Ramones' 'Road to Ruin' turns 40, new "She's The One" video out today

Road to Ruin

Ramones‘ fourth album Road to Ruin turns 40 today. It was their fourth stone-cold classic in a row, following their unfuckwithable first three albums, but it was also the beginning of a new chapter for the band. It was their first album with new drummer Marky Ramone (aka Marc Bell, who had previously played in the proto-metal band Dust and drummed on Richard Hell & the Voidoids’ punk classic Blank Generation) after the departure of Tommy Ramone. (Though Tommy, who co-produced the Ramones’ first three albums, did stay on as co-producer.) It had a cleaner sound, probably thanks in part to new co-producer Ed Stasium, and saw the Ramones branching out from their trademark punk sound and writing some gorgeous ballads like “Don’t Come Close” and “Questioningly.” They also included a cover of Searchers ballad “Needles and Pins.”

Still, there were plenty of rippers that rivaled their first three albums like “I Wanted Everything,” “I Don’t Want You,” “I’m Against It,” “Go Mental,” and “Bad Brain” (the latter of which inspired the name of a certain classic hardcore band). It’s also got one of their very best songs ever, “I Just Want to Have Something To Do” (which was immortalized the the following year thanks to an iconic scene in Rock ‘n’ Roll High School), and one of their biggest songs ever, “I Wanna Be Sedated,” which probably rivals “Blitzkrieg Bop” for the title of First Ramones Song You Ever Heard. The album sounds as fresh today as it ever did, and it goes without saying that this album is responsible for inspiring tons of your favorite punk bands.

Having just performed at a Johnny Ramone tribute in Hollywood, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong talked to Forbes about the Ramones’ impact: “When I was a kid I watched on late night TV was a show they were playing in Ann Arbor and if you look it up it’s on You Tube,” he said. “They sounded so f**king good and the energy in the crowd was so completely into it and they had the big banner behind them with the big symbol and I always remember that. The imprint is permanently imprinted into my brain.” Billie Joe also did a Ramones cover in NYC earlier this year, which was just a few days after Road to Ruin‘s 40th anniversary was celebrated at the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Bowery Electric.

Road to Ruin‘s 40th anniversary is also being celebrated with the new 80-song 40th anniversary deluxe reissue, which includes a remastered version of the original mix, a new 40th anniversary mix, acoustic versions and other alternate takes of songs from the album, unreleased outtakes “I Walk Out” and “S.L.U.G.,” and ‘Live At The Palladium’ from New Year’s Eve 1979.

Along with its release today, the Ramones have put out the never-before-seen official music video for “She’s the One.” It’s just a straight-up performance video, but it really shows how much of a force these guys were. Watch it, stream the entire 80-song deluxe reissue, and revisit some other classic videos of Road to Ruin songs, below.

Road To Ruin 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Tracklist
DISC ONE: Original Mix Remastered

“I Just Want To Have Something To Do”
“I Wanted Everything”
“Don’t Come Close”
“I Don’t Want You”
“Needles And Pins”
“I’m Against It”
“I Wanna Be Sedated”
“Go Mental”
“Questioningly”
“She’s The One”
“Bad Brain”
“It’s A Long Way Back”
40th Anniversary Road Revisited Mix

“I Just Want To Have Something To Do”
“I Wanted Everything”
“Don’t Come Close”
“I Don’t Want You”
“Needles And Pins”
“I’m Against It”
“I Wanna Be Sedated”
“Go Mental”
“Questioningly”
“She’s The One”
“Bad Brain”
“It’s A Long Way Back”

DISC TWO: Rough Mixes & 40th Anniversary Extras

“I Walk Out” (2018 Mix) *
“S.L.U.G.” (2018 Mix) *
“Don’t Come Close” (Single Mix)
“Needles And Pins” (Single Mix)
“I Just Want To Have Something To Do” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“I Don’t Want You” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“I’m Against It” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“It’s A Long Way Back” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“I Walk Out” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“Bad Brain” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“Needles And Pins” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“I Wanna Be Sedated” Take 2 (Basic Rough Mix) *
“I Wanted Everything” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“Go Mental” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“She’s The One” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“Questioningly” Take 2 (Basic Rough Mix) *
“S.L.U.G.” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“Don’t Come Close” (Basic Rough Mix) *
“I Wanna Be Sedated” (Backing Track) *
“I Don’t Want You” (Brit Pop Mix) *
“Questioningly” (Acoustic Version) *
“Needles And Pins” (Acoustic Version) *
“Don’t Come Close” (Acoustic Version) *
“I Wanna Be Sedated” (“Ramones-On-45 Mega-Mix!”)

DISC THREE: Live At The Palladium, New York, NY, December 31 1979

“Blitzkrieg Bop” *
“Teenage Lobotomy” *
“Rockaway Beach” *
“I Don’t Want You” *
“Go Mental” *
“Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment” *
“I Wanna Be Sedated” *
“I Just Want To Have Something To Do” *
“She’s The One” *
“This Ain’t Havana” *
“I’m Against It” *
“Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” *
“Havana Affair” *
“Commando” *
“Needles And Pins” *
“I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” *
“Surfin’ Bird” *
“Cretin Hop” *
“All The Way” *
“Judy Is A Punk” *
“California Sun” *
“I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You” *
“Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World” *
“Pinhead” *
“Do You Wanna Dance?” *
“Suzy Is A Headbanger” *
“Let’s Dance” *
“Chinese Rock” *
“Beat On The Brat” *
“We’re A Happy Family” *
“Bad Brain”
“I Wanted Everything” *
* previously unreleased

LP: 40th Anniversary Road Revisited Mix

Side One

“I Just Want To Have Something To Do”
“I Wanted Everything”
“Don’t Come Close”
“I Don’t Want You”
“Needles And Pins”
“I’m Against It”
Side Two

“I Wanna Be Sedated”
“Go Mental”
“Questioningly”
“She’s The One”
“Bad Brain”
“It’s A Long Way Back”