Customer Reviews

Fit To Be Tied: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (Bonus Enhanced Footage)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As "Fit To Be Tied" proves clearly, Joan Jett isamong the most quietly influential rockers, male or female, of thelast 20 years. What surprises is how, despite looking and dressing the punk part, how traditional her rock and roll was. She grabbed equally from Darlene Love, the Beach Boys, The Who, and Iggy Pop (all are thanked in the liner notes, along with Charles Bronson and the Baltimore Orioles) and created, with collaborator Kenny Laguna, a sound identitified only with her. Jett had song sense to spare. Her vocal on "Crimson and Clover" (she doesn't change the gender protagonist) is true to Tommy James' original but adds excitement and anticipation, paying off in the grinding rock that follows. Her versions of Sly Stone's "Everyday People" and Wind's obscure 1969 hit "Make Believe" add some guitar sting to what were pure pop hits. Her version of "Cherry Bomb," originally done with her band the Runaways, actually outslaps the original. The only trouble with her redoing the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" theme is that it's too short. Speaking of originals, her chart anthems are here too: "Do You Wanna Touch Me," 1982's #1 "I Love Rock n' Roll," the acidic, excellent "Fake Friends," even Bruce Springsteen's "Light Of Day" (Scott Litt's production makes that one of the less effective tracks.) "Fit To Be Tied" is essential listening from a rock and roll survivor who loves,lives and breathes the music. (It can also be interesting viewing; its an enhanced CD that shows a Jett picture collage and links to her Web site.)

The liner notes proclaim Joan Jett to be "the female Chuck Berry." True in one sense, but overall, I reject the comparison because Joan Jett stands on her own. Joan Jett's songs are percussion driven; the hard driving drums set the beat and the guitars fall fast into line, so in one sense, most of her songs are alike. "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock & Roll," "Roadrunner," and "I Hate Myself For Loving You" all showcase the intense drums and the hard edge in Joan Jett's vocals. Critics might argue Joan Jett is in this respect a one trick pony, but if she is, what a trick it is, and a trick she does so well. The selection on this CD does, however, give some variety. Joan Jett's version of "Crimson & Clover" is a livlier version of the original, and her staying true to the gender pronouns gives the song a naughty edge.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts have to be one of the best kept secrets in rock music. This selection has their best known songs, including their only real "hit", I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL, from way back in 1982. If you've never heard the songs here, consider yourself deprived.

A marvelously insouciant set, starting with "Bad Reputation". At the time it was written, Joan Jett was fresh out of The Runaways -- no contest here, they were [and remain] the all time best 'chick band' in rock history. And it gets better from there; with killer versions of "RoadRunner" (the song by The Modern Lovers, not the old Junior Walker tune of the same name), and "Cherry Bomb" [a Runaways tune], along with some movie songs; "Light of Day" and "Love Is all Around". In between, there are some really great (but rarely-heard-on-radio) songs by The Blackhearts, including "I hate Myself For Loving You", and of course "I Love Rock and Roll".

After listening to this CD, it ooccured to me that it really belongs on a 100-best-of-all-time list (where it could displace one of the obvious-filler CD's that's usually put on such lists).

Dave Marsh's liner notes got it right: Joan Jett is the female Chuck Berry.

Overachieving is defined as doing better than you are capable of. Of course this always flies in the face of the person judging the overachiever, as it's their fault they UNDERestimated the person in the first place. I mention all of this babble because I just saw Joan Jett perform a few days ago, dusted off this cd, and because of both events, had a pretty good weekend.

I mention overachieving because who wudda thunk that she would have produced such a good body of work in her career. This is someone who emerged in the music scene as part of an all-girl band (The Runaways) that was famous more for their looks than rocking ability. She goes off on her own, with no high expecatations, writes a bona fide rock-and-roll anthem, becomes the darling of bikers everywhere, and the rest is history.

But unlike, say, Don McClean, who also wrote his bonafide anthem, and not that much more, Jett has a handful of other songs besides "I Love Rock N Roll" that are just as delightful to hear. "Bad Reputation", Do You Wanna Touch...", and "I Hate Myself For Loving You" are all numbers that sound great over and over again. These are not complex songs (back to that overachieving again), and they get your attention more my banging you over the head more than their musical virtuosity, but that's what rock and roll is all about.

Finally, throw in a couple of great covers, and you've got a gal who can live off her body of work for many years to come. "Crimson and Clover" is ok, "Everyday People" is fabulous, and who would have thought somebody could make a great rocker out of the theme from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" ("Love is all Around").

More artists should overachieve this well.

I bought: Fit To Be Tied: Great Hits By Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and its my new favorite cd ever! She is awesome! When I saw it in the store I was thinking that his cd isnt going to have but one good song, since I have to admit that i had only heard of 2 songs by her, but then I put it in and all of it rocks!

Oh, boy...I'm scared to think of what Joanie's been up to lately...whew, that haircut...and "WARNING: EXPLICIT LYRICS" on, ahem, "Fetish?" Oh well, regardless, I've been greedily awaiting a Joan Jett Greatest Hits sort of thing, and I'm just now aware that this's been available since '97. So guess what I'm gonna do with my next bit of "disposable income." PRIMO stuff here folks: rock and roll for grownups. "Fake Friends" is better mental hygiene than an hour with a shrink; "Cherry Bomb" here is, believe it or not, even BETTER than the Runaways' version; "I Love Rock And Roll" is easily as definitive a statement as my beloved Stones' "(I Know) It's Only Rock And Roll." But, hey, speaking OF the Stones, I guess you knew already that their best guitarist, Mick Taylor, plays on "I Hate Myself For Loving You." Yeah, Joan's a champ....

Now that Joan Jett is getting her due as a seminal rock and roll influence, it's about time a decent hits set appeared. Sadly, this isn't it. While the music on "Fit To Be Tied" certainly merits the four star rating, I am going to have to assume contractual issues with CBS forced Jett to either omit or substitute alternative versions of well-known songs.

For instance, her huge hit "I Hate Myself For Loving You" is an alternate take from the "Up Your Alley" version, and "Little Liar" is a live version. I am not sure how many versions of "Roadrunner" Joan has recorded so far, but the take here is previously unreleased and kicks butt. So does the new recording of the signature Runaways song, "Cherry Bomb." MIA are such well known Jett tunes as "Good Music" and her version of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." The albums she recorded for Warner Brothers are bypassed entirely.

Nonetheless, you still get some of the great proto-grrll rock from "Bad Reputation" to the terrific new "World of Denial." Joan Jett also was queen of the perfect cover choice, as her hit versions of "Everyday People," "Crimson and Clover" and - of course - "I Love Rock and Roll" prove. She also had that glam bam done like few before or since. The BOOM/whack/BOOM/whack that explodes from her cover of Gary Glitter's "Do You Wanna Touch" and her own "I Hate Myself For Loving You" made both songs burst from whatever radio played them some eight years apart. You'd be hard pressed to know that much time had passed between these songs...which proves that Joan Jett is a timeless artist.

But she deserves better. There is a good Japanese compilation that covers all the albums up to "Naked" (which eventually formed the base of "Sinner"), called "Jett Rock: Greatest Hits of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts." It boasts a pretty hefty price tag, so if you're just a casual fan looking for "I Love Rock and Roll," this will do. If not, hit that link.

I have been a fan of Joan Jett since 1976 and was thrilled when she finally broke through with "I Love Rock N Roll" in 1982, but there is much more to Joan than "that song" and this album features an excellent selection of tracks from her previous albums to prove it. I was disapointed in the remixes of "Roadrunner" and "I Hate Myself For Loving You"; I prefer the original versions, but all 15 of these tracks RRRRock!

Most people, when they think of Joan Jett will think of the song I Love Rock And Roll. That is a great song, but it's also not her only great song. This greatest hits package prooves it without a doubt. I love all the songs on the cd, especially Make Believe. Whether she's doing fast songs, ballads, or remakes, she's great! Listening to her, you can tell that the girl rocker groups of today like The Donnas were influenced by her music. The remake of the Mary Tyler Moore song is too short. It's only one minute long!! But only Joan Jett could take a theme song like that and turn it into something incredible. I can't wait to search out and get all of Joan's early cds. Her voice is very unique and excellent for this genre of music. I wish she was still on the charts today. She is a very under-rated talent. Those who wrote her off in the 80s as a one-hit wonder are so wrong. The cd is chock full of great songs. This greatest hits cd is an absolute must-have! My one big question is why was Britney Spears allowed to re-do the song I Love Rock And Roll? WHY?! Did Joan give permission? I hope not, and i hope she sues Britney. Then again, with Britney doing that song, it might make younger listeners want to hear the original version, and that would mean a renewed interest in Joan's music. I hope so. The world needs a Joan Jett comeback. Of all the female rockers from the 80s that i can think of, Joan Jett definitely is at the top of my list for someone i'd love to see on the charts again with a new cd. In the meantime, try and find a copy of this greatest hits cd. It's a hidden treasure.

Joan Jett is rock-n-roll. too bad this compilation doesn't do her justice. They could have fit more songs on here, where are BACKLASH, THE FRENCH SONG,DIRTY DEEDS,I WANNA BE YOUR DOG, REAL WILD CHILD,EYE TO EYE, and the original and superior versions of LITTLE LIAR & I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU? The versions they included here of those 2 and ROADRUNNER are awful. And the booklet could have included a lot more. 1 page devoted to a tiny picture and a quote from Dave Marsh? no thanks. Next time maybe we can get a better version of a so-called greatest hits from Joan.