Post by rtbuck on Nov 11, 2007 9:58:29 GMT -5
Ramones - It’s Alive 1974-1996 DVD
Label : Rhino
Review by Bucky for Rock N Roll Universe
2007 has been a great year for DVD releases giving us some great career retrospectives on bands such as Kiss with their 2 multi-disc sets ’Kissology Volumes 1 & 2’ & AC/DC multi-disc set ‘Plug Me In’. Another band that has just released a great 2 disc DVD set is the Ramones with ‘It’s Alive 1974-1996’.The Ramones were one of the main forerunners of the “Punk” movement that came out of NYC in the early 70’s & have influenced over three decades of rock & roll.
This retrospective which is an ultimate must for fans of the band kicks off with 3 songs from an early gig at CBGB’s in 1974.It’s hard to think that the Ramones were a fine tuned well oiled machine but when you compare this early gig to the incredible footage 3 years later on ‘Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert’ the evidence is there. This early footage shows Joey Ramone trying to find his style but really looking awkward & almost uncomfortable being onstage. The rest of the band is playing really sloppy throughout the early performance but in its own way this is a real gem to see if you are a fan of the band. There is some footage that is definitely “bootleg” quality but for the professionally shot footage & TV appearances this 2 disc set is well worth the cost. Disc 1 has footage from all the popular underground music clubs in the 70’s such as the aforementioned CBGB’s, My Father’s Place, Max’s Kansas City, Slim Chance(Michigan),the Armadillo(Texas),& the Club (Cambridge, MA).The 2nd footage from CBGB’s in NYC is great classic footage from ’77.Other footage that really stands out on the 2 disc set is the TV appearances from Musikladen,Old Grey Whistle Test, Top Of The Pops(which in one segment features the band covering a cool version of the Ronettes 1964 hit “Baby I Love You”),The Mandagsboren ( Sweden ),the Don Kirschner footage,& even an appearance on the Sha Na Na Show featuring Sha Na Na, with three of their members dressed in drag dancing to a lipsynced version of “Rock & Roll High School” along with the Ramones. There is some cool footage featuring 3 songs from the Camera Mart Stages in NYC with a bright set & a huge screen showing the band, above the drum riser. There also is a lot of great concert footage such as 14 song set from the Rainbow Theater London, England on New Years Eve 1977(this show was titled ‘It’s Alive’ & was recorded for a double record set that was available as an import in the late 70’s),a phenomenal set from the US Festival in California 1982,a show from the Rolling Stone Club in Italy 1992 which has CJ Ramone replacing Dee Dee, & 3 songs from Riverplate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina one of which, ”R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” features CJ on lead vocals.There even is a bit of Bonus features on disc one with various short interviews,another segment from the Mandagsboren,& another small clip from the Sha Na Na Show.
Did I mention the songs yet? Well, there are 122 songs spanning over 33 different segments. Songs are repeated throughout the 2 disc set but that don’t matter as every performance is a bit different. With 122 songs, most likely your favorite Ramones rocker is being counted off by bassist Dee Dee Ramone with the unforgettable “…1,2,3,4!!!!” charge before just about every song. ”Blitzkrieg Bop”, “Teenage Lobotomy”, ”I Wanna Be Sedated”, ”Chinese Rocks”,” Rockaway Beach”, “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”, “Warthog”, “Now I Wana Sniff Some Glue”, “Cretin Hop”, ”Surfin’ Bird”, “She’s The One”, “Judy Is a Punk”…let’s face it they’re all here!