The Ramones : Classic Or Dud

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I have to stick with the conventional view that the first three albums are uber-classic and Road to Ruin merely very good.

Especially what do you reckon about 80's and 90's Ramones? I've been listening to disc 2 of the Anthology and whilst it's pretty poor in comparison with the '76/77 bruddas, I'm still enjoying it. Sounds like they were trying really hard for a HUGE stadium anthem for most of the '80s, along with crap-but-fun attempts at thrash-metal, doo-wop metal, synth-pop-metal etc.

Hey Ho, let's go....

Dr. C, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Doc: you're going into FAR more detail than I could, and as usual I can only admire the erudition. But my position would be a bit more critical of the band in general. I can't see how they were worth more than a couple of 45s, really. Too limited, too little interest in songwriting, as far as I can see.

the pinefox, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Never liked them. Same thing with The Clash, some irritating quality which I find hard to define. But definitely overrated.

Omar, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The fact that the first two albums leave me indifferent yet I consider 'Rocket to Russia' utter classic, even though they're all THE SAME ALBUM, was a useful education for me in the theory and practice of minimalism.

tarden, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I'm mostly the predictable old school fan - 1st-3-are-classics, "Road to Ruin" & the Phil Spector one (Phil Spector produced it, big deal, how could you tell if it didn't say so on the cover) & "Subterranean Jungle" are real good too, the rest has its moments but I never bought any of it. My only slight heresy is that the *2nd* album & not the more conventional choices (1st, 3rd) is my favourite. Reason - colour of cover. Sky-blue album covers make me feel happy & optimistic.

duane, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Comparing them to the Clash, man that gives me some insight into why Europeans (except the French) don't care about rock&roll any more - 'cause they never quite got it in the 1st place.

duane, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Well, I didn't actually compare them with The Clash, just said that *as* with The Clash some hard-to-pinpoint quality irritates me. Always prefered The Stooges over The Ramones.

Omar, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

appearences in Hard Core Logo _and_ Pet Semetary = Classic! one, two, three four...

Geoff, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Dislike the first album for the left/right production, still a classic band, hmmm, yeah.

james e l, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I love the left/right production. Try listening to nothing but the bass out of one speaker...it's fantastic!

Michael Bourke, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

So simple it's brilliant. Getting every album would be beyond insane, but as mentioned those first four are pretty damn well genius. The one with Phil Spector should have been great, but alas.

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Pinefox sez - "too little interest in songwriting".

You're very much OFF the money there, Pinefox. Will explain why in detail later on.

Dr. C, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Hooray! Can't wait. (Can't begin to imagine what your argument might be, either.)

the pinefox, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Puritanists. Not much mystique in that...

Jason, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Comparing them to the Clash, man that gives me some insight into why Europeans (except the French) don't care about rock&roll any more - 'cause they never quite got it in the 1st place.

Can't quite figure out whether that's a putdown of the Clash, or the Ramones, or neither, or both - and I'm not even European !

Patrick, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

They never really made a credible album again after TOO TOUGH TO DIE (and even that was marginal), but did manage to achieve greatness with the odd track every now and again ("Tomorrow She Goes Away" off MONDO BIZARRO, for example, was grade A). Still, the first four albums...let alone IT'S ALIVE (which I maintain is the only album you'd ever need by the band) cement them as a classic, Classic, CLASSIC! Gabba Gabba Hey!

alex in nyc, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Don't tell me that Dr C has realized that the Ramones did, indeed, have little interest in songwriting...

the pinefox, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

It's too bad the Ramones have become such an institution in our punk worshipping age that no one can really talk about them frankly. I like em but they are sort of a gimmick

Mike Hanle y, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Just hang on, Pinefox - I'll get to it.

Dr. C, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

"It's too bad the Ramones have become such an institution in our punk worshipping age that no one can really talk about them frankly. I like em but they are sort of a gimmick "

They became an institution for a reason, Mike. They admittedly worked the gimmick angle (certainly no more so than, say, the much-fawned over White Stripes), but I risk flogging the very obvious point by saying they did it *FIRST*! Respect is due. As for frankness, I don't believe anyone is saying their later work is as significant as their seminal first few albums.

alex in nyc, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The fact that we're even debating this point is shocking, although no accounting for taste, etc., and some people will offer an argument for anything. CLASSIC, ok?

Sean, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Hey, nobody ever said the Ramones were automatically perfect...

Ned Raggett, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Pinefox sez : "Too little interest in songwriting".

To me this is so far wide of the mark that it completely misses what early-Ramones are all about. The analogies with Brill building and early 60's girlpop songcraft has been trotted out so often wrt The Ramones that it's tempting to dismiss it out-of-hand. There is some truth in it though - I can hear the Shangri-La's, say, in I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend or Babysitter. That's not to say that this automatically makes the Ramones good, of course.

But they're better than good - they're masters. Their best songs are great because they are lean and simple - there's nothing that shouldn't be there. Couple this with a simple melodic hook(nothing fancy - 4 chords max. and another 2 for the middle 8) and a propulsive beat, and you have something irresistable. Add some elements of The Ramones 'own world' imagery (pick from : NY street images, retards, 'nam casualties, glue, girls)and you have genius.

Take "Glad to see you Go" from Leave Home - straight into a Beach Boys/Eddie Cochrane morphed melody and just listen to the way that the song shifts gear slightly on lines 3 and 4 of the verse as Tommy closes the high-hat a touch under the chords and melody. The shift into the chorus is sublime and the sheer rush as it comes back to the last verse from the middle 8 ("I need somebody good, I need a miracle") is like a ride in the space shuttle - on the outside.

Take "Rockaway Beach" - another point on the curve linking "Summer in the City", " Dancing in the Street" and "Baby on more Time". Again - great chorus, great lyrics ("Chewin out a rhythm on my bubblegum") and a sense of PLACE. In less than 3 minutes you feel exactly what it's like to be a teenager in baking hot NY - and you feel it every single time you hear it. That's great songwriting, Pinefox.

Rockaway, Glad..., Listen to My Heart, 53rd and 3rd, You Should Never Have Opened That Door are equals of "Please, Please Me", "California Girls", "My Generation" ..... the list goes on....if you can look past the "punk" thing which is really a red herring as far as The Ramones are concerned.

I guess it all depends on what you look for in a song - they're not Burt or Jimmy Webb, but they tell a story, crank up the adrenaline, and make their own world for 3 mins for EVERY SINGLE TRACK on the first 4 albums. That's classic.

Dr. C, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Outstanding. Wonderfully worded, Dr.C!

alex in nyc, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Dr C: what you say, you say very well. You know your stuff, and you demonstrate it. Not for the first time, you have me admiring your pop knowledge.

I am still not particularly convinced about the overall point. In fact, come to think of it, I'm not at all convinced. But to be reasonable about this, I'm going to have to leave it till I've listened to the Ramones again.

the pinefox, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Bah

Mike Hanle y, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

the ramones are one of those bands i don't know much about, but would like to get round to hearing. i like beat on the brat but that is all i really know, i shall pick up some of their records soon i think

gareth, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Can't quite figure out whether that's a putdown of the Clash, or the Ramones, or neither, or both - and I'm not even European !
It's a putdown of the Clash.

duane, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Utterly classic. What punk COULDA been. But wasn't. Wasn't at all.

Sterling Clover, Tuesday, 17 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Rest you weary heads: it's a putdown of both ;)

But, Dr.C makes such a good case for Da Ramones that I'm thinking of checking them out again.

But part2, Jason makes a very interesting point that almost gets buried: the puritanism of much punk. I feel it's a key to why I don't like much of the stuff (although most of the time I think of punk as anorexic - no bottom ;) Will go up on the mountain and meditate on this insight.

Omar, Tuesday, 17 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Another great thing about The Ramones is that way that, because their songs have no flab and fuss, little details really stand out and make you listen for them each time. For example, any time they go for any kind of backing vocals it sounds great - the fade-out on "You Should Never Have Opened That Door", the "Oooh, oooh, oooh" bit on "Judy is a Punk". These details are very important and can really make a song (and the Ramones realise this) - little hooks that you may not always keep in mind, but when you play the track you're listening out for them from the opening chords of the song. MOST great songs have these elements.

Dr. C, Tuesday, 17 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Comparing them to the Clash, man that gives me some insight into why Europeans (except the French) don't care about rock&roll any more - 'cause they never quite got it in the 1st place.

Which kind of explains why I like so few American bands. Seems that whatever genre they work in, there's always that wide Rock streak that suffuses it all and kind of obliterates whatever else they're trying to do.

CountV/John T, Wednesday, 18 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Pssh, there are all kinds of American bands who don't have the dreaded blues taint you're so sensitive about, John. (By the way, welcome to ILM, yo - I remember you from rmp.)

Josh, Wednesday, 18 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...
Update: I have returned to my (limited) Ramones, and been impressed. OK, I still ca't go all the way with the Doc, but this stuff is slightly more varied and inventive than I remember. And it has a good grasp of the basics, and of pop dynamics (whatever they are). So my opinion has gone up a tad, I think. It even made me want to write Ramones songs.

the pinefox, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

This is indeed good news. What tracks did you listen to, Pinefox?

Dr. C, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

All I have is an extensive best-of. The tracks I re-played included 'California Sun' (good riffing), '...Opened That Door' (adventurous chords), 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker', 'Sheila [??] Isb A Headbanger' (ooh, what to think of that STOOPID bit at the end when they just sing 'head-ban-ger'?) - oh, and the one that has always stuck in my mind over the years with a little poignancy:

OH-OH-I-LOVE-HER-SO-O-OH.

the pinefox, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Suzy is a headbanger on mine, I guess you have the Australia-only version!

Dr. C, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Hey, I can't tell the difference. I know Judy is a punk, though. Isn't she?

the pinefox, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

ah doh wa be berry idda peh seh-u-te-erry, ah doo wa a li my li aggi-i-i. FANTASTIC!!!!! even at their worst.

bob snoom, Saturday, 3 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Bob - yes it IS fantastic. That's kind of what I was getting at in the original question - their 80's (and early 90's) work still refuses to give up being fun, despite dodgy producers, ill-advised style shifts etc etc. Pet Sematary is a great example. We didn't really explore later Ramones in the way that I'd hoped - and I got sidetracked into trying to establish the case for EARLY Ramones as pop-meisters. (This was worth it in order to budge The Pinefox a couple of inches towards agreement on The Ramones = classic pop issue. He owes me a beer or six.) Best Late Ramones track - "I Don't Wanna Grow Up".

Dr. C, Saturday, 3 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

!!??!!

the pinefox, Tuesday, 6 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

3 years pass...
R.A.M.O.N.E.S.

So I went to see what I thought was going to be a bunch of dodgy old punks on Saturday night and ended up seeing a dodgy old Scottish Ramones (this is a good thing).

Then I told my son (Mark, 5 and three quarters) that "Brian's band sound like the Ramones" and his jaw dropped and he said "THE RAMONES? REALLY? COOL!" and I think it's cool as fuck that my kid thinks it's cool that someone his dad knows is in a band that sounds a wee bit like The Ramones.

Then I listened to It's Alive this morning on the way to work and it reasserted itself as not only the best live album ever, but possibly one of the BEST ANYTHINGS EVER!

C.L.A.S.S.I.C.

Anyway, Weird Tales of the Ramones, anyone got it yet and want to tell me why I really need to buy it regardless of what I already own?

Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 22 August 2005 15:50 (7 years ago) Permalink

Uhhh . . which one? I've seen three Scottish Ramones covers bands. Which pretty much says it for me on this thread. But if I could keep just one rock album of any kind, it would have to be 'It's alive'

Soukesian, Monday, 22 August 2005 16:38 (7 years ago) Permalink

They weren't a covers band. They were a Scottish band who sounded like the Ramones, if the Ramones ever decided to sing songs about Coatbridge Baths and Shereen Nanjiani, that is. They did play Sheena Is A Punk Rocker just so people could go "Ah... that's who they sound like!"

Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 22 August 2005 18:15 (7 years ago) Permalink

Anyone that says Dud is a dud.

Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Monday, 22 August 2005 19:05 (7 years ago) Permalink

Amen, brother.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 22 August 2005 19:05 (7 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...
Rock & Roll High School is still a fantastic film.

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 22 April 2006 02:09 (7 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

This is looking pretty classic:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ramones-Its-Alive-1974-1996/dp/B000EGEVZK

Finally, the It's Alive footage on DVD, with about, er, 100 other tracks!

DVD1:
-------
CBGB New York, NY (9/15/74)
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement
Judy Is A Punk

Max’s Kansas City New York, NY (4/18/76)
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
53rd and 3rd

The Club Cambridge, MA (5/12/76)
Chain Saw

Max’s Kansas City New York, NY (10/8/76)
Havana Affair
Listen To My Heart

My Father’s Place Roslyn, NY (4/13/77)
I Remember You
Carbona Not Glue

CBGB New York, NY (6/11/77)
Blitzkrieg Bop
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Beat On The Brat
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
Rockaway Beach
Cretin Hop
Oh Oh I Love Her So
Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World

The Second Chance Ann Arbor, MI (6/26/77)
Rockaway Beach
Carbona Not Glue

The Ivanhoe Theater Chicago, IL (7/6/77)
Pinhead
Suzy Is A Headbanger

The Armadillo Austin, TX (7/14/77) Early Show
Commando
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

The Armadillo Austin, TX (7/14/77) Late Show
Now I Wanna Be A Good Boy
53rd & 3rd
Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World

Liberty Hall Houston, TX (7/15/77)
Loudmouth
I Remember You
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment

Liberty Hall Houston, TX (7/16/77)
Oh Oh I Love Her So
Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World

Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert L.A., CA (8/9/77)
Loudmouth
Judy Is A Punk
Glad To See You Go
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment

The Camera Mart Stages New York, NY (9/3/77)
Swallow My Pride
Pinhead
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

It’s Alive, The Rainbow Theatre London (12/31/77)
Blitzkrieg Bop
I Wanna Be Well
Glad To See You Go
You're Gonna Kill That Girl
Commando
Havana Affair
Cretin Hop
Listen To My Heart
I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You
Pinhead
Do You Wanna Dance?
Now I Wanna Be A Good Boy
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
We're A Happy Family

Bonus features:
- Dee Dee and Joey - The Beginning (Interview)
- Tommy - Forest Hills High School (Interview)
- Danny Fields - Revelations (Interview)
- Joey & Dee Dee - Influences (Interview)
- Joey & Danny - Artistic Growth (Interview)
- Violence? (Interview)
- What is Punk? (Interview)
- Tommy - How I learned to play drums and we got a record deal (Interview)
- Dee Dee - Coffee And Cigarettes (Interview)
- Johnny - Hard To Stop (Interview)
- Argentina - The First Time (Interview)
- Mandagsborgen (Interview)
- Sha Na Na Shenanigans (Interview)
- It's Not My Place (In The 9 To 5 World) (Video)
- Somebody Put Something In My Drink (Rare Video) (Rough Cut)
- Photo Galleries (Also Ramones fans got chance to send photos taken by them to the DVD).

DVD2:
-------
Musikladen Bremen, Germany (9/13/78)
Rockaway Beach
Teenage Lobotomy
Blitzkrieg Bop
Don't Come Close
I Don't Care
She's The One
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Cretin Hop
Listen To My Heart
I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You
Pinhead

The Old Grey Whistle Test London (9/19/78)
Don't Come Close
She's The One
Go Mental

Top of the Pops London (9/28/78)
Don't Come Close

Oakland, CA (12/28/78)
I'm Against It
Needles And Pins

San Francisco Civic Center, S.F., CA (6/9/79)
I Want You Around
I'm Affected
California Sun

The Old Grey Whistle Test London (1/15/79
Rock 'N' Roll High School
Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?

Top of the Pops London (1/31/80)
Baby I Love You

Sha Na Na L.A., CA (5/19/80)
Rock 'N' Roll High School

Mandagsborsen Stockholm, Sweden (10/26/81)
We Want The Airwaves

TVE Musical Express Madrid, Spain (11/17/81)
This Business Is Killing Me
All Quiet On The Eastern Front

US Festival San Bernardino, CA (9/3/82)
Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
Rock 'N' Roll High School
I Wanna Be Sedated
Beat On The Brat
The KKK Took My Baby Away
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Chinese Rocks
Teenage Lobotomy

The Old Grey Whistle Test London (2/26/85)
Wart Hog
Chasing The Night

Obras Sanitarias, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2/3/87)
Blitzkrieg Bop
Freak Of Nature
Crummy Stuff
Love Kills
I Don't Care
Too Tough To Die
Mama's Boy

Provinssirock Festival, Seinäjoki, Finland (6/4/88)
I Don't Want You Anymore
Weasel Face
Garden Of Serenity
I Just Want To Have Something To Do
Surfin' Bird
Cretin Hop
Somebody Put Something In My Drink
We're A Happy Family

R.I.T., Rochester, NY (10/8/88)
Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio
Wart Hog

Rolling Stone Club Milan, Italy (3/16/92)
Psycho Therapy
I Believe In Miracles
I Wanna Live
My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg)
Pet Sematary
Animal Boy
Pinhead

Top of the Pops London (6/29/95)
I Don't Wanna Grow Up

River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina (3/16/96)
I Wanna Be Sedated
R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
Blitzkrieg Bop

StanM, Monday, 27 August 2007 18:53 (5 years ago) Permalink

(also, LOL at those reviewers going on about this without looking up the tracklist)

StanM, Monday, 27 August 2007 18:55 (5 years ago) Permalink

Oof -- might have to pick this up.

Alex in NYC, Monday, 27 August 2007 18:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

I only really like the first album.

Bill Magill, Thursday, 14 January 2010 14:20 (3 years ago) Permalink

rocket to russia is my fave, the first four are all great tho

shartyman (stevie), Thursday, 14 January 2010 14:21 (3 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

This is fantastic:

This is a segment with interview, live footage and sometimes hilarious fan reactions to a Ramones show in Minneapolis in 1978. I like to imagine that all the '80s hardcore kids were at this show, or at least caught this video on their PBS affiliate.

NYCNative, Tuesday, 8 February 2011 05:53 (2 years ago) Permalink

Was inspired by this thread to listen to some of The Ramones first album. "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" sounds so sincere with its 50s pop sound. I'm surprised an indie film or a TV commercial haven't used it yet.

Wanted to slap a teengaer who didn't know Are You That Somebody (lilsoulbrother), Tuesday, 8 February 2011 20:12 (2 years ago) Permalink

(xpost) That vid is great, thanks for linking! I grew up in the Twin Cities, but didn't live here '76 - '78. I had forgotten they went from playing at a dive bar in St. Paul in the summer of '77, to a large theater in January of the following year. With The Runaways!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycdreamin/4310636885/

Glorified Lolcat (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 8 February 2011 20:21 (2 years ago) Permalink

"I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" sounds so sincere with its 50s pop sound. I'm surprised an indie film or a TV commercial haven't used it yet.

It actually got an airing in the late 90s indie flick Whatever, but only me and maybe five other people remember the film. Good soundtrack tho, Pretenders, Motorhead, The Jam...

Your cousin, Marvin Cobain (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 8 February 2011 21:02 (2 years ago) Permalink

Almost can't be bothered to contribute, as they were/are so obviously classic .

Agreed,though ,they never matched the first three in the studio. My introduction to them was It's Alive. I bought that, I only had my paper round money and it seemed such great value for money back then.
Sadly, I can't even recall the name of their last 16 albums. For me, they tailed off massively around the only time I ever saw them live in 85 at teh Lyceum (Too Tough to Die)

Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Tuesday, 8 February 2011 21:06 (2 years ago) Permalink

amazing clip

"they're not the most talented, but they're the most fun" !!! lol

bien-pensant vibe (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 8 February 2011 21:53 (2 years ago) Permalink

funny revive, just tonight a guy 10 years older than me told me that he discovered the ramones in '78, his senior year of high school, and it sort of changed the world for him. i had the same experience about 4 or 5 years later in middle school.

something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 9 February 2011 06:05 (2 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

'i remember you' is just about the perfect pop song, i've realized.

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Saturday, 16 April 2011 02:56 (2 years ago) Permalink

4 months pass...

Not listening to them for a while, then going into overdrive listening to the first four I came across the notion, that I really needed all of the Ramones studio albums. I've been picking them up one after another over the past few months and some of the later ones like Brain Drain and Acid Eaters which I haven't heard since they were new, while not sonically touching those early works are still pretty damn good for what they are and at points great. I never had Mondo Bizarro or Adios Amigo, but I will at some point in the next few months. I still need to get Animal Boy, which is out of print like some of the later 80s stuff currently is at this point. But on the rest, I say they were more consistent than perhaps given credit.

earlnash, Wednesday, 24 August 2011 04:06 (1 year ago) Permalink

Animal Boy is pretty horrid, apart from Bonzo Goes to Bitburg.

Trudi Styler, the Creator (ithappens), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 07:08 (1 year ago) Permalink

The "Weird Tales of the Ramone" set is very worth it.

Disc 1 represents the first four albums.

Discs 2 and 3 represent all the others with at least four tracks off each, enough to show there wasn't a massive slacking off of quality anywhere.

Disc 4 is a DVD of mainly later period stuff, but then again that wouldn't get collected any place else really.

And the booklet is excellent, different cartoonists illustrate how they were, episodes from their history (check the dirctor's audio track from the R&R High school DVD for sources), and general fan-style nuttiness.

I got one cheap in an HMV sale around 8 years ago, glad I didn't plump for the 2CD "anthology"...

Mark G, Wednesday, 24 August 2011 08:37 (1 year ago) Permalink

I must admit I prefer the Ramones' version of "Baby I Love You" to the original.

Why'd You Wanna Tweet Me So Bad? (dog latin), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 09:48 (1 year ago) Permalink

Alice (now 11), as regular readers know, her first favourite band was the Ramones..

cf: Parents forbidding music

.. anyway, not that long ago we were in a shoe shop and "Baby I love you" came on, she'd not heard it before.

"That's the Ramones!" I say.

"Really?"

"Yep. That was their biggest hit."

"Oh! Was that because....." she begins.

"what, because it sounds nothing like their other stuff?"

"Yeah"

"Yup"

Mark G, Wednesday, 24 August 2011 09:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

i had no idea it was a hit, let alone their biggest.

Why'd You Wanna Tweet Me So Bad? (dog latin), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 10:03 (1 year ago) Permalink

No 8 in 1980. Made it to Top of the Pops.

Trudi Styler, the Creator (ithappens), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 10:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

It's the easiest Ramones single to find on 7" in the UK, so they must've sold a lot of them.

The Eyeball Of Hull (Colonel Poo), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 10:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

11 months pass...

I agree with the abundant praise for It's Alive on this thread. and for any doubters - here's the 26 minute edit of the show from the dvd; one of the greatest half hours of rock concert footage ever.

Campari G&T, Saturday, 11 August 2012 13:40 (9 months ago) Permalink

has anyone read johnny's book?

fit and working again, Saturday, 11 August 2012 15:02 (9 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

A young music critic at the time speaks:

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:04 (7 months ago) Permalink

I assume that was the Morrissey letter that was going around Facebook earlier, but I'm not seeing anything linked to. Is that my computer?

Stevolende, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:07 (7 months ago) Permalink

It is -- odd, working for me here.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:09 (7 months ago) Permalink

would love to know what lp this young'un won.

mark e, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:16 (7 months ago) Permalink

I have this impression that Morrissey only likes 12 bands and that that has never changed (Patti Smith, the Dolls, T. Rex, Sparks, Bowie eh who cares who the others are)

stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:17 (7 months ago) Permalink

Jobriath would be another.

crustaceanrebel, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:18 (7 months ago) Permalink

the last sentence should be referred to his solo career

nostormo, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:19 (7 months ago) Permalink

I remember when he was a big supporter of the Woodentops, then they put out a single he didn't like (as good as anything else they did) and he started referring to them as "the Suddenflops" and spent about twenty hours dismissing the single. Which was actually pretty great. He did a similar thing with James, but they probably deserved it.

crustaceanrebel, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:20 (7 months ago) Permalink

funny you should say that, as i clearly remember having a discussion with a smiths fan, and he hated the woodentops, whereas i loved them, and we used to have heated debates as to the merits of each band.

the line in the sand was drawn, and i have often wondered what caused the rift.

mark e, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:24 (7 months ago) Permalink


not sure what's worse, writing that letter or drinking a corona on johnny's grave

tylerw, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:25 (7 months ago) Permalink

behave. he never drank the beer.

mark e, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:26 (7 months ago) Permalink

lol regrets?

nostormo, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:27 (7 months ago) Permalink

wow never seen Johnny's grave before that is amazing! where is it

stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:28 (7 months ago) Permalink

i think it's in the Hollywood Forever cemetery.

tylerw, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:29 (7 months ago) Permalink

http://www.hollywoodforever.com/stories?ls_id=20259

tylerw, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:30 (7 months ago) Permalink

Morrissey was apparently a big Ramones fan during the Smiths days, so I guess it didn't take him <i>too</i> long to come around.

JRN, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:46 (7 months ago) Permalink

Forgot to hit that "convert to BBcode" button. Rookie mistake.

JRN, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:47 (7 months ago) Permalink

welcome rookie.

mark e, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:48 (7 months ago) Permalink

nicholas cage's johnny impression!!

Philip Nunez, Thursday, 20 September 2012 21:48 (7 months ago) Permalink

aw that nicholas cage thing is actually really sweet

stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 20 September 2012 22:22 (7 months ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

The Ramones meet Regis and Kathy Lee

Ned Raggett, Monday, 10 December 2012 16:24 (5 months ago) Permalink

Meanwhile, on the 6 train...

Mark G, Monday, 10 December 2012 16:33 (5 months ago) Permalink

awesome clip - thx!

Twerkin in a coal mine (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 10 December 2012 16:52 (5 months ago) Permalink

xpost -- I see you noticed that as well.

Ned Raggett, Monday, 10 December 2012 16:56 (5 months ago) Permalink

i don't know if i've ever seen a human male with skinnier legs than joey ramone.

the oral history of (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Monday, 10 December 2012 16:57 (5 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

inventing post rock

how's life, Friday, 1 February 2013 17:53 (3 months ago) Permalink

has anyone read johnny's book?

― fit and working again, Saturday, August 11, 2012 8:02 AM (5 months ago

Yep. It's a great read. Not brilliantly written - it jumps all over the place, he skips a lot, repeats a lot and a few other problems. But you really get a sense of his character - and what a character he is. He's a grouchy, conservative, misanthrope with a chip on both shoulders who won't tolerate bullshit of any kind and loves baseball, movies and punk music (in that order). He's paranoid about the Ramones' image but loves them and is so proud of them, regards as the best ever and loves his celebrity friends (there are probably hundreds of photos of him with famous people). Seems like he and Joey were complete opposites and Joey made him crazy. Dee Dee he loved and he really respected him, while openly admitting to bullying him and considering him a fuck-up. There's good, non-judgmental insights into the various drug problems etc that they went through. He writes about each album and rates them etc, like a true music geek. There's lots of lists actually. Then it ends as he is dying and it's pretty touching as he does the "I couldn't have wished for a better life" routine. Worth your time if you love the Ramones.

everything, Friday, 1 February 2013 19:01 (3 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Here's an interesting question that was asked on twitter...who played the keyboards on "Let's Dance"?

A. Begrand, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 04:20 (2 months ago) Permalink

Craig Leon. This is mentioned in Mickey Leigh's book "I Slept With Joey Ramone".

everything, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 04:36 (2 months ago) Permalink

The two of them, plus other people like Arturo Vega added quite a few tiny details on top of the bass/guitars/drums/vocals of the Ramones after the formal recording of the album - handclaps, a few "ooooohs" here and there, that weird tss-boom sound on the chorus in Havana Affair etc. For Let's Dance he specifically mentions that Leon played a huge pipe organ that was in the studio.

everything, Tuesday, 12 March 2013 04:45 (2 months ago) Permalink


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