Fit To Be Tied:Great Hits by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Joan Jett may have best been distinguished throughout her career as the flat-chested punk who played those loud, hard-rock guitar riffs at the front of her three-fourths male touring band the Blackhearts. And, of course, she sang that song about a dime and a jukebox.

But she has not been on the rock circuit for more than 20 years simply because of the monumental success of I Love Rock n’ Roll.

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Fit To Be Tied offers 15 cuts that show the jet-black-haired diva really has inspirational rock roots to keep her afloat in the rock world, if only treading water, no matter what form rock n’ roll takes.

What sets this early riot girl apart from the other female artists in the 80s is that she never was a great songwriter, nor did she ever claim to be. She has the ability to take a song places the songwriter never thought of, like in Bruce Springsteen’s compilation Light of Day.

When Jett does pen songs, her influences are clearly punk. Bad Reputation and Victim of Circumstance are pure Sex Pistols, and show where Jett’s heart is musically.

Many times, when Jett’s heart is into a song musically, it means her head is someplace else, but the effort is present. Her take on the Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song spews images of Tyler spinning around in the big city, tossing her hat up and banging her head to the music.

Though Jett can rock, her music was never meant to be anything more than no-nonsense rock backed up by a sassy stage show. If you’re like her, you love rock n’ roll, and you’ll dig this disc.