(LP) radioactive. 7243 8 27676 1 / 12 tracks / 1994

(CD) mca/radioactive. 10913 / 1994

RI (CD): chrysalis. 6052 / 1999

RI (CD): originals 638128 / 2001

UK (LP,CD): chrysalis. chr 6052 / 1994

RI: UK (CD): captain oi. ahoy cd 246 / 13 tracks / 2004

BRA (CD): emi. 8 27676 2 / 1993

JAP (CD): chrysalis. tocp-8061 / 1995

(LP): RUS: ? / 1994 (?)

Feat. Pete Townshend (The Who) on “Substitute” and Traci Lords (ex-porn star) on “Somebody to Love”. UK reissue on Cpt Oi has one bonus track (Surfin’ Safari). Japanese CD with Obi. Russian LP has Russian song titles.

The Ramones' repertoire always partly relied on cleverly executed cover versions, so i guess it was a logical step to do a full album of them. Some of the songs (Shape of Things to Come, 7 and 7 is, and a few others) are surprisingly good and show what wonders this band can still work with proper songwriting; others just sound like uninspired cover versions by an aging punk rock band. Overall, this is a good album, though, better than most of their other late-era albums. [7]

Die Ramones waren ja schon immer Freunde von Coverversionen, da lag es wohl nahe, ein komplettes Album damit zu füllen. Einige Songs funktionieren wirklich sehr gut und kommen frisch und knackig; andere klingen dann doch eher nach einer alternden Punkband, die die Hits ihrer Kindertage nachspielt. Insgesamt aber eine gute Platte, besser als die meisten anderen aus ihrer Spätphase.

Tracks: journey to the center of the mind / substitute / out of time / the shape of things to come / somebody to love / when i was young / 7 and 7 is / my back pages / cant seem to make you mine / have you ever seen the rain / i cant control myself / surf city