Ten Songs You Might Not Know Are Covers: I Love Rock and Roll (#4)

Tweet

I'm still spinning from the terrific Quebe Sisters show last night. It's amazing that such high-quality talent can go so far out of their way to a tiny town to entertain the folks! But it's today, and here's the next song that you might not know was a cover. #4: I Love Rock and Roll Or, as Weird Al sang, I love rocky road. Joan Jett was a member of the seminal all-female group the Runaways before she went out on her own. In 1982 her song "I Love Rock and Roll" became a rock anthem, an MTV favorite, and catapulted her to superstardom. But hey, that wasn't the first time someone loved rock and roll. In 1975 a "glam rock" band in England named the Arrows recorded the song, written by two of its members (Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker). It was a popular song in England, popular enough to get the Arrows their own TV show. That's where Joan Jett was introduced to the song. She recorded the song twice, first in 1979, then the infinitely popular 1982 rendition. Joan Jett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. The Arrows broke up in the late 70s, and the song's co-writer, Jake Hooker, passed away in 2014. I Love Rock and Roll Written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker Originally recorded by the Arrows, 1975 Famously covered by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, 1982 Here's the Arrows' original version: