Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits Live

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Greatest Hits Live"? Uh, they didn't actually have any hits. Don't get me wrong, I love these guys, but it's a pretty silly title for the album. Anyway, this album was recorded live during the Ramones farewell tour, on 2/29/96(Leap day!) in New York City. Unfortunately, only about half the show is included here. On the plus side, several of the songs here are from their last studio album, so these are the first live versions of those songs. It's a typical, solid Ramones concert. There are also two bonus studio tracks included. They are covers of Motorhead's "R.A.M.O.N.E.S." and The Dave Clark Five's "Any Way You Want It". I happen to like both of them a lot. This is not an essential Ramones CD by any means, but their hardcore fans will want to get it. For the curious, here is the coplete set list of the 2/29/96 concert:

1.Durango 95
2.Teenage Lobotomy
3.Psycho Therapy
4.Blizkrieg Bop
5.Do You Remember Rock'N'Roll Radio
6.I Believe in Miracles
7.Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
8.Rock'N'Roll High School
9.I Wanna Be Sedated
10.Spider-Man
11.The KKK Took My Baby Away
12.I Don't Want To Grow Up
13.Commando
14.Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
15.Rockaway Beach
16.Pet Sematary
17.Strength to Endure
18.Cretin Family
19.Do you Wanna Dance?
20.Somebody Put Something In my Drink
21.California Sun
22.Wart Hog
23.Cretin Hop
24.R.A.M.O.N.E.S
25.Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
26.Pinhead
27.The Crusher
28.I Just Want To Have Something To Do
29.We're a Happy Family
30.Anyway You Want It
31.53rd And 3rd
32.Beat On The Brat
33.Love Kills
34.Chinese Rocks
35.Havana Affair

Okay, so this album doesn't have the best choice of songs on Earth (which is why I only gave it four stars). But what is wrong with the music? I mean.. turn up "We're a happy family" to 10 and tell me that this album is no good? Oh please! This is a perfectly good album.. you know.. I really enjoy this album more than 99% of the albums in my collection. The fact is.. you can point out the faults about anything.. but.. this album has more good points than bad. It's fast and fun. Isn't that what the Ramones were meant to be about? Buy now and thank yourself later.

Been a Ramones fan for decades saw them numerous times in the 70's, 80's and their last tour. This is simply a great album for what it is. I loved "spiderman", Joey was born to sing it. This cd is worth it's weight in gold just for that song alone. Some Ramones' collections are just too long, unlike the original albums, so it's nice to throw in the cd player this disc, hear some great songs in a digestable fashion. The Ramones weren't about overkill, that just wanted to knock you down right away! This album also really shows how tight these guys were live. Definitely get it.

This show was great, I was there and it was the best Ramones show I ever saw. Its just to bad so many tunes did not make it on.

Greatest Hits Live is a excellent Ramones live experience. The band blazes through many of thier best songs with energy of punks half thier age!

Unfourtunatly, the album is really short and seems to be tacked on as a footnote of thier legacy (unlike "its alive" and "Locco Live" which were full concert performances).

I would recommend LOCCO LIVE if you want the best Ramones live album. Greatest hits is just too short!

However, the performance is great. The songs are played faster and louder than the actual studio recordings. Bassist CJ sings on some of the songs too. They play thier new stuff and classic oldies too. Great performance.

Joey's commentary on this record is classic:
"Here we are, Home sweet home New York City!!! This one goes out to all of you, take it CJ!"

"I dont know if you all know this, but undearneath this building lies the Pet Sematary!!!"

I was actually at this show when they recorded it in NYC. I couldn't wait to buy it when it came out and I was thoroughly disappointed. Ramones shows are very quick and have a fluidity to them. This album takes away all of that by mixing up the play list and only putting in half of the songs. If you must buy a Ramones live album (and I heavily suggest you do) go for Loco Live or It's Alive. They each grasp the full spirit of the band and better convey what a real show was like. The Ramones were one of the best ever live bands to see and Greatest Hits Live was put together so poorly that I almost wish I hadn't bought it.
It does get snaps for the couple of studio tracks (R-A-M-O-N-E-S was unintelligible before this) and because the songs themselves are so good.

I'm a sucker for live Ramones albums, like I am for those of James Brown and Neil Young. In their own way all three hit a groove so relentless it's absolutely hypnotic - I could listen all day. I'd say this one isn't quite as good as "It's Alive", "Loco Live" or "We're Outta Here" only because, at 37 minutes, it's way too short.

This is the live Ramones you've seen! Raw and out of control! This is The VERY BEST live Ramones album ever. So if you want to try and capture a tiny bit of the Ramones experence at home (a little faster a bit more aggressive). Then this album is a must!!!

It's because it's a totally redundant contract-filler. The songs aren't the problem; it's the lack of excitement. Joey even sounds kinda bored... well, make that more bored than usual. What a drag. Makes the competent LOCO LIVE album look like a masterpiece in comparison (tho' IT'S ALIVE still stands as the true classic, and one of the best live rock albums of all time). Leave this alone... for completists only. (Guilty!)

its not the greatest hits, i think everybody has there own favorites, but it is live and has some tunes that are not on any other live albums, so for that reason alone its worth having and if you like the ramones live stuff you gotta get it.