I Love Rock N Roll
A surprise early-'80s superstar, Joan Jett had pretty much been left for dead by a record industry that was choosing not to remember her all-female teenage band theRunaways. Her second solo album,I Love Rock n Rollcherished a loud guitar crunch clearly not in fashion in the dance pop-lite era. But Jett also knew the value of a hook, and the songs contained herein use them to memorable effect. The title track became an anthem. Her resuscitation ofTommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover" proved she meant it. "(I'm Gonna) Run Away" and "Nag" solidified her point. The jump-start was immediate and led Jett to record a succession of satisfying albums.--Rob O'Connor