Some days ago was requested the best sounding version of JOAN JETT and The Blackhearts 1988’s album “Up Your Alley“. Despite Jett’s fame, curiously this album never has been remastered. However, this rare Japanese reissue on CD (it wasn’t released elsewhere) sounds awesomely better than the original CD pressing.
”Up Your Alley” returned Joan Jett to the Top 10 Chart with the catchy, crunching rocker “I Hate Myself for Loving You” – which featured former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor performing the guitar solo, and then with second single “Little Liar”. Not surprisingly, both songs were co-written & produced by Desmond Child.
There’s other producers involved like Kenny Laguna (worked with Jett on other albums) and Ric Browde (Ted Nugent), but the overall sound is pure second half of the ’80s (big drums, reverb) while respecting Jett’s original R n’R vibe.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ sixth studio album, ”Up Your Alley”, was responsible for once again solidifying the determination of one of rock’s most resilient artists.
Jett’s rise out of The Runaways’ ashes and celebrated come-up, despite doubts by major record labels, showcased her intent to persevere and thrive. Similarly, after the critical and commercial appeal of 1981’s ‘Bad Reputation’ and ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’, and 1983’s Album, Jett and the Blackhearts’ hits suddenly stopped.
This departure from the upper reaches of the charts would become an additional hurdle within the band’s adamant stride toward success.
From 1984 to 1987, Jett and the Blackhearts released two albums, ‘Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth’ and ‘Good Music’, neither of which resonated much. Jett also spent some of this time co-starring with Michael J. Fox in the movie ‘Light of Day’, which was met with a varied range of reviews.
Due for a musical comeback, Jett released Up Your Alley on May 23, 1988.
In typical Blackhearts fashion, ”Up Your Alley” featured an array of Jett originals, as well as a couple of choice covers: Chuck Berry’s “Tulane” and the Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog.”
But where the Desmond co-writes – the songwriter who helped bring hard rock into the Top 40 in the late ’80s, thanks to radio staples from Bon Jovi and Aerosmith – that ignited the charts.
Reaching No. 8, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” became Jett’s first hit single since her cover of Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Crimson and Clover” made it to the Top 10 in 1982. The track is also notable for being Jett’s only Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal.
The song was later included in the Guitar Hero video game, in the Rock of Ages Broadway musical and then reworked for the opening theme for NBC’s Football Night in America. It’s also showed up in several movies over the years, including an appearance years later in 2018’s Ready Player One.
A very good ’80s album, and a CD with a modern digital transfer which sounds really, really good.
Highly Recommended
01 – I Hate Myself For Loving You
02 – Ridin’ With James Dean
03 – Little Liar
04 – Tulane
05 – I Wanna Be Your Dog
06 – I Still Dream About You
07 – You Want In, I Want Out
08 – Just Like In The Movies
09 – Desire
10 – Back It Up
11 – Play That Song Again
Joan Jett – lead vocals, rhythm guitars
Ricky Byrd – lead guitar, backing vocals
Kasim Sulton – bass, backing vocals
Thommy Price – drums
with:
Mick Taylor – guitar solo on track 1
Ronnie Lawson – keyboards
The Uptown Horns
Frank Carillo – guitar, backing vocals
Kenny Laguna – various instruments; backing vocals
Desmond Child – backing vocals
JOAN JETT and The Blackhearts – Up Your Alley [Japan reissue 2004], MP3+FLAC
 |
