Pure and Simple (Joan Jett album) explained

Pure and Simple
Type:studio
Artist:Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Cover:Pure_and_Simple.jpg
Released:June 14, 1994
Studio:
  • Hit Factory, New York City
  • Studio Works 11, Island Park, New York
  • Armoury Studios, Vancouver, Canada
  • Bad Animals, Seattle, Washington
  • Indigo Ranch, Malibu, California
  • Music Palace, New Hempstead, New York
Genre:Hard rock, power pop
Length:46:57
Label:Blackheart/Warner Bros.
Producer:Kenny Laguna, Thom Panunzio, Ed Stasium, Desmond Child, Jim Vallance, Joan Jett
Prev Title:Flashback
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:Evil Stig
Next Year:1995

Pure and Simple is the ninth studio album by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, released in 1994. The album includes several tracks co-written with Kathleen Hanna, including "Go Home", a response to the murder of Mia Zapata.

Pure and Simple was the first album to feature a new line up of Blackheart band members since the departure of longtime guitarist Ricky Byrd and bassist Kasim Sulton after the release of Jett's last album, Notorious. This new line up consisted of bassist Kenny Aaronson and lead guitarist Tony "Bruno" Rey. Pure and Simple would be the last Joan Jett & the Blackhearts release until 2006's Sinner. In 1995, both Aaronson and Rey went on to other projects. Aaronson would eventually become a member of the reunited New York Dolls – coincidentally taking over for bassist Sami Yaffa, his replacement in the Blackhearts and Rey became the musical director for Enrique Iglesias and Rihanna.

The CD and other versions feature collaborations with performers from Riot Grrrl and Riot Grrrl-associated bands. On all editions, songs "Go Home", "Spinster", "Activity Girl", and "You Got a Problem" were written with Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, The Julie Ruin, Le Tigre); on the vinyl release "Here to Stay" was written with Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland); on the Japanese edition "Hostility" was written with Donita Sparks (L7).

"World of Denial" was also added to the Japanese pressings. The Japanese cover differs from the regular cover. "Get Off the Cross" was also recorded during these sessions. Concurrently released in the US on vinyl LP, CD, and cassette, all versions varying slightly. The record album came with a hype sticker that read "All Rock. No Ballads", and omits both "As I Am" and "Brighter Day". A few seconds of the song are also heard on the cassette at the very end of side one before fading out. Jett independently put out "Spinster" as a 7-inch blue vinyl single in the US with a picture sleeve. The B-sides were "Go Home" and "Hostility". The track "World of Denial" was eventually released in the US on Jett's greatest hits album Fit to Be Tied.

Personnel

The Blackhearts

Additional musicians

Production

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joan Jett’s ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in 2022 page 1. ARIA. Imgur.com. December 3, 2023. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.