"Victim Of Circumstance" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

After the demise of the pioneering all-girl rock group, The Runaways, Joan Jett teamed with The Blackhearts to front her own band. She scored a legendary hit off her sophomore record with a cover of "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," which stayed on top the chart for an amazing seven weeks in 1982 (the song was originally written and performed by The Arrows).

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts became a virtual cover band, landing them more charting hits like "Crimson And Clover" (#7), "Everyday People" (#37), "Light Of Day" (#33), and "Dirty Deeds" (#36). Many other cover tunes can be found scattered among their originals throughout the band's catalogue. 

Jett would return to the top 10 in 1988 with "I Hate Myself For Loving You," a song that she co-wrote with Desmond Child. The pair also co-wrote the follow-up single, "Little Liar," which got to #19.

One of my favorite Jett originals goes back to their landmark sophomore record: "Victim Of Circumstance." To my ears, this album is not only the best in their catalogue, but one of the best of the decade. There is a raw energy that comes through better than any subsequent work.