The Ramones Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Their Classic ‘Rocket To Russia’ Album

In the liner notes to the 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Rocket To Russia, esteemed rock critic Jaan Uhelszki describes 1977 as the “quintessential year for punk rock” and this, the second Ramones album of the year, as “the quintessential punk album.”

High praise, but worthy, as the record featured some of the band’s greatest tracks, from "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" and "Surfin’ Bird" to "Rockaway Beach" and "Do You Wanna Dance?"

Forty years later Rocket To Russia still stands as a punk rock classic, and well deserving of an expanded 40th anniversary treatment. The 3-CD/1-LP deluxe edition, parallel to the Ramones and Leave Home sets, features an updated 2017 remaster of the original album, paired with a new ‘Tracking Mix’ (a stripped-back, raw and live version) by original Ramones’ engineer/mixer Ed Stasium.

Bonus content includes a disc of outtakes, rough mixes and rare tracks, including an early demo version of "Needles & Pins" (with Tommy on drums), the b-side single mix of "Babysitter," alternate versions of "It’s a Long Way Back to Germany" (with Dee Dee on vocals), an original radio promo and more.

The jewel in the crown could well be the third disc, featuring an unreleased live show – recorded in Glasgow in 1977 on multi-track – at one of the concerts leading up to the It’s Alive set, which Stasium has mixed for this release. These new live tracks – featuring the Ramones at their peak – are simply an incredible snapshot of the power of Queens’ finest.

Deluxe packaging includes an album-sized hard bound book, with classic 1977 photos by GODLIS, Chalkie Davies and former Ramones’ manager Danny Fields, along with essays from Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, Creem magazine writer/editor Jaan Uhelszki, & Stasium again talking about the making of Rocket To Russia.

Rocket To Russia 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition is available now as a limited numbered edition. Get your copy today!