That Eric Alper

The Ramones (Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and Tommy) sounded like nothing else when their self-titled debut came roaring onto the scene in 1976. Even so, original drummer Tommy Ramone did do a pretty good job describing the band’s primal sound when he penned the quartet’s press bio that same year. “The Ramones all originate from Forest Hills and kids who grew up there either became musicians, degenerates or dentists. The Ramones are a little of each,” he observed. “Their sound is not unlike a fast drill on a rear molar.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Ramones, recently named the “Greatest Punk Album Of All Time” by Rolling Stone, and certainly one of the most important and influential albums of all time. This 29-minute masterpiece helped launch the punk rock scenes in both America and Britain, and also went on to inspire countless other artists for generations to come. To celebrate the Ramones’ lasting impact, Rhino has created the ultimate tribute to the band’s landmark debut, which comes packaged in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. The 3CD/1 vinyl LP set is a limited edition of 19,760 individually numbered copies and includes a sonically superior remastered stereo version and a meticulously recreated mono mix of the original album, plus rarities, unheard demos, and an unreleased live show, all produced, mixed, and mastered by the album’s original producer and mixer Craig Leon.

RAMONES: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available on July 29. In addition to the music, the set also features extensive production notes about the recording of the original album by Leon, an essay looking back on the Ramones’ early days by rock journalist Mitchell Cohen, along with additional pictures taken by Roberta Bayley, whose iconic photo of the band graces the album’s cover.

The first disc features Leon’s newly remastered stereo version and mono mix of the album. “The earliest mixes of the album were virtually mono,” says Leon. “We had an idea to record at Abbey Road and do both a mono and stereo version of the album, which was unheard of at the time. I’m thrilled that now, 40 years later, we followed through on that original idea.”

The anniversary edition’s second disc spotlights single mixes, outtakes, and demos. Several of those recordings have never been released, including demos for “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” “53^rd and 3^rd,” and “Loudmouth.”

The third disc captures the band performing two full sets live at The Roxy in West Hollywood on August 12, 1976. While the band’s first set has been available before, the evening’s second set makes its debut here. Rounding out the set is a vinyl LP containing the new mono mix of Ramones.

RAMONES: 40^th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION

Track Listing

Disc One: Original Album

Stereo Version

1. “Blitzkrieg Bop”
2. “Beat On The Brat”
3. “Judy Is A Punk”
4. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”
5. “Chain Saw”
6. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”
7. “I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement”
8. “Loudmouth”
9. “Havana Affair”
10. “Listen To My Heart”
11. “53^rd & 3^rd”
12. “Let’s Dance”
13. “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You”
14. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World”

      40^th Anniversary Mono Mix

1.  “Blitzkrieg Bop”*
2. “Beat On The Brat”*
3. “Judy Is A Punk”*
4. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”*
5. “Chain Saw”*
6. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”*
7. “I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement”*
8. “Loudmouth”*
9. “Havana Affair”*
10. “Listen To My Heart”*
11. “53^rd & 3^rd”*
12. “Let’s Dance”*
13. “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You”*
14. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World”*

Disc Two: Single Mixes, Outtakes, and Demos

1. “Blitzkrieg Bop” (Original Stereo Single Version)
2. “Blitzkrieg Bop” (Original Mono Single Version)
3. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” (Original Stereo Single Version)
4. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” (Original Mono Single Version)
5. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World” (Original Uncensored Vocals)*
6. “I Don’t Care” (Demo)
7. “53^rd & 3^rd” (Demo)*
8. “Loudmouth” (Demo)*
9. “Chain Saw” (Demo)*
10. “You Never Should Have Opened That Door” (Demo)
11. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” (Demo)*
12. “I Can’t Be” (Demo)
13. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World” (Demo)*
14. “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You” (Demo)*
15. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue” (Demo)
16. “I Don’t Wanna Be Learned/I Don’t Wanna Be Tamed” (Demo)
17. “You’re Gonna Kill That Girl” (Demo)*
18. “What’s Your Name” (Demo)

Disc Three: Live at The Roxy (8/12/76)

Set One

1. “Loudmouth”
2. “Beat On The Brat”
3. “Blitzkrieg Bop”
4. “I Remember You”
5. “Glad To See You Go”
6. “Chain Saw”
7. “53^rd & 3^rd”
8. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”
9. “Havana Affair”
10. “Listen To My Heart”
11. “California Sun”
12. “Judy Is A Punk”
13. “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You”
14. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World”
15. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”
16. “Let’s Dance”

Set Two

1. “Loudmouth”*
2. “Beat On The Brat”*
3. “Blitzkrieg Bop”*
4. “I Remember You”*
5. “Glad To See You Go”*
6. “Chain Saw”*
7. “53^rd & 3^rd”*
8. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”*
9. “Havana Affair”*
10. “Listen To My Heart”*
11. “California Sun”*
12. “Judy Is A Punk”*
13. “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You”*
14. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World”*
15. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”*
16. “Let’s Dance”*

40th Anniversary Mono Mix

LP Track Listing

1. “Blitzkrieg Bop”*
2. “Beat On The Brat”*
3. “Judy Is A Punk”*
4. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”*
5. “Chain Saw”*
6. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”*
7. “I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement”*
8. “Loudmouth”*
9. “Havana Affair”*
10. “Listen To My Heart”*
11. “53^rd & 3^rd”*
12. “Let’s Dance”*
13. “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You”*
14. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World”*