Ramones - Leave Home front cover

I’ve probably played the Ramones’ Leave Home (1977) 20 times in the last week, which isn’t that hard to do since all of the 14 songs are under three minutes and many are less than two minutes. And the sound is perfect! I’m sure that is due in large part to Ed Stasium’s work as “engineer.” I didn’t realize he had anything to do with the Ramones until just now, but I did know he has worked on a long list of killer records.

There are many great tunes on here and I think my favorites are “Glad to See You Go” and brilliantly retro-sounding (even for ‘77) “Sheena is a Punk Rocker.” It’s as if the Ramones were channeling the Beach Boys.

Ramones - Leave Home back cover

More greatness from genius graphic artist Arturo Vega. I’m sure his contributions have had a lot to do with the continued popularity of the Ramones. This Ramones “seal” is as much a rock and roll icon as the band itself. “Look Out Below.”

Ramones - Leave Home seal detail

(Due to dicog disorganization I originally posted the next picture with the first Ramones record; it belongs to Leave Home.)

Because they’re so good looking someone decided to add another punk rock portrait on the album liner. Nerds? Tough guys? Gang? I wonder what people thought back in the ’70s.

Ramones - Leave Home liner notes

This copy of Leave Home is apparently the third release, and included the song “Sheena is a Punk Rocker.”

More about Leave Home by the Ramones

ZZ Top -- The Best of ZZ Top

• Artist: ZZ Top
• Title: The Best of ZZ Top
• Year: 1977
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy and Bob
• Acquired: 2005 – Inherited from Bob Bobala
• Keeper: Yes

Have mercy! Been waitin’ on the bus all day.

And so begins my favorite ZZ Top song, “Waitin’ for the Bus.” Growing up I loved hearing it on the radio. All the AOR stations would also play “Jesus Just Left Chicago” right after it. That’s also how the songs are ordered on this best of. It’s hard to believe ZZ Top had a “best of” out in 1977. Also, after non-stop listening to this compilation over the last couple days I’m amazed how funky these cats are, or at least were. There are many other great ones here: “Tush”, “La Grange”, “Heard it on the X” etc. They’re still rocking live shows with these tunes, but their later period work doesn’t really compare.

To my everlasting regret I never have been able to find their records. And I do want records. Whenever I’m in a proper record store I always head right to the Zs, but no soap. At least I scored this one from my friend Bob when he moved West.

I found a great, recent video of ZZ Top playing “Waitin’” and “Jesus” live. Check it out below. Billy Gibbons has such a huge, nasty tone. I read a long time ago that he uses something like an old silver dollar for a pick. Once I started watching these videos I couldn’t stop. After about six I said to myself “you’re spending too much time on music.” I know, that’s crazy talk.

ZZTop.com

Right on! That bus done got me back.

• Artist: The Jam
• Title: This is the Modern World
• Year: 1977
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary? Tracy?
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

I’ve been busy making the doughnuts so it’s taken me a while to give this record a proper listen. And The Jam’s This is the Modern World deserves a proper listen, or a few. You get your money’s worth with a total of 13 songs. All of them are exquisitely naked, mod, and short. There’s only one song over three minutes, and there’s one cover, a mod-punked out version of Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.” Looks like I disagree with The Jam critics, historians and maybe even Paul Weller himself, again.

Back to the doughnuts. Who wants one?

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: Music for Pleasure
• Year: 1977
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary?
• Acquired: Unknown origin

“Music for Pleasure”, the second album by The Damned, is a lot more garage rock punk than I remembered. There are also moments that sound more like acid rock. I guess for 1977 that was more likely than it seems now. I like it and it’s hard to sit still when it’s playing, but I’ll admit that we won’t play this one that often. Gotta love the “smile price” sticker placed directly(?) on the record jacket. A real bonus is the oxblood colored vinyl. Not available on cassette, CD, MP3, etc.

Not sure where the first The Damned record is, but it’s gotta be here somewhere. While I look for it you can read about the complicated history of the band, or the “Music for Pleasure” record, or the cool label that put it out, Stiff Records.

War -- Platinum Jazz

• Artist: War
• Title: Platinum Jazz
• Year: 1977
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Bought it used somewhere a long time ago.
• Keeper: Yes

I should probably rate War’s “Platinum Jazz” a 10 just for the opening track alone. “War is Coming! War is Coming!” is stupid good and despite being over seven minutes long I wish it would just keep going. This record is a compilation of some of their longer jams and instrumental pieces. Some people might find much of it a bit too spacey, but I like the whole trippy funking thing.

Check out the all too short clip of “War is Coming” and read more about “Platinum Jazz.”