Treading Her Turf — JOAN JETT Gets Some Respect (FINALLY!)

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.