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THE REVIEW
I admit it from the start: 2 years ago, when I got hold of this double DVD, I still knew quite little about the Ramones.
It was just recently that I had entered their orbit; I knew only one complete album, "Pleasant Dreams", but despite this, I already loved them madly.
As you may already know, the Ramones are one of those bands whose love I never hesitate to proclaim. I began to love them from the first time I saw the video for "Pet Sematary", from the first times I listened to them. But I certainly don't want to bore you with these useless romanticisms.
This double DVD was, for me, the ultimate discovery of the band. In fact, it traces for the first time the entire history of the group from beginning to end solely through live performances. 22 years of a wild ride that refused to stop, despite a thousand mishaps and commercial success that never fully bloomed.
"Ramones it's alive 1974-1976"; "Your passport to the Ramones! Over 4 hours of previously unreleased performances from around the world; The ultimate double DVD". These are the introductory titles on the cover. And there are no better words to describe this work. It starts from one of the group's earliest appearances, September '74 at the familiar CBGB: an awkward band performing before a very perplexed audience. They almost evoke tenderness, but we were practically witnessing the birth of punk, the beginning of an era.
We traverse a long career, one of the longest-lived punk bands ever, through snippets of concerts, TV appearances, festivals, venues (including, in the second DVD, a historic performance at the Rolling Stone in Milan in March '92.) and stadiums around the globe. The journey ends in a packed "El Monumental" in Buenos Aires, one of their very last concerts. You almost feel moved at the end of that final "Blitzkrieg Bop", a sense of emptiness crosses you after over 4 hours of viewing.
But it would be even reductive to talk about those 4 hours of concerts because in the extras, in addition to "rare" videos like that of "It's Not My Place" and interviews (unfortunately not subtitled in Italian, it must be specified), there is also the recording of the entire concert at the Rainbow in London in '77, simply known as "It's Alive".
And it is not by chance that the entire double DVD is titled, as mentioned, "It's alive 1974-1976". Certainly, it is not the only noteworthy posthumous release; the excellent single DVD "Raw" remains even one of the band's best sellers. But it’s nothing compared to this.
2 years ago it opened the doors to the magical world of the Ramones once and for all. Then, I knew little about them, today I know them by heart. And indeed, it’s the best product to get to know a band that built its legend on the live dimension.
Indispensable.
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Summary by Bot
This double DVD set offers an unparalleled journey through the Ramones' 22-year career via live performances. Starting from their awkward early days at CBGB to iconic global concerts, it showcases the raw punk energy and enduring legacy of one of the genre's pioneers. The extensive content includes rare footage, complete shows, and interviews, making it essential for fans and newcomers alike. The reviewer praises the set as the best introduction to the band, highlighting its emotional impact and authenticity.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
01 CBGB - New York, NY, 9/15/74 (06:53)
02 Max's Kansas City - New York, NY, 4/18/76 (05:05)
03 The Club - Cambridge, MA, 5/12/76 (01:49)
04 Max's Kansas City - New York, NY 10/8/76 (03:40)
05 My Father's Place - Roslyn, NY 4/13/77 (04:08)
06 CBGB - New York, NY 6/11/77 (16:19)
07 The Second Chance - Ann Arbor, MI 6/26/77 (03:52)
08 The Ivanhoe Theater - Chicago, IL 7/6/77 (05:15)
09 The Armadillo - Austin, TX 7/14/77 (04:23)
10 The Armadillo - Austin TX, 7/14/77 (04:58)
11 Liberty Hall - Houston, TX 7/15/77 (06:48)
12 Liberty Hall - Houston, TX 7/16/77 (03:59)
13 Don Kirshner's Rock Concert - Los Angeles, CA 8/9/77 (07:07)
14 The Camera Mart Stages - New York, NY 9/3/77 (07:31)
15 It's Alive - The Rainbow - London, England 12/31/77 (26:16)
16 Extras (00:00)
17 Interviews (00:00)
18 Extra Bonus! (00:00)
19 Super Rare Music Videos (00:00)
20 Photo Galleries (00:00)
21 - (00:00)
22 Musikladen - Bremen, Germany 9/13/78 (21:30)
23 The Old Grey Whistle Test - London, England 9/19/78 (06:15)
24 Top Of The Pops - London, England 9/28/78 (02:20)
25 Oakland, CA 12/28/78 (04:45)
26 San Francisco Civic Center - San Francisco 6/9/79 (07:04)
27 The Old Grey Whistle Test - London, England 1/15/80 (05:35)
28 Top Of The Pops - London, England 1/31/80 (02:54)
29 Sha Na Na - Los Angeles, CA 5/19/80 (02:23)
30 Mandagsborsen - Stockholm, Sweden 10/26/81 (03:17)
31 TVE Musical Express - Madrid, Spain 11/17/81 (04:02)
32 US Festival - San Bernardino, CA 9/3/82 (21:24)
33 The Old Grey Whistle Test - London, England 2/26/85 (05:20)
34 Obras Sanitarias - Buenos Aires, Argentina 2/3/87 (13:41)
35 Provinssirock Festival - Seinajoki, Finland 6/4/88 (16:52)
36 Rochester Institute Of Technology - Rochester, NY 10/8/88 (05:06)
37 Rolling Stone Club - Milan, Italy 3/16/92 (17:05)
38 Top Of The Pops - London, England 6/29/95 (02:43)
39 River Plate Stadium Estadio Antonio V. Liverti - Bueno Ares, Argentina 3/16/96 (05:19)
40 Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue (02:13)
41 Carbona Not Glue (01:43)
45 Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue (01:29)
48 Oh Oh I Love Her So (01:47)
51 I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement (03:04)
52 Carbona Not Glue (01:48)
56 I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (02:15)
57 Now I Wanna Be A Good Boy (02:21)
58 53rd And 3rd (02:05)
61 I Remember You (02:13)
62 Judy Is A Punk (01:36)
64 Oh Oh I Love Her So (01:49)
67 Judy Is A Punk (01:20)
73 I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (02:51)
75 I Wanna Be Well (02:20)
82 I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You (01:23)
84 53rd And 3rd (02:14)
85 Do You Wanna Dance? (01:44)
86 Now I Wanna Be A Good Boy (01:50)
87 Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue (01:20)
89 Dee Dee And Joey: The Beginning (01:53)
90 Tommy: Forest Hills High School (00:44)
91 Danny Fields: Revelation (01:23)
92 Joey And Dee Dee: Influences (00:31)
93 Joey And Danny: Artistic Growth (01:19)
94 Violence? (00:49)
96 What Is Punk? (01:43)
97 Tommy: How I Learned To Play The Drums And We Got A Record Deal (01:27)
98 Dee Dee: Coffee And Cigarettes (01:00)
99 Johnny: Hard To Stop (00:41)
100 Argentina: The First Time (05:16)
101 Mandagsborsen (05:27)
102 Sha Na Na Shenanigans (01:42)
103 It's Not My Place (In The 9 To 5 World) (03:28)
105 Somebody Put Something In My Drink (Rough Cut) (02:45)
107 Danny Fields (03:12)
108 Ian Harper (02:45)
109 Jenny Lens (04:26)
110 Robert Matheu (02:38)
111 Fan Gallery (02:44)
113 I Remember You (02:25)
115 I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You (01:33)
119 Go Mental (02:11)
123 I Want You Around (02:33)
125 Teenage Lobtomy (02:03)
127 Rock 'N' Roll High School (02:02)
130 Rock 'N' Roll High School (02:23)
132 This Business Is Killing Me (02:09)
133 All Quiet On The Eastern Front (01:53)
137 Rock 'N' Roll High School (01:43)
141 Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (02:38)
142 Chinese Rocks (02:05)
150 Love Kills (01:56)
154 I Don't Want You Anymore (02:05)
161 Somebody Put Something In My Drink (02:21)
167 I Wanna Live (02:03)
168 My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg) (03:26)
170 Pet Semetary (02:36)
171 Animal Boy (01:47)
Ramones
Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in Queens, New York, in 1974 by Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, and Tommy Ramone. They helped define punk’s sound and look with ultra-fast songs, downstrokes, and leather-jacket iconography. After relentless touring and 14 studio albums, they disbanded in 1996 and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.43 Reviews
