Joan Jett Albums Ranked
Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin, September 22, 1958) is an American rock singer, songwriter, composer, musician, record producer, and occasional actress. Jett is best known for her work as the frontwoman of her band Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and for earlier founding and performing with the Runaways, which recorded and released the hit song “Cherry Bomb”. The Blackhearts’ version of the song “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” was number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in 1982. Jett’s other notable hit songs include “Bad Reputation”, “Crimson and Clover”, “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)”, “Light of Day”, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and “Dirty Deeds”.
Jett has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. She has three albums that have been certified Platinum or Gold and have been a feminist icon throughout her career. She has been described as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Godmother of Punk. In 2015, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here are all of Joan Jett’s albums ranked.
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10. Unvarnished (2013)
“My first “new” Joan Jett album since everything I have so far is 80’s related. It doesn’t disappoint. Great songs by the legend herself. Vinyl is slightly warped, but can be corrected with a record weight. Sounds really good, warm and full as only vinyl can sound. Glad I bought this as I have only heard one song (Any Weather), the rest are just as good. Get if you haven’t already ;)”
9. Greatest Hits (2019)
“Most of us have them. Songs that you play at top volume riding home from either the best day or the worst day of your life. For me the list includes the likes of Sweet Jane and Heroin by Lou Reed; Highway 61 Revisited and Rollin’ and Tumblin’ by Bob Dylan; Anarchy in the UK and God Save the Queen by The Sex Pistols; Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin; End of the World and Superman by R.E.M.; The Modern Age by The Strokes; Powderfinger and Sedan Delivery by Neil Young; Dear Mr. Fantasy by Traffic; Crossroads by Cream; Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix; and the list goes on. Bad Reputation is one of those songs. It lives near the very top of my list. And oh by the way, the rest of this album will light your fire as well.”
8. Good Music (1986)
“A really good album but not her best. A lot of the die hard fans don’t care for it as it was probably her lightest sounding album at the time. The two songs with the Beach Boys don’t really work. FUN FUN FUN is average pop but the title track drags on for far too long. I also don’t think any of her fans were dying to see her paired up with the Beach Boys. The Stones or Aerosmith…YES. But the Beach Boys…NO WAY. THIS MEANS WAR is a very underappreciated album track as is the I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL sounding JUST LUST!! Let’s not forget the wonderful OUTLAW which is hidden away on side two. “
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7. Notorious (1991)
“Better than the HIT LIST but not as good as her first 6 albums. NOTORIOUS is a slightly ho-hum collection of very safe rock and roll. DON’T SURRENDER is the highlight. Both BACKLASH and ASHES IN THE WIND are great album tracks but still nowhere near as good as her previous efforts. MACHISMO and TREADING WATER are truly awful and way too happy sounding.”
6. The Hit List (1990)
“I think “The Hit List” is a good addition to anyone’s collection that enjoys good tyme fun rock and roll. I was originally interested in this release for the “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”-AC/DC and “Love Hurts”-Nazareth covers. I found that all the songs were well chosen and well performed. I think it is just her “stamp” or “style”, but the songs seem to have an echo of sorts on her vocals. I might not be describing that technically correct, but it might be something that some listeners will not appreciate. I tend to like it, as that is her sound to me. I bought “I Love Rock And Roll” when it first came out and really liked it. I didn’t stay abreast her following releases though, so my knowledge of her material is a bit lacking. “
5. Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth (1984)
“I’m your ch…ch…ch…ch…cherry bomb. The Runaways major talent delivers the rock ‘n’ roll goods. This is cheap, cheerful, punk-inflected raucousness. I don’t think she’s ever nailed it better. From the moment I heard this record it had a place in my heart. I particularly love the version of New Orleans. The title says it all, its not serious but its dead real. Joan Jett is a rock ‘n’ roll icon… I want to be her.”
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4. Up Your Alley (1988)
“I’m sure that in any serious discussion of rock-chick luminaries there would be the inevitable nods to the incendiary booze-blues of Janis Joplin, the subtle explosiveness of Grace Slick or the swirling sorcery of Stevie Nicks. Unfortunately, within the very narrow corridors of the rock caste system you’ll never talk (or drink) long enough to get around to a performer who is every bit their equal – Joan Jett.”
3. Album (1983)
“This record store day exclusive is a blast from the past! Comes with the deluxe cd so you get extras. My only complaint is I wish the vinyl were a recreation of the original vinyl release rather than including the track “star star” which was a hidden bonus on the original cassette not the lp (since you get the cd, there’s no need to add it to the “original” album). Otherwise this is fun.”
2. Joan Jett (1980)
“Of all the members of the all-girl glam punk band The Runaways, it is without question that the one member who went on to have the greatest successful solo career after their brief sensation (especially in Japan) was lead songwriter and guitarist JOAN JETT who throughout the 80s enjoyed a string of hits and a major breakthrough like none of her former band mates did. And along with her backing band the Blackhearts she spawned a number of hits including the worldwide phenomenon #1 hit “I Love Rock ’N’ Roll.” However before JETT would hook up with her Blackhearts she would release this one solo album that originally emerged as an eponymous release but was re titled as BAD REPUTATION the following year which set the tone for JETT’S tough girl image that was backed up by her unmistakable shouted vocal style that rode the wave of the contemporary punk movement while appealing to the hard rock crowds with catchy pop hooks augmented with thundering guitar distortion and power chords.”
1. I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll (1981)
“Joan Jett finally proved that a woman can write and perform ass-kicking, crunchy, take no prisoners Hard Rock just as well as any man with this 1981 slab of heavy intensity. Joan wasn’t about to let the demise of her former band, The Runaways, derail her career. This is the sound of a woman out to conquer the world, and that’s just what Joan Jett did. This album is a masterpiece, Joan Jett is one of the few people in history to successfully combine Hard Rock aggressiveness and power with some extremely catchy hooks. This song are lethal. The title track is a titanic blast. Her cover of Crimson And Clover is the best screamingly loud Hard Rock tribute to lust in history. (I’m Gonna) Run Away is amazingly hooky. Love Is Pain is tough as nails. Nag is amazing. This music is tough as nails.”
