RAMONES Just what's needed a thread for one of the most cultured Bands the world has seen. I was privileged to see the Ramones 'live' as a young un in the seventies and that was it for me. The Originals and the best - Johnny, Dee Dee, Joey, Tommy Influence for Generations Short, sweet and to the point. [video=youtube;zGgfHZ02I2k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGgfHZ02I2k[/video]
Love 'em. The best. Unique when they came along - but spawned a thousand imitators since. I can't seem to post videos at present. Would recommend the "Leave Home" album as an introduction.
Very much so. Have been meaning to post more vids, but not had the chance. I never had the 'Leave Home' album until a few months back, cracking album and for reason I didn't have it.
Ramones Top 10: 1. Oh Oh I Love Her So 2. Rockaway Beach 3. Blitzkrieg Bop 4. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker 5. Glad To See You Go 6. A Real Cool Time 7. Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment 8. You're Gonna Kill That Girl 9. Judy Is A Punk 10. I Wanna Be Sedated I could have picked 100 songs as alternatives for 6-10 Hey ho, let's go!
Been listening to this again Incredible 28 songs in 55 minutes. Starts with an amazing version of "Blitzkrieg Bop". 35 years+ on and the adrenalin rush is undiminished.
It was never the same when Tommy left. And another blow when Dee Dee went. There were plenty of great moments after the first three albums, but plenty of duff ones too. That live album encapsulates everything that was great. All songs from the only three albums they'd done, all played brilliantly at breakneck speed. All brudders, one happy family; not pop, not punk, just the raw energy and melodic three chords of the Ramones. If they were judged solely on the melodies without the buzzsaw guitars, the image, the punk label, the New York street cool, the drugs and drink, the daft lyrics, the leather jackets, Joey's voice, the haircuts, the logo, the 1-2-3-4s etc (which you either love dearly or hate), they were the best songwriters bar none. The tunes stand up to scrutiny alongside the best The Beatles, The Beach Boys or anyone could produce.
Much better than the studio version. No heavy production or keyboards, strings or whatever. Sounds more like a track from "Leave Home"
This is soooo much better than the studio version too. Why did they work with these big name record producers? They should have let Tommy produce the records. Only the first three albums had that raw edge. The songs were driven by either Joey's voice or Dee Dee's bass. They didn't need fancy production with keyboards or horns or any other rubbish added. These demos are proof that they were still writing great Ramones songs - ruined sadly, to some extent, by overproduction.
Another demo version which is better than the final album version. Spector may have been a great producer, but he wasn't suited to the Ramones.
Current Favourite Top 10: 1. Havana Affair 2. Commando 3. Ramona 4. I Wanna Be Sedated 5. Bonzo Goes to Bitburg 6. The KKK Took My Baby Away 7. Surfin' Bird 8. Swallow My Pride 9. I Don't Wanna Grow Up 10. Pinhead
Never rated "Road To Ruin" in the same league as the first three albums, but it does contain some gems. "I Wanna Be Sedated" of course - and this, with an early video apparently taking the mick out of "Grease".
