Blast from the Past: The Ramones' Ramones

Of all the New York bands that ever were perhaps none are more famous than The Ramones, the band that is widely regarded as the first punk band (they probably weren't) and wrote songs that almost never surpassed three minute in length. The repeated choruses and verses all the time, and if you listen to it on a regular basis it sounds like some grown up nursery rhyme with dirty or dysfunctional lyrics. Yet they are one of the most important bands of all-time because they did the simple song better then anyone else.

When Ramones was released back in 1976 everyone was going nuts over the stadium rock on AM Radio or over disco which was more or less destroying music, if you believe everything you read. Then these four dudes from Queens barely learn how to use their instruments and write some of the catchiest songs ever written. It seems crazy, but damn if that isn't what we're taught in school these days. Listening to Ramones you can totally hear what your dad or cool uncle went ape shit over back in the 70's, and I'm pretty sure you went ape shit over it when he passed on the worn out record or tape that he had since the day it came out.

For whatever reason these songs are magical in their simplicity. The music is obscenely easy to sing along with, even now we remember all the words to every one of these songs, and that makes you feel like a part of it. Instead of fancy costumes The Ramones stuck with jeans, Chuck Taylor's, and leather jackets that were usually ripped, worn out, or destroyed in some way or another. They were the people and throughout their storied career, with all the crazy stories, they were the rock stars we were most likely to become, even if we never became rock stars.

I'm sure a million people have waxed poetically about all the great things The Ramones did and all the reason their self-titled debut is one of the greatest records ever made, but we all know it because we've all heard it on our own, we've heard all our favorite bands be influenced by it, and we still go nuts when these songs come over the PA at whatever little club show or bar we happen to be hanging at. The reason I bring it up today is that 5-years ago yesterday Johnny Ramone was the third Ramone to pass away joining Dee Dee and Joey and I thought we should all take a listen to what they left us and remember it.
The Ramones - "Judy Is A Punk"
The Ramones - "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue"
The Ramones - "Havana Affair"
The Ramones - "53rd & 3rd"
The Ramones - "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World"