Customer Reviews

Fit to Be Tied

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

When it comes to the best women in rock, few can compare to Joan Jett. With her powerful voice, one of a kind attitude and overall presence and energy, she is truly a force to be reckon with. With her band The Blackhearts, she scored a string of megahits throughout the 1980s', all of which are compiled on this very brief (47 minutes) but very concise best - of.

"Fit To Be Tied" contains all Joan Jett & The Blackhearts' biggest hits, including the classic "I Love Rock N Roll", "Bad Reputation", "I Hate Myself For Loving You", a live version of "Little Liar", her superior cover of Tommy James And The Shondells' "Crimson And Clover", "Cherry Bomb" and others. All the songs have been remastered, and it really shows. The songs sound fiercer, louder, edgier and just plain better than ever.

The liner notes are ntohing more than photos as well as snippets of praise from various rock figures, but who can complain when you got such great music on this cd?

Fit to be Tied is a greatest hit collection from Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. Most of the familar radio tunes are there, as well as a few deeper cuts for more serious fans. The CD captures the essence of what rock and roll ought to be, as opposed to the bubblegum pop that is often passed off as rock these days. Joan's voice and riffs hold up over time, as powerful today as they ever were. The personal highlight of the CD for me was a remake of Tommy James' Crimson and Clover, a fine reinterpretation of the period piece made all the more powerful by refusing to change gender based on singer. Victim of Circumstance was also an excellent choice for this collection, as was Fake Friends. A cut many may not have heard is the final one on the CD, Love is All Around, the theme from the Mary Tyler Moore show. Given what the MTM show meant in its day, this was an excellent choice as the final note.

JOAN JETT-FIT TO BE TIED-GREAT HITS BY JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS: In the seventies, England had Suzi Quatro to carry the glitter rock torch for the sexier gender; in the eighties, America unleashed her sleazier, slinkier student Joan Jett. This comprehensive collection of tuff 'n trashy classics features the ex Runaways grrr-tarist/sneerer/shouter rippin' a page right outta the Gary Glitter "BIG-RIFF-SHOUT-THE-CHORUS" trick book o' glam rock (admittedly, it was a one page book). Raucous remakes of pop cornerstones rule, from Glitter's own DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME (OH YEAH!) to Tommy James' CRIMSON AND CLOVER (lip-smackin' bubble-glam here) to the Runaways' own CHERRY BOMB to a supersonic LOVE IS ALL AROUND as Mary Tyler Moore never envisioned it. Jett's own arse-kickin' compositions I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU and BAD REPUTATION sound right at home next to her career makin' cover of The Arrows' I LOVE ROCK N ROLL, a genre anthem on the level of Kiss' ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE and Led Zep's ROCK AND ROLL. Forget the leather (if you can, boys and girls). Joan Jett's music literally screams for respect---and she'd better get it, or chances are she'll be kickin' YOUR arse as well!

RATING: FIVE "UNHHHS"

JOAN JETT-FIT TO BE TIED-GREAT HITS BY JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS: In the seventies, England had Suzi Quatro to carry the glitter rock torch for the sexier gender; in the eighties, America had Joan Jett. This comprehensive collection of tuff 'n trashy classics features the ex Runaways grrr-tarist/sneerer/singer rippin' a page outta the Gary Glitter big-riff-shout-the-chorus trick book (admittedly, it was a one page book). Raucous remakes of pop cherrystones rule, from Glitter's own DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME (OH YEAH!) and Tommy James' CRIMSON AND CLOVER (lip-smackin' bubble-glam here) to the Runaways' own almost hit CHERRY BOMB and a supersonic LOVE IS ALL AROUND (as Mary Tyler Moore never envisioned it). Jett's own derrier-kickin' compositions I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU and BAD REPUTATION sound right at home next to career maker I LOVE ROCK N ROLL (another cover tune), a genre anthem in the league of Kiss' ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE and Led Zeppelin's ROCK AND ROLL. Forget the leather (if you can); Joan Jett's music literally screams for respect---and she'd better get it, or chances are she'll be kickin' YOUR derrier as well!

RATING: FIVE "UNHHHS"

Most of Joan Jetts best stuff is on this disc and it's great music. What would the early 80's have been without "Bad Reputation", "Fake Friends" and "I Love Rock and Roll"? JJ and the Blackhearts were rock at its core with some bad chick image. I held back one star because there is plenty of blank space left on this disc and with so many excellent tunes to choose from, why couldn't we have more? If you need examples, I would have considered the following: "Nag", "You Don't Know What You've Got", "Bits and Pieces" and maybe "Jezebel". There are some covers included on this compilation but many fun covers were left off, like "Star Star", "Tossin' and Turnin", "Hanky Panky" and "Summertime Blues". I could go on - this disc is too thin and too much meaty stuff was left off. But make no mistake - the tunes that were put on here are great rock and roll!

Joan Jett, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, is completely under-appreciated. I understand there is a documentary being produced regarding her time with the Runaways. If you don't have any JJ&TB CD's, get this one! Instant Collections are great if they are well produced. I completely enjoyed re-discovering this incredible band and incredibly talented, Ms Jett! I plan to buy more JJ&TB works. I forgot what I had known. JJ&TB Rock!

Loved her since I had the 45 of "Crimson And Clover". That's a vinyl single for you youngsters. While this isn't as good as the "Great Hits" import collection, it is very good. Every big hit is here anyway. Included are the essential cuts "I Love Rock & Roll", "Bad Reputation", "Do You Wanna Touch Me? (oh yeah)", and the rockin' "I Hate Myself For Loving You". There's also a good chunk of minor hits and other covers. "Cherry Bomb" was the big song from her old band Runaways, and we also get the soundtrack song "Light Of Day", a live "Little Liar", "Crimson And Clover", and the TV theme "Love Is All Around". "Fit To Be Tied" could have easily had another 3 or 5 songs, but it's still a fine collection for those who love Joan Jett and rock & roll.

And this does have all her greatest hits, from Cherry Bomb to I Love Rock'n'Roll.
My complaint, though, and it's a big one, is that it won't play in my computer. I know artists have a problem with people illegally downloading music, etc. But it's a real pain when you actually pay money for a cd and then can't listen to it wherever you want to. I should be able to play this at my desk and I can not. It's irritating to no end. I wish these cds had warning labels so I'd know not to bother with them.

what can I say? totally f**king awesome.
Joan JeTT was and is the greatest rock chic to rock the planet.
She had guts, power and attitude.
While so many other so-called rock chics where worried about how they looked and sounded - Joan JeTT and the Blackhearts plugged it in and rocked the world with the most gutsy songs.
This cd showcases some of her most amazing songs and to this day STILL ROCK.
U can still feel the awesome power of this great lady in her songs - that attitude, that passion and the power she wielded.
Each song stands alone as a trademark of what rock and roll was and still is.
1 small critism, this collection should've been a double album to fit so many other great songs.
Power to the JeTT - KEEP ROCKIN'