From its title to its tough core, Pure and Simple was a return to form for Joan Jett.
Encouraged by a new generation of riot grrls who held her early work up as the inspirational lightning rod it was (including L7 and Bikini Kill, who contribute here), Jett shook off the doldrums and found her way back to the nails-for-breakfast, queen-bitch persona that she was really all about.
Pure and Simple rocks with a gritty realism unmatched even by the punchy 1988 hit "I Hate Myself for Lovin' You," the arguable crest of her '80s win streak.
If the one-two punch of "Go Home" and "Eye to Eye" makes you dizzy, then "Spinster" -- "Maybe I don't wanna f*ck you!" -- is the bout-ending haymaker.
After its oil-stained opening salvo, "As I Am" is like Lesley Gore in a leather jacket.
But its sentiment forms the bruised emotional heart of Pure and Simple, and the plaintive chords of the bridge are just perfect.
Some of the album's later social consciousness is unnecessary (this is a Joan Jett, not Joan Osborne), but "You Got a Problem" is a late-record redeemer.
And even when she's singing about the plight of the homeless, Jett sounds like she gargled with Mad Dog 20/20.
Pure and Simple is essential for any hard rock fan, if only to support one of the genre's most fearsome competitors.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go HomeKathleen Hanna, Joan Jett | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 02:42 | 6 MB | 20 MB |
| 2 | Eye to EyeJoan Jett, Kenny Laguna, Jim Vallance | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 03:31 | 8 MB | 24 MB |
| 3 | SpinsterKathleen Hanna, Joan Jett | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 02:44 | 6 MB | 20 MB |
| 4 | TortureJoan Jett, Kenny Laguna, Jim Vallance | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 03:35 | 8 MB | 26 MB |
| 5 | As I AmDesmond Child, Joan Jett | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 04:31 | 10 MB | 31 MB |
| 6 | Activity GRRRLJoan Jett | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 03:45 | 8 MB | 26 MB |
| 7 | InsecureJoan Jett, Kenny Laguna, Jim Vallance | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 03:10 | 7 MB | 23 MB |
| 8 | Wonderin'Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna, Jim Vallance | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 04:52 | 11 MB | 34 MB |
| 9 | ConsumedJoan Jett, Thommy Price | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 04:40 | 10 MB | 34 MB |
| 10 | You Got a ProblemDesmond Child, Kathleen Hanna, Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 03:57 | 9 MB | 28 MB |
| 11 | Brighter DayDesmond Child, Joan Jett | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Joan Jett | Play | 06:07 | 14 MB | 41 MB |
| 12 | Rubber and Glue | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts | Play | 03:18 | 7 MB | 25 MB |
| 46 mins | 107 MB | |||||
| 46 mins | 337 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenny Aaronson | Group Member |
| 2 | John Aiosa | Engineer |
| 3 | Kat Bjelland | Contribution |
| 4 | Tony Bruno | Group Member |
| 5 | Rick Byrd | Contribution |
| 6 | Desmond Child | Composer, Producer |
| 7 | Spencer Drate | Art Direction, Design |
| 8 | Jennifer Finch | Contribution |
| 9 | Jeff Gold | Art Direction, Design |
| 10 | Kathleen Hanna | Composer, Contribution |
| 11 | Arno Hecht | Contribution |
| 12 | George Holz | Photography |
| 13 | Mike Howe | Contribution |
| 14 | Joan Jett | Composer, Group Member, Guitar, Primary Artist, Vocals |
| 15 | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts | Primary Artist |
| 16 | Bill Karren | Contribution |
| 17 | Chuck Kentis | Contribution |
| 18 | Kenny Laguna | Composer, Management, Producer |
| 19 | Meryl Laguna | Art Direction, Design, Management |
| 20 | Bob Ludwig | Mastering |
| 21 | Thom Panunzio | Engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 22 | Thommy Price | Composer, Group Member |
| 23 | Joe Reagoso | Reissue Producer, Remastering |
| 24 | Jütka Salavetz | Art Direction, Design |
| 25 | Donita Sparks | Contribution |
| 26 | Ed Stasium | Producer |
| 27 | Jim Vallance | Composer, Contribution, Producer |
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |