Rocket To Russia was originally released at the height of punk in the autumn of 1977, preceded and followed by the classic singles 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker' and 'Rockaway Beach'.
Produced by Tony Bongiovi and engineered by Ed Stasium, it was the last Ramones album to feature original drummer Tommy Ramon behind the kit (he would return to produce their next album). Its front cover art reprised their debut's brick wall motif with a photo by manager Danny Fields, while the rear featured a cartoon by Punk magazine founder John Holmstrom.
Housed in a 12" x 12" hardback book, the lavish 40th Anniversary 3CD/1LP reissue will feature both the original mix of the 14-track album, plus a new back-to-basics 'Tracking Mix' by Stasium. He explains, “When putting together this new Tracking Mix, I decided to include the versions of ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘It’s A Long Way Back to Germany,’ since they were recorded during the Rocket To Russia sessions at Mediasound, and are completely different takes that have never been heard before. ‘Sheena’ has been omitted, as it was recorded in a totally different session a few months prior, in-between the Leave Home and Rocket To Russia albums.”
The second disc contains two dozen rare and unreleased recordings, including rough mixes from sessions at Mediasound and The Power Station. There’s also an early version of 'Needles And Pins' with Tommy on drums, the B-side single mix of 'Babysitter', an alternative version of 'It’s A Long Way Back To Germany', with Dee Dee on vocals, an original radio promo with Joey Ramone, and more.
Disc 3 features a complete, previously unreleased, live recording from a show at Glasgow Apollo on 19 December 1977, recorded just days before the show at London's Rainbow which yielded the classic live album It's Alive.
Set for release through Rhino on 24 November, it's available to pre-order here.
Full tracklisting....
Disc One: Original Album
Remastered Original Mixes
1. “Cretin Hop”
2. “Rockaway Beach”
3. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”
4. “Locket Love”
5. “I Don’t Care”
6. “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”
7. “We’re A Happy Family”
8. “Teenage Lobotomy”
9. “Do You Wanna Dance?”
10. “I Wanna Be Well”
11. “I Can’t Give You Anything”
12. “Ramona”
13. “Surfin’ Bird”
14. “Why Is It Always This Way?”
40th Anniversary Tracking Mix
15. “Cretin Hop”
16. “Rockaway Beach”
17. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”
18. “Locket Love”
19. “I Don’t Care” – Version 2
20. “It’s A Long Way Back To Germany” – Version 1
21. “We’re A Happy Family”
22. “Teenage Lobotomy”
23. “Do You Wanna Dance?”
24. “I Wanna Be Well”
25. “I Can’t Give You Anything”
26. “Ramona”
27. “Surfin’ Bird”
28. “Why Is It Always This Way?”
Disc Two: Bonus Material
Mediasound/Power Station Rough Mixes
1. “Why Is It Always This Way?” – Mediasound Rough, Alternate Lyrics *
2. “Rockaway Beach” – Power Station Rough *
3. “I Wanna Be Well” – Power Station Rough *
4. “Locket Love” – Power Station Rough *
5. “I Can’t Give You Anything” – Power Station Rough *
6. “Cretin Hop” – Power Station Rough *
7. “Happy Family” – Power Station Rough *
8. “Ramona” – Mediasound Rough, Alternate Lyrics *
9. “Do You Wanna Dance?” – Mediasound Rough *
10. “Teenage Lobotomy” – Mediasound Rough *
11. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” – Mediasound Rough *
12. “I Don’t Care” – Version 2, Mediasound Rough *
40th Anniversary Extras
13. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” – Acoustic Version *
14. “It’s A Long Way Back To Germany” – Version 1-Dee Dee Vocal *
15. “Ramona” – Sweet Little Ramona Pop Mix *
16. “Surfin’ Bird” – Alternate Vocal *
17. “Teenage Lobotomy” – Backing Track *
18. “We’re A Happy Family” – At Home With The Family *
19. “Cretin Hop” – Backing Track *
20. “Needles And Pins” – Demo Version *
21. “Babysitter” – B-Side Version
22. “It’s A Long Way Back To Germany” – B-Side Version
23. Joey RTR Radio Spot Promo *
24. “We’re A Happy Family” – Joey & Dee Dee Dialogue *
Disc Three: Live at Apollo Centre, Glasgow, Scotland (December 19, 1977)
1. “Rockaway Beach” *
2. “Teenage Lobotomy” *
3. “Blitzkrieg Bop” *
4. “I Wanna Be Well” *
5. “Glad To See You Go” *
6. “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment” *
7. “You’re Gonna Kill That Girl” *
8. “I Don’t Care” *
9. “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” *
10. “Carbona Not Glue” *
11. “Commando” *
12. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” *
13. “Surfin’ Bird” *
14. “Cretin Hop” *
15. “Listen To My Heart” *
16. “California Sun” *
17. “I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You” *
18. “Pinhead” *
19. “Do You Wanna Dance?” *
20. “Chain Saw” *
21. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World” *
22. “Now I Wanna Be A Good Boy” *
23. “Judy Is A Punk” *
24. “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue” *
25. “We’re A Happy Family” *
LP: 40th Anniversary Tracking Mix
Side One
1. “Cretin Hop”
2. “Rockaway Beach”
3. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”
4. “Locket Love”
5. “I Don’t Care” – Version 2
6. “It’s A Long Way Back To Germany” – Version 1
7. “We’re A Happy Family”
Side Two
1. “Teenage Lobotomy”
2. “Do You Wanna Dance?”
3. “I Wanna Be Well”
4. “I Can’t Give You Anything”
5. “Ramona”
6. “Surfin’ Bird”
7. “Why Is It Always This Way?”
* Previously Unreleased