Album (Joan Jett album)

Album is the third studio album by Joan Jett and the second to feature her backing band The Blackhearts. The album was originally released in July 1983.

Album
Studio album by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Released	July 1983
Recorded	1983
Studio	Kingdom Sound Studios, Syosset, New York
Genre	Hard rock, Punk Rock
Length	34:59
Label	Blackheart/MCA (US) Epic (Europe) Warner Bros. (Japan)
Producer	Joan Jett, Ritchie Cordell, Kenny Laguna, Greg Kolotkin
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts chronology
I Love Rock 'n Roll (1981) Album (1983) Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth (1984)
Singles from Album
"Fake Friends" Released: July 1983 "The French Song" Released: July 1983 (Canada only) "Everyday People" Released: 1983

Background and recording

Unlike Joan Jett's two previous albums, only two tracks are cover songs, though this had not been the original plan. During the recording of the album, Jett commented, "I know what's going to happen. When we included lots of covers, people would call us on it. If we don't they'd say, 'Where's the covers?'"[1]

Release

The cassette tape version had 2 different issues, one issued in a regular black plastic case (MCA MCAC-5437) and one issued in a red plastic case (MCA MCAC-5445). The initial version contained The Rolling Stones song "Star Star" on it as a hidden track at the end of side one. The second version deleted the song and was designated as "Album Version Only." The album was re-released in 1992 with six more bonus tracks.

The first single released from the album was the lead track "Fake Friends." The U.S. 7-inch vinyl featured "Nitetime" on the reverse side, with a locked groove at the end of the song. This meant that jukeboxes playing the track would have to be manually rejected in order to reject the record. The CD bonus track "Locked Groove" is an actual recording of the end of the single. A second issue with "Handyman" as the B-side was sent to distributors. A video was shot for "Fake Friends" where Joan and the Blackhearts are continually mobbed by 'fans' and hangers-on who quickly turn into cardboard cut-outs and fall over. It received heavy airplay on MTV, though the song was a relative disappointment on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #35. Kenny Laguna later told Creem magazine that he had objected to "Fake Friends" being the first single, as it wasn't a natural fit for rock radio, but was rebuffed by the label.

The second single, "Everyday People" (backed with "Why Can't We Be Happy") fared no better, peaking at #37. The release was accompanied by a slapstick video in which Jett is plagued by a smoking hair-dryer, a defunct alarm clock, and a collapsing bed. A promotional 7-inch and 12-inch Dance Mix of the song was sent to radio stations; the commercial 12-inch record featured the notorious "Star Star" on the B-side.

A third video was filmed for "The French Song," but MTV gave it scant airtime and a single of the track was only released in Canada, where it was backed with "Coney Island Whitefish."

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Metal Forces	(4/10)[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]
The Village Voice	B+[5]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Fake Friends"	Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna	3:23
2.	"Handyman"	Jett, Laguna	3:23
3.	"Everyday People"	Sylvester Stewart	2:40
4.	"A Hundred Feet Away"	Jett, Laguna, Peter Anders	2:33
5.	"Secret Love"	Jett, Laguna	4:03

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"The French Song"	Jett, Laguna, Ricky Byrd, Mike Winter Jr.	3:35
7.	"Tossin' and Turnin'"	Ritchie Adams, Malou Rene	2:25
8.	"Why Can't We Be Happy"	Jett, Laguna	3:53
9.	"I Love Playing with Fire" (The Runaways cover)	Jett	3:03
10.	"Coney Island Whitefish"	Jett, Laguna	3:35
11.	"Had Enough"	Jett, Laguna, Byrd	2:26

1st Cassette Tape version bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Star Star"	Jagger/Richards	4:00

1992 CD edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Nitetime"	Jett, Laguna	4:52
14.	"Everyday People" (Dance Mix)	Sylvester Stewart	4:19
15.	"Wait for Me" (The Runaways cover)	Jett	4:33
16.	"Who Can You Trust"	Jett, Laguna, Stephen Lunt	2:51
17.	"Scratch My Back"	Jett, Laguna, Lunt	4:13
18.	"Locked Groove"		3:47

Personnel

The Blackhearts

• Joan Jett – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Ricky Byrd – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Gary Ryan – bass, backing vocals
• Lee Crystal – drums, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• The Uptown Horns:
  • Crispin Choe - baritone sax
  • Robert Funk - trombone
  • Arno Hecht - tenor sax
  • Paul Litteral - trumpet
• The Ross Levinson Strings directed by Ross Levinson
• Kenny Laguna - keyboards, backing vocals

Production

• Ritchie Cordell, Kenny Laguna - producers
• Greg Kolotkin - associate producer
• Ron Cote - engineer
• Bob Ludwig - mastering

Album Design - Spencer Drate, Judith Salavetz

Art Direction - Meryl Laguna, Joan Jett

Photography - Dieter Zill

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6]	85
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7]	48
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[8]	19
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[9]	29
US Billboard 200[10]	20

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Gross, Jonathan (June 1983). "Joan Jett: The Road Goes On Forever". Record. 2 (8): 1, 10–11, 30.
2. Huey, Steve. "Joan Jett / Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - Album review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
3. Ling, David (August 1983). "Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Album". Metal Forces (1): 23. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
4. Considine, J. D. (September 1, 1983). "Album Reviews: Joan Jett - Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
5. Christgau, Robert (July 26, 1983). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6289a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
8. "Norwegiancharts.com – Joan Jett – Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
9. "Swedishcharts.com – Joan Jett – Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
10. "Joan Jett the Blackhearts Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
11. "American album certifications – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Album". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.