Joan Jett and the Blackhearts “I Love Rock-n-Roll” 1982. This was the first record I ever bought with my own money. I was 11 years old, in 6th grade and NUTS for the hit single, which was #1 on the charts for 7 weeks, from March to May.  I remember the #2 song was The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” for three of those weeks.  I’d sit glued to the radio, listening to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40, waiting for those 2 glorious back-to-back songs.  When I was able to save up enough allowance money to buy the record, I played the crap out of it and the album cover pictured above shows the wear and tear over the years. (Yes, this is the same album I bought back in ‘82).

“I Love Rock-n-Roll” was my favorite single on the album, but “Crimson and Clover,” the last song on side 1, was freakin’ amazing.  I loved (and still do) its echoey and anthemic verse and then frenetic instrumental hook.  Side 2 never saw as much playing action as Side 1, but “Bits and Pieces” is a great rocker with a Bo Diddley beat.  The only song that irritates me is “Little Drummer Boy” since I’ve never cared for that Christmas Carol, but if I have to listen to it, Joan’s version is probably better than anything else out there.