I've finally decided it's time to get a Ramones CD.

Smiff told me they're more of a comp band than an album band, so I put forward this question: Which is the best Ramones comp out there?

The two major factors being

1. Song selection

and

2. Sound quality.


So, which one do I get?

All the Stuff (And More) Vols. 1 & 2 compile the first 4 essential albums on two CDs, with some bonus B-sides and outtakes appended. Used copies are dirt cheap on Amazon. If you like those, you can dig deeper.

Great suggestion, but I was thinking more along the lines of a comp that spans all (or the key years) of their career.

If you want a compilation that spans their career, then seek out the box set: "Weird Tales Of The Ramones".or "Hey Ho Let's Go, The Anthology"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weird_Tal ... he_Ramones

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey!_Ho!_ ... _Anthology

"Hey Ho" is the one I have. Very good.

Well, some would argue that the first four albums do constitute the "key years" of their career. The worst stuff on those albums is probably better and more essential than most of the best stuff on the later (post 1985) albums.

At this point, the Sire Years box is inexpensive enough that it's a cheap way to have a "one-and-done" Ramones collection:

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=85491

It includes studio albums five and six, End Of The Century and Pleasant Dreams, which IMO belong to The Ramones' classic era as much as the first four. (And Chris, you'd get to annoy Bill with EOTC because it was produced by Phil Spector.)

Yeah, those two albums are not quite as good as the first four, but they both have some great material and are essential. It's a dropoff after that.

I've got them all. including nearly all of the compilations, but the first 3 are the ones that are most essential for me.

I bought the complete Sire albums box and made my own comp.



Now now Linda, he doesn't need any encouragement from you! He's annoying enough without trying.

I also think Too Tough To Die is essential.

It's alright (and certainly better than what followed) but when I first heard it I found myself kind of underwhelmed, relative to its reputation as a big comeback album. I think their attempts at hardcore and metal fall flat, and Richie is too "good" a drummer for them in a way that negatively impacts the sound. I don't rate it as any higher than Subterranean Jungle, and nowhere near as good as the other prior albums.

So we are all on pins and needles, which comp did ja buy?

I think I'll get it, tie up Smiff and play the Spector album for him.

Thanks for the idea, Linda!

Haven't bought one yet.

I'm leaning towards Ramones Mania, but Hey Ho seems to have more tracks. I have read that Hey Ho! has some alternate mixes of some songs.

The Anthonlogy is the way to go. "Their Toughest Hits" is a decent career spanning single disc best of. "Mania" is just the Sire years and there is a Japanese only Mania Vol 2 that covers the later years that is very good.

Ramones Mania was the first comp I got of their music. It's got most of the best known songs. But the Anthology is cheap and has more songs, so I'd go with that one too. Currently I only have the "Greatest Hits" comp.

You're not going to do what you always do, and "borrow" it from Smiff?



There ya go !!

please don't kill me, Bill, I was just joking, lol

Seriously now, the Mania comp is brilliant, and a great one-disc starter kit. However, it is missing a few classic tracks.

The Hey Ho! Anthology is more complete, and more expensive, but it contains just about all the Ramones you might need.

Can't really go wrong with either one, just depends on how much you want and what availability is.

Or the next time I see Smiff, whichever comes first.

Today, I am a Ramones Virgin no longer.

I came across a used copy of the Hey Ho! Let's Go! anthology for $12.

It was a sign.

I hope Jimbo will be happy with me now.