By now, there’s little doubt that Ramones left behind a massive vault of alternate mixes for their albums. Since both the revered eponymous debut (1976), and its esteemed follow-up, Leave Home (1977), have now had 40th Anniversary remaster and expanded editions issued, it’s only the calendar that separates the others as they follow. And since nothing really needs to be said about Ramones, who are classic performers with an origin pinned to CBGBs, and the start of the Punk era in the US, we’ll just drop into this bit of news:
On November 24, Rhino Records will reissue Rocket To Russia, the third Ramones classic album released almost a year later after Leave Home, although still in the same year of 1977. Clearly, they were in their prime with originality and freshness still poppin’ for them. Rocket to Russia went further than their previous two to create a Pop effort loved by a wider group of listeners. Although an outtake from the previous Leave Home sessions, “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”, as a single, helped Rocket To Russia become a more widely accepted album in a growing Punk music climate. Also from the new album was “Rockaway Beach”, and “Do You Wanna Dance?”, a Pop/Punk cover of the timeless and popular Bobby Freeman tune.
The new 40th Anniversary Edition of Rocket To Russia will be released as a 3CD/1LP collector’s set, as well as a single CD featuring only the newly remastered album. The Deluxe Edition contains the original album, and its tracking mix (first “official” recording of the song, pre-final mix) on the first CD, the second CD is a liberal collection of alternate mixes,and the third CD, a 25-song live set from Glasgow’s Apollo Centre from 1977. The included LP is simply the tracking mix on vinyl! There is no doubt about the included book adding excellent value to the entire package.
There is a single CD edition will provide the original album remastered.
Rocket To Russia (40th Anniversary Deluxe 3CD/1LP Edition) – Ramones
CD1 (original remastered and tracking mix):
01. Cretin Hop (Remastered)
02. Rockaway Beach (Remastered)
03. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Remastered)
04. Locket Love (Remastered)
05. I Don’t Care (Remastered)
06. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (Remastered)
07. We’re A Happy Family (Remastered)
08. Teenage Lobotomy (Remastered)
09. Do You Wanna Dance? (Remastered)
10. I Wanna Be Well (Remastered)
11. I Can’t Give You Anything (Remastered)
12. Ramona (Remastered)
13. Surfin’ Bird (Remastered)
14. Why Is It Always This Way? (Remastered)
15. Cretin Hop (Tracking Mix)
16. Rockaway Beach (Tracking Mix)
17. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Tracking Mix)
18. Locket Love (Tracking Mix)
19. I Don’t Care (Version 2) [Tracking Mix]
20. It’s A Long Way Back To Germany (Version 1) [Tracking Mix]
21. We’re A Happy Family (Tracking Mix)
22. Teenage Lobotomy (Tracking Mix)
23. Do You Wanna Dance? (Tracking Mix)
24. I Wanna Be Well (Tracking Mix)
25. I Can’t Give You Anything (Tracking Mix)
26. Ramona (Tracking Mix)
27. Surfin’ Bird (Tracking Mix)
28. Why Is It Always This Way? (Tracking Mix)
CD2 (Bonus tracks):
01. Why Is It Always This Way? (Mediasound Rough, Alternate Lyrics)
02. Rockaway Beach (Power Station Rough)
03. I Wanna Be Well (Power Station Rough)
04. Locket Love (Power Station Rough)
05. I Can’t Give You Anything (Power Station Rough)
06. Cretin Hop (Power Station Rough)
07. We’re A Happy Family (Power Station Rough)
08. Ramona (Mediasound Rough, Alternate Lyrics)
09. Do You Wanna Dance? (Mediasound Rough)
10. Teenage Lobotomy (Mediasound Rough)
11. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Mediasound Rough)
12. I Don’t Care (Version 2) [Mediasound Rough]
13. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Acoustic Version)
14. It’s A Long Way Back To Germany (Version 1) [Dee Dee Vocal]
15. Ramona (Sweet Little Ramona Pop Mix)
16. Surfin’ Bird (Alternate Vocal)
17. Teenage Lobotomy (Backing Track)
18. We’re A Happy Family (At Home With The Family)
19. Cretin Hop (Backing Track)
20. Needles And Pins (Demo Version)
21. Babysitter (B-Side Version) [Remastered]
22. It’s A Long Way Back To Germany (B-Side Version) [Remastered]
23. Joey RTR Radio Spot Promo
24. We’re A Happy Family (Joey & Dee Dee Dialogue)
CD3 (Live at Apollo Centre – Glasgow, Scotland 12/19/1977)
01. Rockaway Beach
02. Teenage Lobotomy
03. Blitzkrieg Bop
04. I Wanna Be Well
05. Glad To See You Go
06. Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
07. You’re Gonna Kill That Girl
08. I Don’t Care
09. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
10. Carbona Not Glue
11. Commando
12. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
13. Surfin’ Bird
14. Cretin Hop
15. Listen To My Heart
16. California Sun
17. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You
18. Pinhead
19. Do You Wanna Dance?
20. Chain Saw
21. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
22. Now I Wanna Be A Good Boy
23. Judy Is A Punk
24. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
25. We’re A Happy Family
LP Side One:
1. Cretin Hop (Tracking Mix)
2. Rockaway Beach (Tracking Mix)
3. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Tracking Mix)
4. Locket Love (Tracking Mix)
5. I Don’t Care (Version 2) [Tracking Mix]
6. It’s A Long Way Back To Germany (Version 1) [Tracking Mix]
7. We’re A Happy Family (Tracking Mix)
LP Side Two:
1. Teenage Lobotomy (Tracking Mix)
2. Do You Wanna Dance? (Tracking Mix)
3. I Wanna Be Well (Tracking Mix)
4. I Can’t Give You Anything (Tracking Mix)
5. Ramona (Tracking Mix)
6. Surfin’ Bird (Tracking Mix)
7. Why Is It Always This Way? (Tracking Mix)