The Ramones – Rocket to Russia (3CDs/1LP, Warner)

Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe three CD + vinyl LP box set. This box begins with the complete album remastered plus a previously unreleased quot;tracking mixquot; of the album (that mix also appears on the vinyl LP pressing here). You also get an unissued 1977 Glasgow concert. Lastly you get a jam-packed 24-track CD of mostly unreleased material: quot;Needles and Pinsquot; (demo) the B-sides quot;It s a Long Way Back to Germanyquot; and quot;Babysitter quot; an acoustic version of quot;Here Today Gone Tomorrow quot; rough mixes alternate vocals and more. The photo-filled book overflows with illustrations too; it s a rocket to rapture for Ramones fans. Sheena became a punk rocker right here-and she wasn t the only one! The Ramones third LP (1977) helped punk spread like wildfire thanks to quot;Sheena Is a Punk Rocker quot; quot;Rockaway Beach quot; quot;We re a Happy Family quot; their memorable covers of quot;Surfin Bird quot; quot;Do You Wanna Dancequot; and more. Never have Beach Boys-grade melodic hooks pounding drums and pile-driver guitars come together in more irresistible fashion than they did on quot;Rocket to Russia quot; which celebrates it s 40th anniversary this year.