Joan Jett and the Blackhearts collection pulls no punches

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS; "Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Greatest Hits" (Blackheart Records) ★★★★

The Joan Jett/Cherie Currie biopic "The Runaways" opens this weekend.

And it so happened a few weeks ago, Jett and her label, Blackheart Records, released this two-CD greatest hits compilation. Jett handpicked the songs herself.

While the movie, of which Jett served as one of the executive producers, took some artistic liberties with the characters and storyline, this 21-track collection pulls no punches.

From the start, the explosive re-recording of the Runaway's tune "Cherry Bomb" shows the listener is in for some hard-hitting musical attitude.

There's the rousing clap-and-strut of "You Drive Me Wild" and the driving "School Days," and a quaint, charming version of "Love Is All Around," the theme song from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

The CD wouldn't be complete without the bulk of Jett's trademark leather-bound gems — "Bad Reputation," the Tommy James cover "Crimson and Clover," "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)," "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and, of course, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."

Jett's remake of Bruce Springsteen's "Light of Day" and Sly & the Family Stone's anthemic "Everyday People" are also on the song list.

The inclusion of "Fake Friends," "You Don't Know What You've Got" and Jett's more recent but thought-provoking and button-pushing odes "Androgynous" and "A.C.D.C." show she hasn't lost her defiance, attitude and ear for guitar-driven punk.

e-mail: scott@desnews.com