Watch: Joan Jett premieres her cover of T. Rex's ‘Jeepster’
Lifted from an upcoming Marc Bolan and T. Rex tribute album
Joan Jett has shared her version of T. Rex’s 1971 glam rock anthem ‘Jeepster’ from the upcoming tribute album ‘AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs Of Marc Bolan and T.Rex’.
For her tribute to her teenage idol Marc Bolan, Joan Jett is joined by Marc Ribot on guitar, Jim White on drums (PJ Harvey, Cat Power), Thomas Bartlett arranging and on piano (The National, Sufjan Stevens) and production by Hal Willner, who sadly died due to complications brought on by COVID-19 in April.
The accompanying Ethan Silverman directed black-and-white video combines footage of Joan Jett laying down the ‘Jeepster’ cover at The Village Studios in Los Angeles, with archive footage of T. Rex performing live in the 1970s.
Lifted from T. Rex’s seminal sixth studio album ‘Electric Warrior’, ‘Jeepster’ was originally released on 5th November 1971 and peaked at no.2 on the UK single chart.
It has previously been covered by Fish, Hollywood Vampires and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and ex-guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, amongst others.
Watch Joan Jett’s cover of T. Rex’s ‘Jeepster’:
And here’s the original T. Rex classic:
Featuring 26 covers of Marc Bolan and T. Rex tracks, ‘AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs Of Marc Bolan and T.Rex’ is released on Friday 4th September 2020 om BMG.
Other covers include U2 and Elton John’s version of ‘Get It On’, Perry Farrell’s take on ‘Rock On’, Todd Rundgren’s version of ‘Planet Queen’ and Nick Cave covering ‘Cosmic Dancer’.
The highly eclectic musical cast also includes Kesha, Devendra Banhart, Marc Almond, Børns, Helga Davis, Elysian Fields, Gavin Friday, Emily Haines, Jesse Harris, King Khan, Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl, Maria McKee, Father John Misty, John Cameron Mitchell, Gaby Moreno, Nena, Beth Orton, Peaches, Lucinda Williams and Victoria Williams With Julian Lennon.
The entire album was helmed by the aforementioned late producer Hal Willner who had been working on the project for several years at studios in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, London, Paris and Berlin.
Marc Bolan died in a car crash in London on 16th September 1977 two weeks before his 30th birthday.
The ‘AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs Of Marc Bolan and T.Rex’ track-listing is as follows:
1) Children Of The Revolution - Kesha
2) Cosmic Dancer - Nick Cave
3) Jeepster - Joan Jett
4) Scenescof - Devendra Banhart
5) Life’s A Gas - Lucinda Williams
6) Solid Gold, Easy Action - Peaches
7) Dawn Storm - Børns
8) Hippy Gumbo - Beth Orton
9) I Love To Boogie - King Khan
10) Beltane Walk - Gaby Moreno
11) Get It On - U2 feat. Elton John
12) Diamond Meadows - John Cameron Mitchell
13) Ballrooms Of Mars - Emily Haines
14) Main Man - Father John Misty
15) Rock On - Perry Farrell
16) The Street and Babe Shadow - Elysian Fields
17) The Leopards - Gavin Friday
18) Metal Guru - Nena
19) Teenage Dream - Marc Almond
20) Organ Blues - Helga Davis
21) Planet Queen - Todd Rundgren
22) Great Horse - Jessie Harris
23) Mambo Sun - Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl
24) Pilgrim’s Tale - Victoria Williams with Julian Lennon
25) Bang A Gong (Get It On) Reprise - David Johansen
26) She Was Born To Be My Unicorn / Ride A White Swan - Maria McKee & Gavin Friday