: Debbie Harry and Joan Jett

Great photo by Chris Stein, although Joan denies being in the room. 

Previously: Joan and Debbie at the Whisky a Go Go in 1977