Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1981. Boardwalk Records. Today, September 22nd, is Joan Jett’s birthday (b. Joan Marie Larkin, 1958). Jett originally self-released Bad Reputation in 1980 under the title Joan Jett, post-Runaways breakup and pre-Blackhearts formation, and sold them out of the trunk of producer Kenny Laguna’s car at concerts.

Bad Reputation is a 60′s flavored package of PopRocks swallowed with a massive gulp of punk mix of Jett originals, including the sprint-worthy title track and “Jezebel,” and covers like the defiant “You Don’t Own Me” (originally performed by Lesley Gore in ‘63), “Doing All Right With the Boys” (Gary Glitter) and “Wooly Bully” (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs). “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah),” also a Glitter cover and a great stadium stomper, was released as a single after Jett’s crushing smash hit record I Love Rock ‘n Roll in ‘82, hitting #20 in the US.

The list of musician contributors to Bad Reputation is staggering: 23 including Jett. Notables are Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones and Paul Cook and Blondie’s Clem Burke and Frank Infante. I have no idea who he is but my favorite credited name is Commander Goonwaddle, who plays tubular bells on Jett-original “Let Me Go.”