The Ramones Heard Them Here First - CD

Various: The Ramones Heard Them Here First version on CD in Standard edition. This particular edition was published in United Kingdom in publishing company Ace on 4. September 2012.

1, 2, 3, 4...Die US-Punk-Institution hatte von ihrem ersten Auftritt im CBGB's bis zum finalen Gig 22 Jahre später immer Pop-Klassiker im Repertoire. Ihre Liebe zu 60er Jahre Girlgroup-, Pop-, und Surf-Sounds ist jedem Fan bekannt. Somit ist es auch endlich mal an der Zeit diese Einflüsse mit einem erstklassigen Sampler zu würdigen. Die Ramones hatten diese Tracks nicht nur in ihrem Live-Repertoire, sondern auch auf ihren Studio-Alben, bis sie dann mit 'Acid Eaters' 1993 sogar ein komplettes Cover-Album veröffentlichten. Hier sind 24 Songs in chronologischer Reihenfolge wie sie auf den Alben der Band erschienen. Von Chris Montez' 'Let's Dance' (auf dem 1976er Debüt) bis Louis Armstrongs 'What A Wonderful Worlds' von Joey's erstem, posthum veröffentlichten Soloalbum. Es gibt Surf (Jan & Dean), Psychedelia (Amboy Dukes), Folkrock (Byrds), British Invasion (Searchers) oder Bubblegum Pop (Music Explosion). Begleitet wird das alles von einem umfangreichen Booklet mit Linernotes von Ian Johnston (Biograf von Nick Cave und Cramps). The funny thing is that throughout their career, the band paid homage to their roots and influences by peppering their albums with versions of their favourite songs by other artists, so that they also sounded like Ramones songs. To see what I mean, try listening to this CD without coming across 'Blitzkrieg Bop', 'Carbona Not Glue' or 'I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend'. The collection is arranged in the order in which the Ramones cut the songs, starting with Chris Montez's original 'Let's Dance', which the band revived on their 1976 debut album 'Ramones'. In some cases, instead of pedantically going over the original versions, some songs are included in the version the Ramones first heard. Thus, "California Sun", which appeared on their second album "Leave Home", is heard here performed by Riviere (not Joe Jones); "Surfin' Bird" and "Do You Wanna Dance" from 1977's "Rocket To Russia" are by the Trashmen and Beach Boys (as opposed to Riviere and Bobby Freeman); and "Needles And Pins" from their fourth LP "Road To Ruin" is by the Searchers (not Jackie DeShannon). In 1978, the boys teamed up with the Paley Brothers to update Ritchie Valens' "Come On, Let's Go," a childhood favorite of Joey Ramone; the group's 1980 album "End Of The Century," produced by Joey's hero Phil Spector, included a revival of the Ronettes' "Baby I Love You"; and in 1982, Joey teamed up with Holly (of Holly & the Italians) to cut a version of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe." 'Little Bit O' Soul', here by Music Explosion, and 'Time Has Come Today' by the Chambers Brothers were covered by the band on the 1983 album 'Subterranean Jungle'. These sessions also spawned a version of Fruitgum Co's 1910 track 'Indian Giver', which snuck onto the B-side of a twelve-inch single in 1987. In 1993 the Ramones released 'Acid Eaters', an entire album of cover versions, represented on this CD by Jan & Dean's 'Surf City', the Troggs' 'I Can't Control Myself', the Byrds' 'My Back Pages', "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" by the Seeds, Max Frost & The Troopers' "Shape Of Things To Come", Amboy Dukes' "Journey To The Center Of The Mind", Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody To Love" and Love's "7 And 7 Is". The Japanese and Brazilian editions of the album also included a version of the Beach Boys' 'Surfin' Safari'. 'Adios Amigos', the Ramones' 1995 farewell album, included their version of Tom Waits' 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up'. Waits repaid him by contributing a cover version of 'The Return Of Jackie And Judy' to the Ramones tribute album 'We're A Happy Family'. It's not every day that one band records a tribute to another, but Motorhead did just that with 'R. A.M. O.N. E.S.' on their 1991 album '1916'. In return, the Ramones' own version of the song was included on the Japanese edition of 'Adios Amigos'. The set closes with '1969' by the Stooges and, poignantly, Louis Armstrong's 'What A Wonderful World', which appeared on Joey's solo album 'Don't Worry About Me' released in 2002 when he, Johnny and Dee Dee were all dead. The Ramones were no more. Look, touching. By Mick Patrick (acerecords. co. uk)

Album spans genres Rock, Psychedelic rock, Garage Rock and Surf.