1982 was a banner year for former Runaway Joan Jett — “I Love Rock & Roll” was number one for a kajillion weeks, “Crimson and Clover” followed it into the Top 10, and even a remake of Gary Glitter’s “Do You Wanna Touch” sneaked into the Top 20. That’s a tough year to follow for anyone.
So it’s understandable that all eyes were on Joan and the Blackhearts when their next album, er, Album, came out the following year. In what was probably a calculated effort to spotlight Jett’s songwriting skills, the first single chosen from the project was “Fake Friends,” the first Top 40 hit Joan scored that wasn’t a cover. A bluesy, glam-seasoned stomp, “Fake Friends” was a bit more lighthearted than previous Jett hits, which may have accounted for its low chart showing. The video matched the light nature of the song — I’m guessing the running motif of people turning into cardboard cutouts is to reflect how fake friends are pretty flimsy? Maybe?
