“What’s The Scoop?”

Back when I was a wee lad and just starting my college career, I had the foresight to enroll in a thought-provoking class titled "The History of Rock and Roll." (Yes, I was lazy and wanted an easy "A." Got a problem with that?) Much of the class covered ground that was familiar to me, but when the instructor---a rather frightening looking, middle-aged gent named Mr. Josephson---first played a song by some strange group called The Ramones, my ears perked up.

They sang about lobotomies, wart hogs, 7-11's, cretins and rock and roll high school. They looked scarier than Mr. Josephson ever did. Mr. J. described their music as "psychotic drug songs," but not knowing much about psychosis or drugs, I couldn't tell if I agreed with him or not. All I knew was that the songs were loud, hard, fast, short, humorous and in-your-face, and I liked it. It was definitely a 360 degree turn from the Toto, Journey, Foreigner and Boston records I had been listening to. Stop laughing.

I bought an album---I believe it was Pleasant Dreams---and immediately became a fan for life after hearing the songs "7-11" and "The KKK Took My Baby Away." Loved 'em then, love 'em now. Of course, I was the only one in my AOIR-loving peer group who didn't think that the four guys from Forest Hills, NY completely sucked. And to be honest, it was difficult to woo a young college lass on a date with songs like "Psycho Therapy" or "Everytime I Eat Vegetables it Makes Me Think of You" blasting from the stereo of my '72 Firebird.

It's tough being ahead of your time.

Fast forward to 2003 and the Ramones are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Joey and Dee Dee have tragically shuffled off this mortal coil, but the band and their music lives on through a series of top-notch reissues from the fine folks at Rhino Records.

The four latest Ramones CD's to be reissued each have tons of bonus tracks appended---demos, live cuts, rare tracks and the like---as well as great photos and liner notes. Each of them also contains some of the coolest punk-pop sounds that you'll ever hear.

1979's End of the Century contains the anthemic blast of "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio," the stone classic "Rock 'n' Roll High School" and the touring-is-hell ballad "Danny Says." 1981's Pleasant Dreams is bolstered by the aforementioned "7-11" and "KKK...," while also showcasing the soaring pure pop of "Don't Go" and "She's a Sensation."

Subterranean Jungle hit the shelves in 1983, and features more of a punk-bubblegum sound. A cover of the '60s smash "Little Bit O'Soul" leads things off, while the Chamber Brothers' "Time has Come Today" is also given the once over. Originals that stand out include Joey's teen-dream ballad "My-My Kind of a Girl" and Dee Dee's spunky "Time Bomb."

The next year saw the release of Too Tough to Die, which saw the Ramones getting leaner and meaner, as evidenced by the sneering "Mama's Boy," Dee Dee's hardcore thrasher "Endless Vacation" and the absolutely manic "Wart Hog." On the other side of the fence stood the rockabilly raver "No Go" and slicked up "Howling at the Moon (Sha La La)."

My advice would be to snag 'em all, but then again, these guys were my favorite band for many years, so I may be a bit biased. R.I.P., Joey and Dee Dee. Oh, and thanks, Mr. Josephson.

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