Joan Jett - Up Your Alley CDs • Vinyl Records • LPs • Music Albums

album's last track. A steadfast hard-rock acolyte, Jett usually uncovers something new within the three-chord tradition. In her continuing series of revealing covers, she follows "Tulane," a generic Chuck Berry composition, with an inspired reading of "I Wanna Be Your Dog," the Stooges' 1969 depiction of puppy love gone rabid; the juxtaposition suggests a historical and thematic link that only a sharp-eyed fan would notice. She cites yet another hero on "Ridin' with James Dean," although, significantly, Jett reproaches the actor for his early death; in her mind, rebels should have a cause, even if it's only rock & roll.

The Blackhearts' sound is shaped by guitarist Ricky Byrd, the band's only constant member, who prefers force to grace and distorted chords to virtuoso solos. Without compromising the songs, he and Jett vary them with a few trusty hard-rock tricks and some guest musicians. The Uptown Horns double the album's grittiness, and former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor bolsters the crunch of "I Hate Myself for Loving You," a perfect summer single.

Maybe if Jett didn't look and act like a cover girl for Outlaw Biker, tough-talking tracks like "Little Liar" and "Back It Up" would be recognized for their underlying strength and dignity, and Jett would get more recognition for her reliability. Although she didn't blossom until 1984's Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth, Jett is one of rock's few contemporary women – both serious and trashy, tough and tender. In this decade, Chrissie Hynde, Joan Armatrading and Annie Lennox are the only other women who have confounded rock stereotypes as successfully and interestingly as Joan has. And certainly no one else has done it at such a volume. (RS 532)

ROB TANNENBAUM

Kicking off with the Top-10 single "I Hate Myself for Loving You," this became Jett's biggest seller since I Love Rock N Roll broke through to the masses. Good, not great, but good rock is what Jett specializes in, and she even proves that Chuck Berry's "Tulane" rocks harder than The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog" by covering them both.