40 Years of Ramones!

Laura Bock , , , ,

The-Ramones-at-CBGB-Rock-NYC-Storefront-Photo

 

It seems like just yesterday I was playing my records (secretly) in my bedroom on my funky little disco light turntable. Little did I know then, I would soon find a music and a culture that would fuel intense creativity and passion inside me. 

Punk is officially 40 years old this year and it (nor myself) shows no signs of slowing down. 

One of the greatest Punk bands to ever hit the airwaves were the Ramones from Queens, NY. The band formed in 1974 and got their start playing a little dive bar in the NYC Bowery District called CBGB’s. After being signed to Sire Records in 1975, the Ramones first self-titled album came out in April 1976 – with the longest song being only 2:41.  The rest, as they say, is history.

1-2-3-4!!!

Any self-respecting Punk knows exactly what those numbers mean at a Ramones concert – frankly it was one of the only way to differentiate between the songs in their sets. If you thought a Ramones song was quick on their albums, it was doubly fast when played live.

The energy of a Ramones concert was magical and from my experience, has never been duplicated by any other band I’ve seen live. It’s good, clean fun at a Ramones concert, with lots of pogo-ing, singing and overall joy, especially if you are up by the stage (which I was the few times I saw the Ramones live in concert). 

 

Ramones, CBGB's 1976 L to R: Tommy Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone
Ramones, CBGB’s 1976
L to R: Tommy Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone

 

Opening this evening at the Queens Museum in Queens, NY is “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: Ramones and the Birth of Punk”, an exhibit celebrating 40 years of the Ramones and their influence on Punk. I cannot wait to take a (much-needed) road trip to see this amazing tribute to one of the most well-known and influential Punk bands ever.

In honor of this exhibit and 40 years of the Ramones, I’ve assembled a purely Ramones 40 song mixtape playlist of their music, both album and live cuts, along with a few gems from the 1979 classic indie movie, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, starring the Ramones and P.J. Soles.

This starts my year-long celebration of 40 years of Punk, and what a way to start it off! 

I’m so glad I got to see the Ramones live while they were still around. What’s your favorite Ramones song? Did you ever see them live? Please comment below with your faves and memories of this great Punk band! 

 

  1. Joey Ramone 40 years punkBlitzkrieg Bop
  2. Pinhead
  3. Teenage Lobotomy
  4. We Want The Airwaves
  5. Somebody Put Something In My Drink
  6. I Wanna Be Sedated
  7. Bonzo Goes To Bitburg (My Brain is Hanging Upside Down)
  8. I Wanna Live
  9. Rock ‘n’ Roll High School
  10. I Want You Around
  11. Do You Wanna Dance
  12. I Don’t Want To Grow Up
  13. Substitute
  14. Rock and Roll Radio
  15. Rockaway Beach
  16. Beat on the Brat
  17. Cretin Hop
  18. Judy Is A Punk
  19. Spiderman
  20. Pet Sematary
  21. California Sun
  22. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
  23. I Believe In Miracles
  24. Bye Bye Baby
  25. I Need Your Love
  26. Needles and Pins
  27. Go Mental
  28. Suzy Is A Headbanger
  29. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
  30. I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement
  31. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
  32. We’re A Happy Family
  33. Surfin’ Bird
  34. My My Kind of Girl
  35. Oh Oh I Love Her So
  36. Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
  37. Glad To See You Go
  38. Loudmouth
  39. Poison Heart
  40. Have You Ever Seen The Rain