Description
The Ramones released the band's fourth studio album, Road To Ruin, 40 years ago this September. Dee Dee, Joey, and Johnny were joined for the first time by drummer Marky Ramone, who replaced founding member Tommy Ramone, who'd left to do more producing and writing for the band. It was also the album that introduced a nation of pinheads to the all-time Ramones' classic "I Wanna Be Sedated."

To celebrate the milestone, Rhino will release two versions on September 21, a day before the anniversary of the album's original release on September 22, 1978. The 3CD/1LP boxed set ROAD TO RUIN: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available. A newly remastered version of the original album will also be released as a single CD.

ROAD TO RUIN: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION contains two different mixes of the album, unissued rough mixes for every album track, and an unreleased 1979 concert recording of the Ramones in New York. It will be produced in a limited and numbered edition of 7,500 copies worldwide and comes packaged in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. Along with the music, the set also features rare photos and artwork, including the unused, alternate cover image, plus essays by former New York Rocker writer Roy Trakin, album cover artist John Holmstrom, and Road To Ruin producer Ed Stasium, who details the making of this classic record.

The first disc of the ROAD TO RUIN: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION features a remastered version of the original stereo mix for Road To Ruin and a new 2018 40th Anniversary Road Revisited mix created by Stasium, who strips off the original record's commercial gloss and restores the album to its punk rock core. Stasium's new mix is also featured on the 180-gram LP that accompanies this deluxe edition.

The second disc offers up over twenty unreleased recordings, including rough mixes for every album track, starkly different alternate takes of two songs, and two unreleased outtakes: "I Walk Out" and "S.L.U.G." - unfinished during the original recording sessions in 1978, and completed by Stasium for this anniversary release. Other highlights include three different versions of "I Wanna Be Sedated," including the "Ramones-on-45-Mega-Mix!" released in 1988 as part of the campaign for the Ramones Mania compilation, as well as acoustic versions of "Questioningly," "Needles And Pins," and "Don't Come Close."

The final disc has a previously unreleased recording of the band's entire 1979 New Year's Eve concert, which was mixed live by Stasium, and broadcast on WNEW-FM. Recorded in New York City at The Palladium, with audio sourced from Tommy Ramone's original cassette of the console recording, it features blistering performances of "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Rockaway Beach," and "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker," along with several songs from Road To Ruin: "I Don't Want You," "I Wanna Be Sedated," and "I Wanted Everything."

Tracklist
[CD1]
Original Mix Remastered:
1. I Just Want To Have Something To Do
2. I Wanted Everything
3. Don’t Come Close
4. I Don’t Want You
5. Needles And Pins
6. I’m Against It
7. I Wanna Be Sedated
8. Go Mental
9. Questioningly
10. She’s The One
11. Bad Brain
12. It’s A Long Way Back
40th Anniversary Road Revisited Mix:
13. I Just Want To Have Something To Do
14. I Wanted Everything
15. Don’t Come Close
16. I Don’t Want You
17. Needles And Pins
18. I’m Against It
19. I Wanna Be Sedated
20. Go Mental
21. Questioningly
22. She’s The One
23. Bad Brain
24. It’s A Long Way Back

[CD2]
Rough Mixes & 40th Anniversary Extras:
1. I Walk Out (2018 Mix) *
2. S.L.U.G. (2018 Mix) *
3. Don’t Come Close (Single Mix)
4. Needles And Pins (Single Mix)
5. I Just Want To Have Something To Do (Basic Rough Mix) *
6. I Don’t Want You (Basic Rough Mix) *
7. I’m Against It (Basic Rough Mix) *
8. It’s A Long Way Back (Basic Rough Mix) *
9. I Walk Out (Basic Rough Mix) *
10. Bad Brain (Basic Rough Mix) *
11. Needles And Pins (Basic Rough Mix) *
12. I Wanna Be Sedated Take 2 (Basic Rough Mix) *
13. I Wanted Everything (Basic Rough Mix) *
14. Go Mental (Basic Rough Mix) *
15. She’s The One (Basic Rough Mix) *
16. Questioningly Take 2 (Basic Rough Mix) *
17. S.L.U.G. (Basic Rough Mix) *
18. Don’t Come Close (Basic Rough Mix) *
19. I Wanna Be Sedated (Backing Track) *
20. I Don’t Want You (Brit Pop Mix) *
21. Questioningly (Acoustic Version) *
22. Needles And Pins (Acoustic Version) *
23. Don’t Come Close (Acoustic Version) *
24. I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones-On-45 Mega-Mix!)

[CD3]
Live At The Palladium, New York, NY, December 31 1979:
1. Blitzkrieg Bop *
2. Teenage Lobotomy *
3. Rockaway Beach *
4. I Don’t Want You *
5. Go Mental *
6. Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment *
7. I Wanna Be Sedated *
8. I Just Want To Have Something To Do *
9. She’s The One *
10. This Ain’t Havana *
11. I’m Against It *
12. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker *
13. Havana Affair *
14. Commando *
15. Needles And Pins *
16. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend *
17. Surfin’ Bird *
18. Cretin Hop *
19. All The Way *
20. Judy Is A Punk *
21. California Sun *
22. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You *
23. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World *
24. Pinhead *
25. Do You Wanna Dance? *
26. Suzy Is A Headbanger *
27. Let’s Dance *
28. Chinese Rock *
29. Beat On The Brat *
30. We’re A Happy Family *
31. Bad Brain
32. I Wanted Everything *

* previously unreleased

[LP]
40th Anniversary Road Revisited Mix:
SIDE ONE
1. I Just Want To Have Something To Do
2. I Wanted Everything
3. Don’t Come Close
4. I Don’t Want You
5. Needles And Pins
6. I’m Against It
SIDE TWO
1. I Wanna Be Sedated
2. Go Mental
3. Questioningly
4. She’s The One
5. Bad Brain
6. It’s A Long Way Back)

3CD/1LP Deluxe Edition (shown above)
US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDMXLSG/?tag=imwan-20
CA - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FDMXLSG/?tag=imwanca-20
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FDMXLSG/?tag=imwan-21

1CD Standard Edition
US - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDQRK91/?tag=imwan-20
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FDQRK91/?tag=imwanca-20
UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FDQRK91/?tag=imwan-21

A brief promo teaser, and the first preview track in full:

I am loving this series.

Me too Jason. Thanks for the info Linda.

I love this series too. Although I won't get many more, I do hope they at least do End Of the Century.

I'd like them to get to that point as well, because I think they could do a very different mix on that one, depending on how Spector recorded it. But I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last one, as the first four albums tend to be considered the best Ramones albums. (Frankly, I think they all have something to recommend them).

The big box is now pre-orderable in the USA:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDMXLSG/?tag=imwan-20

If this was sold without the vinyl, I would buy it in a second.

That was my thought too. Hopefully the whole thing will be available through Apple Music.

I have bought all three released to date and the most I have paid is the equivalent of $40 US. The first one was available for $19 at Amazon.ca, patience is the key.

I have waited and gotten good deals on them as well. I also don't resent the vinyl on these as much as I do most of these boxes because they aren't double dips. They are new mixes on vinyl for the first time.
But if I had the option, I would skip the vinyl.

Personally I liked the vinyl. As Jason Michael notes they don't double dip on price and the vinyl required the boxes to be 12x12 which then allows many great photos and goodies.

Also I have a very nice Thornes turntable which I put to use on weekends. Vinyl has a nice warm sound that changes things up for me.

I am really hoping they do End of the Century as well, there has to be a lot of stuff in the can as Spector was driving the band crazy with the recording process. All of those tunes would sound better in a more "raw" form IMO.

I locked in the lowest price for now through amazon.canuck but will be watching closely for better deals.

We now have the full packshot of the 3CD/1LP set in the first post, and the Amazon UK pre-order link has gone live:

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDMXLSG/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon Canada
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FDMXLSG/?tag=imwanca-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FDMXLSG/?tag=imwan-21

The second preview track:

A previously unreleased promo video for "She's The One" has been unearthed to promote the Road To Ruin box set:

My box came just today from the UK. I hope to get to it tonight but play stack is so overflowing right now. Tom Petty currently playing.

I am so psyched for this edition. Previous reissues have been stellar. So love this band!

Received my box set from the UK Amazon, they sent in a plastic bag, no box, just a plastic bag, needless to say, all four corners were dented, and the front,
great box set, but they sent it in a plastic bag!

That's terrible. Pygpen, do you want to contact them for a replacement? They need to know that somebody used inadequate packaging for a big CD/vinyl set (and they'll be able to find out which warehouse and who packed it).

Mine was shipped that way as well. Only one corner was dented though, got lucky. Will consider not purchasing boxsets from the UK if this packaging method becomes the norm.

Amazon definitely has been using more "plastic bag" packaging lately. Ok on somethings but not on expensive box sets.

Agree, I also prefer cardboard as well since it is recyclable.