Suburban recording studios always look the same. They’re tucked into inconspicuous blocky gray industrial parks or office buildings or shopping centers—identified by barely discernible plaques on the door. I suppose it makes sense. After all, no one wants 200 fanatics keeping watch for Joan Jett to emerge through the doors of Syosset, Long Island’s Kingdom Sound, where her third album with the Blackhearts is being mixed. So what happens is, the visitor gets a first impression that ordinary things must be going on inside such an anonymous edifice. Only when you’re past the reception desk and standing behind a mixing board, being blasted by the propulsive rock ’n’ roll of Joan’s new tunes, does the situation’s'extraordinary nature become clear.

To put it plainly—Jett recorded the multimillion selling I Love Rock And Roll album here in 1981, and now, since the start of ’83, she’s out to do it again. Take it from all the bands who couldn’t match their first hit album with another—such a sure thing is not easy to guarantee. Joan certainly knows that truth, but on this particular Saturday, she’s not about to bite her nails over what could happen. Instead, casually but attractively dressed in a red leather jacket and well-worn jeans, Joan is taking care of what is happening. Her ears perk up when she hears a discordant note; she asks her manager/producer Kenny Laguna to modify a too-loud slice of guitar. She agrees and disagrees. In short, Joan Jett is in control. Still only in her mid-20s, Jett can already count close to a decade of music busifiess experience, first in the Runaways, and most successfully, on her own. The years have taught her to go after what she wants, because if she doesn’t, someone is apt to steal it away.