Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett and the Blackhearts have announced the release of “I Love Rock ‘N Roll + The Shadow Album,” a limited edition collection celebrating the legendary album’s 45 th anniversary, coming on December 11, 2026.
Available as a two-record vinyl set and a two-CD set, the collection pairs the original album with newly unearthed, previously unreleased 1980 recordings. Ahead of the anniversary collection’s release, “I Love Rock ‘N Roll: The Shadow Album” will be available November 27 in the US, Canada and UK as a standalone Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive vinyl LP featuring the exclusive bonus track “Black Leather (Live).”
Recorded in 1980 at New York’s ODO Studios, “The Shadow Album” captures early versions of the songs that became “I Love Rock ‘N Roll.” The band had played the material on the road for more than a year before booking a one-hour studio session and performing the set live. Presumed lost for decades, the tapes were recently rediscovered and restored.
“We put everything we had into these songs, and these recordings capture the excitement of finding our sound as a band,” says Joan Jett. “At the time, we were focused on making music we believed in and getting it out there. To be able to share this part of the story with our fans after all these years is so special. Knowing people are still connecting with these songs 45 years later means a lot.”
“We went in there, the band played live in the studio and we were efficient because it was just like doing the show,” recalls Blackhearts cofounder and producer Kenny Laguna. “When we were done, we thought, wow, this sounds great and came up with the idea that this would be the new album. We did some overdubs, and that one hour was stellar.”
The recordings include early versions of “I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” “Crimson and Clover” and “Little Drummer Boy,” along with “Bits and Pieces,” “Victim of Circumstance,” “Love Is Pain” and more.
The limited-edition 45th-anniversary collection’s artwork was created by artist and Obey founder Shepard Fairey. The anniversary celebrations will also include a collection of T-shirts, jewelr and other merchandise, even a beer collaboration with Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
Additional collaborations and anniversary events will be announced soon.
TRACKLISTS:
RECORD STORE DAY BLACK FRIDAY EXCLUSIVE: I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL: THE SHADOW ALBUM
Side A
Bits and Pieces
Victim of Circumstance
Crimson and Clover
I Love Rock ’N Roll
Little Drummer Boy
You’re Too Possessive
Be Straight
Side B
Love Is Pain
nag
I Love Playin’ with Fire
Wait for Me (Live)
Star Star (Live)
Black Leather (Live) – Record Store Day Exclusive Bonus Track
Record Store Day exclusive bonus track: Black Leather (Live)
LIMITED-EDITION 45TH-ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION: I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL + THE SHADOW ALBUM
Record 1: I Love Rock ‘N Roll — Side A
I Love Rock ’N Roll
(I’m Gonna) Run Away
Love Is Pain
nag
Crimson and Clover
Victim of Circumstance
Record 1: Side B
Bits and Pieces
Be Straight
You’re Too Possessive
Little Drummer Boy
Oh Woe Is Me
You Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Live)
Record 2: The Shadow Album — Side C
Bits and Pieces
Victim of Circumstance
Crimson and Clover
I Love Rock ’N Roll
Little Drummer Boy
You’re Too Possessive
Be Straight
Record 2: Side D
Love Is Pain
nag
I Love Playin’ with Fire
Wait for Me (Live)
Star Star (Live)
Source: variety.com
