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. 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.
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. RECORD STORE DAY BLACK FRIDAY EXCLUSIVE: I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL: THE SHADOW ALBUM 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
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