We're A Happy Family - A Tribute To The Ramones

Ramones (Tribute)

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 11, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00007FPKG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #94,449 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It was inevitable that a glut of Ramones tribute albums would follow the passing of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. The 17-song-strong We're a Happy Family thankfully escapes the dubious tribute-album ghetto. It's no surprise that Ramones descendents like Green Day, Rancid, and the Offspring stick close to the tired and true, while headbanger James Hetfield makes "53rd & 3rd" sound like a Metallica song. But the standouts on the disc are the efforts where artists go off the rails. Pete Yorn turns in a yearning version of "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," while Tom Waits goes the ghoulish route on "The Return of Jackie and Judy." Kiss get the best-in-show nod for their anthemic "Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio," which is odd given that the Ramones were formed ostensibly as a reaction against arena rockers like Kiss. Don't miss the final hidden track, a scary gem by the Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If Packaging was all it took, This would get Five Stars!!!, April 5, 2003

By	James D. Keaton Sr (Marcus Hook, Pa) - See all my reviews

I have a rather Complete Music Collection, and sometimes it's difficult to find new music to add, so when I was out shopping and saw this CD I was a bit excited. The cover art is wonderful. The artists contained within are some of my favorites. I quickly removed the packaging and plopped it in my car stereo. I instantly loved the first track, The Chili Peppers, sound like themselves, but do "Havana Affair", great justice. I think Joey and Dee-Dee would have been proud. It's the best track on the CD and for diehard Ramones fans, it's worth getting for this cover.
I had hoped the rest of the album would live up to this song, but it falls short. Rob Zombie totally removed the spirit and fun from "Blitzkrieg Bop", Edde Vedder's work was OK, but not standout. Metallica sounds great musically, but again doesn't have the attitude that makes 53rd and 3rd one of my favorite Ramones songs. I love U2 and thought they might have something interesting, but they basically stuck with the original music and Bono's vocal just doesn't work. They should have picked a song more suited to their style. Kiss does a good job on "Rock and Roll Radio". Marilyn Manson's verson of "KKK..." is interesting, but in it's complexity it loses the humour that makes the original a really good track. Garbage does well with "I just want to have something to do", but like most other songs on this record, it made me long for the original. Green Day does great with "outsider", but I guess I somehow resent that band for copying what the Ramones did and making the money that they never did. Pete Yorn and Rooney's covers were both pretty decent and the rest of the album is kind of lukewarm. After listening, I pulled out the real Ramones's Cd's and they put a smile on my face. I guess what I had wanted from this CD was totally unrealistic. I wanted to be back in the late 70's, buying real Ramones Albums. I wanted to feel like I was getting something daring and exciting. It was a mistake in judgement on my part. The experiance reminded me again of how much I love this band and those days. It's good that their memory is kep't alive by tribute album, but only bittersweet.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An above average tribute album, and that is very rare, March 17, 2003

By	N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Rob Zombie co-produced (along with Johnny Ramone) this "all-star" tribute to one of the most recognized punk rock bands in history. Zombie turns in his re-working of "Blitzkrieg Bop", and the results are nothing spectacular, but before that track we get a great cover of "Havana Affair" courtesy of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Eddie Vedder and Zeke's version of "I Believe in Miracles" is rousing to say the least, and Vedder doesn't embarass himself as much as he did when he sported a mohawk during the presentation of the Ramones induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Metallica offers a rocking "53rd & 3rd" which sounds like a leftover cover from "Garage Inc.", but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. U2 could have done a good cover of "Beat on the Brat", but Bono's overzealous vocals pretty much ruin any chances of that. The Pretenders' cover of "Something to Believe In" is heartbreaking, while Garbage, Green Day, Rancid, and The Offspring turn in covers that remain true to the originals. Marilyn Manson attempts to make "KKK Took My Baby Away" into one of his own industrial dirges, and it is an interesting listen, but it's nothing special. All in all, for the most part I really like this tribute album, but as another reviewer previously stated, I would have rather seen other artists such as Jello Biafra, Frank Black, Bad Religion, Iggy Pop, or even Danzig as opposed to Manson, Kiss, and U2. Get it if your a fan of the bands featured here and are a casual fan of the Ramones, but hardcore Ramones fans probably won't like it that much.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This CD is a mixed bag..., December 17, 2004

By	Stephen Cabral (New England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD is a mixed bag. My favorites are the Red Hot Chili Peppers doing a Latin influenced version of "Havana Affair", Eddie Vedder doing solid versions of "I Believe In Miracles" & "Daytime Dilemma", Metallica doing "53rd & 3rd" as heavy punk, Kiss did a good party-rock version "Rock N Roll Radio", and my favorite track is "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do" by Garbage.

Also included is an annoying cover of "Blitzkrieg Bop" by Rob Zombie, a light poppy "Beat on the Brat" by U2 that grows on you, Marilyn Manson ruined "The KKK Took My Baby Away" by doing it slow, creepy and Goth like. Green Day does a good version of a weak song with "Outsider". The Pretenders do a gloomy and forgettable version of "Something to Believe In". Rancid was the wrong choice to cover "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (I think this should have been covered by Green Day). Pete Yorn does a pretty good "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" but anyone could do a pretty good "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend". The Offspring sound like a tribute band on "I Wanna Be Sedated". Rooney does a tribute to U2 doing a tribute to the Ramones on "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow". And lastly, Tom Waits does a bizarre, garbled drunken version of "Return of Jackie & Judy". Overall, this was a good tribute but it could have been much better. It includes some excellent Ramones photos and a very amusing 4 page introduction by Stephen King.