Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones Anthology

Ramones

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 20, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 20, 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00000JFUY
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,428 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #29 in	Music > Alternative Rock > American Alternative > American Punk
  #83 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Punk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Like most true originals, the Ramones embodied a dizzying array of contradictions. As punk godfathers, they became the archetype for a rebellious musical ethos that could often confuse the baby for the bath water, yet at heart they were 1960s pop- and bubblegum-worshipping reactionaries. The seeming unity symbolized by their street-hood uniform (ripped jeans, deck shoes, and black leather jackets) and name (nicked from an early nom de plume of Beatle Paul) belied turmoil both personal and personnel. And the dumber-than-dumb stance of the likes of "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue," "Cretin Hop," and "Teenage Lobotomy" actually masked some of the shrewdest rock ever recorded. If Rhino/Warner Archive's two-disc anthology seems like hardly enough room to document a band with a quarter-century legacy, it's good to remember that the Ramones prided themselves on stripping every song they attempted to its elemental core, then halving it again with their patented buzzsaw, double-stop tempo. Journalist David Fricke's enclosed history is telling, if ironically packaged in a glossy hard-back edition that seems more befitting the likes of Fleetwood Mac. The nearly five dozen tracks here, reaching from the early '70s to the late '90s, stand remarkably outside of time--just like true originals. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The end of 'pinhead' reviews..., November 27, 2000

By	Greekfreak (Pusan Korea (South)) - See all my reviews

Okay, a lot of the die-hard Ramones geeks have cast their ballot in favour of trashing this superb compilation, simply because it's not full of b-sides that were relegated to b-side status for a very good reason! This is a review on the album as a 'greatest hits' collection, not a mindless gripe on what songs should have been put on according to the pettiness of a few kids.

Having said all of that, the only reason this collection doesn't get 5 stars from me is because there are too many Ramones compilations on the market already. And by the time the boys decided to (finally, thankfully) call it a day, they had released so much tripe in the later years that they forgot to put together a 'definitive' collection that includes the last ten years or so.

This is the one to get. It's chock-full of their best material (including the import-only "Carbona Not Glue"), and their most representative material as well. Most of the video-based tunes are here, and the selection is chronological, unlike the mind-warping 'Best of Smiths' albums. The liner notes are decent, and they've put on JUST EN0UGH to satiate even the die-hardest die-hard for his/her desert island collection.

Anybody who complains about why there isn't a box set is missing the point; until there IS a box set, this is the one to buy. Especially recommended for the uninitiated.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What to do with this set, October 15, 2002

By	jkelly - See all my reviews

This two CD and book release poses a bit of a problem for the Ramones fan. The book, as one expects from Rhino, is written in the breathless yet informative style common to the serious devotee. The track listing reads like what you and a couple of friends might have settled on if you spent an afternoon coming up with two CDs of Ramones music.

The only track on the albulms that you don't already own, however, is that none-too-inspiring Motorhead cover ("R.A.M.O.N.E.S."). How much of a completist do you need to be? This isn't a "throw in the CD changer for a party" greatest-hits collection, either (you've already got "Mania" for that).

These two disks, however, are the perfect gift to convert any friends fortunate enough to still have the discovery of the Ramones ahead of them in their lives. Wisely focusing on the pre-C.J. period, the selected tracks highlight many of the Ramones' greatest moments, and represent enough variety to put to rest any newcomer complaints that the songs "sound the same".

So get this set, listen to "R.A.M.O.N.E.S.", maybe read the book, and then give it away. You're saving yourself the bother of making that perfect Ramones mixed tape. It's here, or close enough.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never Mind The Sex Pistols, Here Come The Ramones!, July 16, 2004

By	Will Culp "Livin' After Midnite, Rocking Till... (Greenville, South Carolina) - See all my reviews

Hey Ho Let's Go! Ramones Anthology(1999). The Ramones' Second Compilation.

Back in the Mid. to Late 70's, Underground Punk was taking the world by storm, with bands such as The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and The Pixies dominating the Punk Scene. But one lone American band, taking influences from The New York Dolls and The Stooges, called The Ramones, were just as popular. Adding more traditional Rock N Roll to Punk, The Ramones were one of Punk's most influential bands, and were one of Kurt Cobain's biggest influences for his band Nirvana. Although nobody would say they were incredibly talented, The Ramones were able to mold a catchy, hooky, Punk tune, emphasizing vocals and inane lyrics to appeal to listeners, while always having the chugging guitar right behind it. So it's no surprise, at the Turn of the Century, The Ramones released a massive 2-Disc career retrospective, containing almost 60 songs, and a booklet containing The Ramones ENTIRE career. So how does Hey Ho Let's Go-Ramones Anthology stack up? Read on to find out?

PROS-

-ALMOST SIXTY SONGS ON TWO DISCS!- The Ramones Anthology has 58 songs on TWO(!) discs, so you can expect bank for your buck!
-HAS ALL OF THE RAMONES' BIGGEST HITS!-The Ramones Anthology has instantly recognizeable hits such as "Blitzkrieg Bop", "California Sun", and "I Wanna Be Sedated", which won't fail to please Casual fans!
-SO MANY UNDERRATED MASTERPIECES!-The Ramones Anthology is basically made up of underrated masterpieces, including "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio?", "Judy Is A Punk", and so many more!
-COVERS ALL OF THE RAMONES ALBUMS- From 'The Ramones' to 'Adios Amigos', The Ramones Anthology has songs from every album, making this a superb retrospective!
-EACH DISC FULLS UP THE 80 MINUTE LIMIT!-Unlike most compilations, The Ramones Anthology takes up almost 80 Minutes on each Disc, showing you get what you paid for!
-THE BOOKLET IS A VIRTUAL HISTORY ON THE RAMONES!-The Booklet for The Ramones Anthology is 80 pages(!), making it the longest, most detailed, and interesting booklet I've ever read through! Great!

CONS-

-EXPENSIVE!-The Ramones Anthology will set you back 30 Dollars, while 'The Ramones Mania' and 'Loud, Fast Ramones:Their Toughest Hits' will only set you back Fifteen Dollars, making it less accessible to casual fans.
-NO NEW TRACKS!-The Ramones Anthology has no new tracks, so it's basically worthless to Diehard fans, and it's too expensive for casual fans, making it very inaccessible.

Overall, Hey Ho Let's Go- The Ramones Anthology is a very good and detailed compilation, but casual fans and diehard fans may be turned off because of its lack of new material and price. But, if you were only going to buy one thing by The Ramones, I would suggest picking this up. If your a casual fan, I recommend the 'Ramones Mania' compilation, because it's also very good and a lot cheaper.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO BUY ONE THING BY THE
RAMONES, YOU SHOULD BUY THIS! IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SHELL OUT 30
DOLLARS, IN THE END THIS COMPILATION IS WORTH IT!

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Thanks For Reading!