Monday, December 2, 2019

Musical Monday - I Love Rock n' Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts


#1 on the Billboard Hot 100: March 20, 1982 through May 1, 1982.
#1 on the Cash Box Top 100: March 20, 1982 through March 27, 1982 and April 10, 1982 through April 24, 1982.
#1 on the U.K. Chart: Never.

In 1982, Joan Jett exploded into popular consciousness with I Love Rock n' Roll, dressed like Leather Tuscadero and sporting a sneer and all the eyeliner in the world. This was her most commercially successful song. That said, I don't think this is her best song, I would contend that I Hate Myself for Loving You or Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) hold that distinction. This is, however, the song that she is most closely identified with, and the one that comes to mind when most people think of her.

One mildly interesting fact about this song is that even though it is closely associated with Joan Jett and is more or less her signature song, it was not original to her. Her version is a cover, with the song originally released by the Arrows in 1975. There have been a couple instances in which a cover version of a song has essentially obliterated the popular memory of the original, and this is probably one of them.

Previous Musical Monday: Open Arms by Journey
Subsequent Musical Monday: Seven Tears by the Goombay Dance Band

Previous #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Centerfold by the J. Geils Band
Subsequent #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Chariots of Fire by Vangelis

Previous #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: Open Arms by Journey
Subsequent #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: That Girl by Stevie Wonder

List of #1 Singles from the Billboard Hot 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles from the Cash Box Top 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles on the U.K. Chart for 1980-1989

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts     1980s Project     Musical Monday     Home

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