What does it sound like?:
January 1977 saw the release of Leave Home by The Ramones, thirty minutes of pure high-energy pop. Now comes the almost obligatory fortieth anniversary deluxe reissue, in the form of three cds plus a vinyl lp and a hardback book.
So, to business….the first disc has a remastered version of the original album, containing stone cold classics along the lines of Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment, Pinhead, Commando and Suzy Is A Headbanger – all short but oh so sweet. The odd duff track doesn’t matter as they’re over so quickly. This disc also has a new 40th anniversary mix, which gives more prominence to the instrumentation, particularly the guitar. Whether that’s a good thing or not is down to the listener’s personal taste.
Dicc number two again is split into two sections. The first part gives us rough mixes of each of the album tracks, all of which are previously unreleased, while the second has a further eighteen alternate mixes and instrumental versions, again all previously unavailable. In fact the only tracks on here that have previously been released are Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (and its single B side I Don’t Care) and Babysitter, which replaced Carbona Not Glue on the US and UK albums respectively when that track was withdrawn shortly after the album’s initial release.
The third and final cd has a previously unreleased concert recorded at CBGB’s in April 1977, which is hot stuff indeed as the band storm through a breathless sweaty set at breakneck speed, covering the best of the Leave Home tracks, along with a fine selection of classic earlier material such as Blitzkrieg Bop.
Vinyl wise, you get the fortieth anniversary remix that’s on the cd, and the whole package is rounded off with a nice 12×12 hardcover book, featuring interviews with the producer and their ex manager, together with lots of information on the making of the album.
What does it all *mean*?
A superbly put together package, which is a great companion to last year’s deluxe reissue of their debut album. An absolute must for fans of the band.
Goes well with…
Bubblegum and sneakers.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Punk, new wave, catchy high energy pop tunes that stick in your head for the rest of the day.
retropath2 says
Sheena wasn’t on my original vinly.
spider-mans arch enemy says
It sounds like the future after a time tunnel escapade rediscovering the past.
dai says
Picked up the first one for about 12 quid, worth it.
bricameron says
Thank you, Bargepole.
Rigid Digit says
Last years debut re-packaging was a thing of aural beauty.
This one I’m hoping for more of the same.
Hoping that Rhino keep ’em coming and looking forward to the same treatment for Rocket To Russia and Road To Ruin.
A fully remastered It’s Alive would be a treat
(and maybe with the second Rainbow show on New Years Day?)
Bargepole says
The vinyl in this set is now available separately for those interested.