PUT ANOTHER DIME IN THE JUKEBOX, BABY: A REVIEW OF “I LOVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL,” FEATURING LIVE FOOTAGE OF THE ALAN MERRILL EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE BRIGHTON BAR (2019).

Alan Merrill (guitar), Amy Madden (bass), and Mark Brotter (drums) perform an 

inspired version of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” at The Brighton Bar, October 4, 2019. 

Behold “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” the genre-busting anthem that propelled Joan Jett toward international superstardom. Since 1981, loudspeakers everywhere have been proclaiming Jett’s boisterous recording, which predicts—through equal measures of playfulness and mischievousness—a role-reversal hookup between a female speaker and a teenage guy who’s dancing in front of a jukebox. Yet the ditty dates to 1975, when it was written by Alan Merrill and Jerry Mamberg, also known as two-thirds of the Arrows, a trio that emphasized glam hairdos and also recorded one of the catchiest records of its era.

Your humble blogger crossed paths with Mr. Merrill last week at The Brighton Bar, a storied landmark in Long Branch, New Jersey that was hosting six bands, including the punk-jazz combo, Joy on Fire, for whom I vocalize and pen lyrics, as well as the headline act, billed as the Alan Merrill Extravaganza. In fact, Joy on Fire played its set right before Merrill and his bandmates, bassist Amy Madden and drummer Mark Brotter, took the stage. The organizers of the event—David Tanner and Kipp Elbaum—had been touting Merrill’s connection to the song throughout the evening, and the audience (myself included) was eager to hear the tune straightaway.

I’ll resist the urge to parse the Extravaganza’s entire set, which was very enjoyable. Since this review concerns itself with a single song that ended up producing more fame for a musician (Jett) other than its writer (Merrill), I will say that it was a bit loopy to consider Merrill’s relationship to hits first recorded by different musicians, such as “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones or the 1958 Larry Williams song, “Slow Down,” a real humdinger, which benefitted (in its day) from the gritty honking of under-celebrated saxophonist Plas Johnson. As expected, the Alan Merrill Extravaganza saved “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” for last. They wanted to play the song. It wasn’t drudgery for them. It immediately became the jewel of their set. 

Joan Jett performing (in a New York Jets Joe Namath shirt) in Norway.

The biggest beneficiary (and enhancer) of this tune, Joan Jett, is bad-ass. We don’t need to demonstrate this claim, it just is. She inhabits “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” with plenty of—Yeow!—jumpy, punky, metallic energy, outstripping the somewhat mellower version recorded by the Arrows. She first encountered the televised Arrows version on the ITV Network in 1976, while she toured England as a member of the all-female band, the Runaways. In time, she would record “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” twice: first with two members of the Sex Pistols and second with her band The Blackhearts. The latter version rose to No. 1 on the pop charts, and arguably, would come to define Jett’s career, even though it’s not her edgiest song.

The lyrics as envisioned by Jett and Merrill can be summarized easily enough. A teenager catches the eye of the singer / speaker as the teenager is “dancing there by the record machine.” This unnamed dancer is “about 17” and we assume that the singer or the intended audience is roughly the same age (or recalls being that age). Ultimately, the song’s narrative involves two threads: a girl meets boy scenario and the chorus, which expands the budding tryst to include the entire genre of rock ‘n’ roll.

In the first case, the singer seems to be intent upon securing the partnership—dancing or otherwise—of the dancing teenager. The song insists that “it wouldn’t be long ‘til (he / she) was with me” as well as “next we’re moving on and (he / she) was with me / Yeah me” before the two would ostensibly be at home so they could “be alone” (together). These words are mere highway, though, to the infectious carnival of the refrain, or the second thread. (The music—hard rock guitar riffs, boom-boom-chick percussion—transports the listener efficiently.) And there we behold Jett & The Blackhearts, raucous and disdainful: “Singin’ I love rock and roll / So put another dime in the jukebox, baby / I love rock and roll / So come on take some time and dance with me!” 

The Arrows: Alan Merrill (left), Jerry Mamberg (center), Paul Varley (right).

There aren’t a ton of versions out there, perhaps owing to the iconic, somewhat perfect nature of the Joan Jett rendition. There’s a Britney Spears rendition that I haven’t heard, and will never hear, unless somebody, physically, compels me to listen. Jett’s version of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” levitates as it hurtles toward the exit; many popular songs wallow through a couple minutes of repetition. Alan Merrill’s animated live performance (above) just as much concerns his estimable legacy as a musician and songwriter as it narrates a teenage hookup fantasy. The original Arrows version is a snappy, medium rocker, which deserves a listen. Its video deserves a view; it’s frolicsome in the best ways.

                       

Merrill and his bandmates were friendly. Maybe the bassist, Amy Madden, was coolest of all. I can verify that I was humming the refrain the next afternoon before Joy on Fire kicked off the Unruly Sounds festival in Princeton, N.J. The song can be resisted, but that’s difficult! It packs eagerness, it rewards itself for being tightly coiled; its simplicity invites participation. Even though “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” perpetuates a standard form of teenage rebellion, its great advantage might be the durability of its refrain. Just about anybody can sing the words without maiming them, and anybody can love rock ‘n’ roll, although just what kind of rock ‘n’ roll is truly “love-worthy”—invites a much different debate. We can only complain that a dime doesn’t get you anywhere near a jukebox these days, never mind the fact that a modern “record machine” plays digital files, not a 7-inch 45.


[Update, March 29, 2020: We were incredibly saddened to learn of Alan Merrill’s death from COVID-19. We wish his family and friends our deepest condolences during this difficult time. --B.A.G.]

                   

Sources of Information:

Carl Wiser’s interview with Alan Merrill at Songfacts

Discogs entry for Arrows version of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”

Discogs entry for Joan Jett version of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”

Discogs entry for the Larry Williams song “Slow Down”

Melena Ryzik New York Times article on Joan Jett

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame entry for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

Rolling Stone Magazine’s entry for “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” on its Top 500 songs list

Web site and trailer for Bad Reputation, a documentary about Joan Jett

Wikipedia entry for “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”
YouTube video for “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” as recorded by the Arrows

YouTube video for “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” as recorded by Joan Jett and members of the Sex Pistols