I Love Rock 'n' Roll (album)

I Love Rock 'n' Roll is the second studio album by Joan Jett and the first to feature her backing band The Blackhearts. To date, it is Jett's most successful album to date with over 10 million copies sold, largely due to the success of the title track (which was released as a single soon after the album was released).

Early copies of the album released during December 1981 ended with the track "Little Drummer Boy". However, after the holiday season passed, the track was replaced by "Oh Woe Is Me" on most pressings.

The initial CD release was in 1992 on Blackheart Records and featured 13 tracks. The album was digitally remastered and reissued on CD in 1998 and featured two additional bonus tracks.

Track listing

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker) - 2:55
2. "(I'm Gonna) Run Away" (Jett, Kenny Laguna) - 2:27
3. "Love Is Pain" (Jett) - 3:07
4. "Nag" (Arthur Crier) - 2:46
5. "Crimson and Clover" (Tommy James, Peter Lucia) - 3:17
6. "Victim of Circumstance" (Jett, Kenny Laguna) - 2:54
7. "Bits and Pieces" (Dave Clark Five) - 2:07
8. "Be Straight" (Jett, Greg Kihn, Kenny Laguna) - 2:40
9. "You're Too Possessive" (Jett) - 3:35
10. "Little Drummer Boy" (Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone) - 4:14

CD bonus tracks

11. "Oh Woe Is Me" - 2:43
12. "Louie Louie" (Richard Berry)
13. "You Don't Know What You've Got" (Live)
14. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart) - 2:16
15. "Nag" (featuring The Coasters)

Tracks 12-15 are bonus tracks on the 1998 CD reissue. Original Boardwalk Records vinyl versions of the album contain only tracks 1-9 and either 10 or 11. The LP saw a vinyl reissue in 2009 containing both "Little Drummer Boy," "Oh Woe Is Me," and the rehearsal version of "You Don't Know What You've Got" that was the original B side to Boardwalk Records issues of the "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" single. Note: It was possible to acquire "Oh Woe Is Me" without purchasing a replacement album as it was also released as the B side of the "Crimson and Clover" single.

The album contains several cover songs, including: "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (originally by Arrows), "Nag" (The Halos), "Crimson And Clover" (Tommy James & The Shondells), "Bits And Pieces" (The Dave Clark Five), "You're Too Possessive" (The Runaways), "Little Drummer Boy" (The Harry Simeone Chorale and other artists), and bonus tracks "Louie Louie" (Richard Berry, later performed by The Kingsmen) and "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran).

"Summertime Blues" was originally left off the vinyl LP, and Boardwalk passed on releasing it as a single, but it was leaked to rock radio stations and became a Most Added listing (which Kenny Laguna said infuriated Boardwalk president Neil Bogart). The song was eventually released as a one-sided single in Canada and as a 12-inch single in Australia (accompanied by "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah))".

Personnel

The Blackhearts:

• Joan Jett - vocals, guitar
• Gary Ryan - bass, back vocals
• Ricky Byrd - guitar, back vocals
• Lee Crystal - drums
• Eric Ambel - guitar (during record sessions was replaced by Byrd, so not credited)

Additional musicians:^[2]

• Steve Jones - Bass, Guitar
• Lou Maxfield - Guitar
• Jeff Peters - Bass, Vocals
• Paul Simmons - Drums, Vocals
• Joel Turrisi - Drums
• Sean Tyla - Guitar
• Martyn Watson - Vocals

• Lea Hart on "You Don't Know What You've Got", the b-side of the "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" single

Certifications

Chart performance

References