Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Changeup

by Zena Grieg

published: 21 / 6 / 2022

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Changeup

Label: Legacy
Format: CD

Excellent acoustic album from Joan Jett which features new versions of her best-known songs in a more intimate setting

Review

At a time when punk-rock is experiencing a revival, the iconic grande dame of punk, American singer-songwriter Joan Jett, is releasing her first new album since the 2018 ‘Bad Reputation’. The first completely acoustic collection by her, ‘Changeup’ features versions of her best-known songs in a more intimate musical setting. This is an album which came about when she was asked at the LA premiere of her documentary ‘Bad Reputation’ to play some songs from the film: “we couldn’t really set up electric, it was just an impossible task, and so we decided, the whole band will be there and we’ll just try to do some of these acoustic.” The collection spans her early work with the trailblazing all-women band, The Runaways to more recent songs with her current band, The Blackhearts, who provide harmonica, drums and bass to her guitar. In 'Changeup' Jett demonstrates her musical versatility with engaging fresh interpretations, the focus firmly on her 80s solo hits. Songs to listen out for in this 25-track stripped-back collection include: the opener (‘I’m Gonna) Run Away’; the in-your-face, defiant ‘You’re Too Possessive’; the foot-tapping ‘Oh Woe Is Me’; the fast and furious ‘Bad Reputation'; the reflection on transience and mortality, ‘Fragile’; plus ‘I Love Playing With Fire’, originally recorded with The Runaways in 1977 and as fiery as ever; the feminist girl power anthem ‘Cherry Bomb’; and plaintive novel covers of ‘Crimson and Clover’ by Tommy James and the Shondells as well as The Replacements’ ‘Androgynous’. Showing no signs of letting up, Jett continues to astound and provoke ahead of a US tour commencing June 16 in Atlanta.

Track Listing:-

1 (I’m Gonna) Run Away (Acoustic)
2 You’re Too Posessive (Acoustic)
3 Long Time (Acoustic)
4 Victim Of Circumstance (Acoustic)
5 Coney Island Whitefish (Acoustic)
6 Love Is Pain (Acoustic)
7 Oh Woe Is Me (Acoustic)
8 You Drive Me Wild (Acoustic)
9 Frustrated (Acoustic)
10 Bad Relutation (Acoustic)
11 Fake Friends (Acoustic)
12 Fresh Start (Acoustic)
13 Soulmates To Strangers (Acoustic)
14 Make It Back (Acoustic)
15 Fragile (Acoustic)
16 I Love Playin’ With Fire (Acoustic)
17 Cherry Bomb (Acoustic)
18 I Want You (Acoustic)
19 Crimson And Clover (Acoustic)
20 A 100 Feet Away (Acoustic)
21 Androgynous (Acoustic)
22 You Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Acoustic)
23 School Days (Acoustic)
24 Good Music (Acoustic)
25 Light Of Day (Acoustic)