Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – Notorious (1991)
π₯ Released in 1991, Notorious is the seventh studio album by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, combining the band’s signature hard rock sound with more polished production and mainstream rock influences. The album reflects Joan Jett’s continued evolution as a rock artist while maintaining her raw attitude and rebellious persona.
Album Tracklist
- "Backlash" – 3:42
- "Do You Wanna Touch Me" – 3:44
- "Dirty Deeds" – 3:55
- "I Can’t Control Myself" – 2:58
- "Shout" – 2:52
- "Love Hurts" – 3:21
- "Bad Reputation" – 2:49
- "Little Liar" – 3:41
- "I Need Someone" – 3:30
- "Right in the Middle" – 3:15
Album Credits
- Artist: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
- Year: 1991
- Label: Blackheart Records / Mercury
- Producers: Kenny Laguna
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Line-up:
- Joan Jett – vocals, guitar
- Ricky Byrd – guitar
- Kasim Sulton – bass
- Thommy Price – drums
Most Popular Tracks
- "Backlash" – lead single with hard rock hooks
- "Do You Wanna Touch Me" – re-recorded version of her 1981 hit
- "Little Liar" – radio-friendly and catchy
- "I Can’t Control Myself" – punk-influenced track
Fun Facts
- The album includes both original songs and re-recorded hits from earlier in Joan Jett’s career.
- Joan Jett worked to modernize her sound for the early 90s rock landscape.
- The production is more polished than her mid-80s releases, reflecting contemporary rock trends.
- "Backlash" was written to showcase Joan Jett’s guitar-driven style while appealing to radio.
Trivia
- The album title, Notorious, emphasizes Joan Jett’s rebellious rock persona.
- Several tracks are re-recordings or alternate versions of classic Jett songs.
- The band’s lineup changed slightly for this album, introducing Thommy Price on drums.
- "Do You Wanna Touch Me" was originally a Gary Glitter song that Jett famously covered.
- "Love Hurts" is another cover that she reinterpreted with a harder rock edge.
Did You Know?
π‘ Notorious was released during a time when hard rock was transitioning into the 90s grunge era, but Joan Jett retained her classic rock attitude.
π‘ The album demonstrates her ability to refresh older material while producing new songs that fit her evolving style.
π‘ Joan Jett continued to release music independently through Blackheart Records, giving her full creative control.
π‘ Despite being less commercially prominent than I Love Rock ’n Roll, Notorious reinforced her status as a consistent rock artist.