This ’70s flop topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in 1982.

In 1982, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts turned a 1975 flop into a global smash hit with their cover of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

The original version of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” was released in 1975 by the British band The Arrows as the B-side to their single, “Broken Down Heart.” While the song received a generally positive response — prompting the band to re-release it as an A-side — it didn’t gain enough momentum to secure a position on the charts.

Despite its initial failure, the song experienced a massive resurgence in the early ’80s. In 1976, Jett, then a member of The Runaways, saw the Arrows perform “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” on a U.K. television program. Inspired, she recorded a cover of the track with the Sex Pistols in 1979. In 1982, she returned to the studio with the Blackhearts to record the rendition that would go on to dominate global charts.

Within two months of its release, the cover climbed up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks. In addition to its U.S. triumph, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” also topped the charts in Canada, Sweden and Australia, and reached No. 4 on the U.K. Singles Chart. The cover’s undeniable dominance ultimately made it the No. 3 song of the year — a remarkable feat for a track that had previously failed to break into the charts.

With chart prosperity came commercial success, and “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” certainly saw strong sales. Within a year of its release, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over two million units in the U.S. alone. Today, the song has sold over 4 million physical copies globally.

In 2016, Jett’s cover was critically recognized, earning a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame for its undeniable influence on the music industry. More than four decades after its release, the track remains popular in the streaming era. On Spotify alone, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” has amassed over 674 million streams, attesting to the song’s enduring legacy.

DJ Taz's Take: I never knew The Arrows wrote the track, I think in this case, timing was everything. Joan Jett has the look and amped the song up a bit. All and all turn it up.

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