Thursday, May 21, 2015

It's Gonna Be Alright...


Over the last week or so The Ramones have been on heavy rotation in this neck of the woods. Everyone knows how great the first three albums are, but it has been Too Tough To Die that has been getting a regular spin recently. I worked my way backwards with Da Brudders with Too Tough To Die being the first album that I owned by them, after being introduced to the album by my then girlfriend. Whilst not having the same impact as those three classic albums, it still holds a special place for me. For me their best album of the 80's, with Dee Dee writing the majority of the tracks, showing how essential he was to the band. Recorded virtually live in the studio, this was a triumphant return to form for one of the truly essential bands...

Chasing The Night

17 comments:

  1. There's a lot of worthwhile stuff scattered through the later Ramones catalogue, but, quite understandably, those early records usually dominate any conversation on the topic. I'm a lost cause, I wouldn't be without any of 'em, though if I could only save one Ramones album from the flames, it would be 'It's Alive' everytime, for my money the greatest live album ever made.

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  2. No argument from here regarding It's Alive. Not a huge fan of live albums, but It's Alive and Aswad's Live and direct are both pretty special.

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  3. Good call on the Aswad LP Scott, which, incidentally, I was present for the recording of. Wish I could've been at the Rainbow on December 31st 1977 as well.

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    1. Was at the Glasgow Apollo date of that tour which was recorded but not used for It’s Alive. Second favourite show ever.

      Jamie

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    2. Ramones in '77 was your second favourite show ever? I gotta ask...Number 1?

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    3. The Clash a few months earlier at the same venue. Both just edging out Iggy Pop again at the Apollo a few years later.

      Jamie

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    4. I couldn't imagine it being anyone else really Jamie, but I had to make sure!

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  4. That must have been some day at The Carnival to see them record one of the best live albums ever. Think most of us bloggers would love to have been at The Rainbow on New Year's Eve to witness The Ramones in their prime...

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  5. Whatever your first album was from Ramones, that one is going to hold a special place in your heart. May have mentioned this to you before, but the first album and Rocket to Russia were the first records I ever bought with my own money. Well, sort of my own money. They were bought together for $6.49 each at JR's Music at a mall in rural Illinois during the summer of '83. My best friend's mother drove us. Turned out my paper route money was going to leave me a little short. The mom dug for change at the bottom of her purse. I thought the chainsaw sound at the beginning of Chainsaw was the greatest thing in the world. Must have listened to it a hundred times that summer. Wonderful memories that will always endure.

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  6. That's a mighty impressive start to a record collection Brian. My first album bought with my own money was The Specials debut, which is till one of my Top 10 albums to this day. As you say those memories will never, and should never, fade.

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    1. I knew that! So, I guess maybe we did have this exchange before. I would be very proud to have the Specials as the first album bought with my own money.

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  7. I saw Aswad play Govan Town Hall in the old Mayfest days. They opened the doors towards the end and a lot of urchins stormed in and had a right good boogie

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    1. Such a pity CC that Mayfest is no longer on the go, such a great arts festival...

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  8. Hi Mister Scott. 'Too Tough To Die' was a splendid return to form for da brudders in 1984. As well as containing two of their BEST singles "Chasing....." & "Howling.....", it also has one of the best two minute songs by anyone........"Warthog" I agree with comments by the others that it never gets the kudos, usually cos of the earlier stuff. Tommy returned as producer and I think this is what makes it a GREAT album, I mean, who else was better placed to know what they should sound like.

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    1. Hi bud, it was your good self that got me back into Too Tough after you put Chasing The Night on a compilation CD last year. I had forgotten what a great album it is so cheers for that. Chasing and Howling are easily two of my fave Ramones tracks.

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