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Unfinished Business
Click on song title links for the lyrics to that song.
Track Listing:
Released: 2001.
NEW YORK --Blackheart Records released "Unfinished Business" on January 16th. The 5-song EP is a collection of sports-related songs (three previously unreleased) recorded by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. The hard rocking Jett, currently appearing on Broadway as Columbia in "Rocky Horror Live," has had a lifelong love affair with sports, as a fan and an athlete. As a youngster in Maryland, she became a hardcore fan of the Baltimore Orioles and grew up playing sandlot sports and riding.
"Joan can ride really well," said Kenny Laguna, Jett's manager and partner in Blackheart Records. "She can jump a horse, and she's an unbelievable baseball player." As she built her musical career, Jett still found time to participate in sports, frequently donning spikes for charity softball and baseball games. The early 80s saw Jett's Blackhearts break through as a top band, but she still found time to make it to Orioles games. The Orioles appreciated Jett's support. "I Hate Myself for Loving You" became the fans' theme song during the O's horrendous 0-21 start in 1987, and the team invited her to sing the National Anthem on Opening Day in 1989. She sang it again in 1995 before the game in which Orioles' ironman Cal Ripken tied the all-time consecutive games-played record.
Jett's version of The Star Spangled Banner, recorded on September 5, 1995, appears for the first time.
Jett's punk snarl and irresistible pop hooks provided a perfect match for extreme sports: ESPN chose her no-holds-barred version of "Real Wild Child," as the theme for the first X-Games, and later asked her to record the pop standard "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," (previously unreleased).
ESPN promoted the women's NCAA college basketball tournament with Jett's version of Sonny Curtis's "Love Is All Around." Radio deejays began to play the short version, and the Blackhearts went back into the studio to record the entire song.
When women's pro basketball became a reality in the U.S. in the 90s, Jett soon became a familiar sight on televised games, cheering her favorites on, and was eventually pulled into the broadcast booth to provide color commentary. Jett became a charter season ticket holder of the New York Liberty. At Madison Square Garden, Jett became a courtside fixture.
"From where we sit, the girls would be giving her high fives," said Laguna. "Some of these girls are rock and roll fans. And Joan is very knowledgeable about the teams, and how the game is played."
The Liberty's first three seasons produced two trips to the league finals, but no championship, and gave rise to a team motto in 2000 of "Unfinished Business." As the team headed toward the playoffs, the Liberty approached Jett to record "Unfinished Business," a song written by Raymond Castoldi.
"The Liberty are awesome," said Jett, "and I love seeing the little girls who come and realize they can be athletes -- years ago there were no role models like this for young girls growing up." -- Kathleen Warnock, November 2000
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