CJ Ramone really needs no introduction. It's been nearly 26 years since he joined The Ramones and worked as the bands bassist (and sometimes vocalist) until their retirement in 1996. His latest solo album "Last Chance To Dance" is a collection of three chord anthems packed with classic punk rock power. CJ shares some of his favorite songs in this weeks edition of "Five For Friday" but first check out the video for his song "Won't Stop Swinging".
THE SHIRELLES - WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW
THE FIRST SONG I CAN REMEMBER HEARING AND WANTING TO HEAR IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND THE LYRICS, I LOVED THE SWEET SOUND OF SHIRLEY ALSTON'S VOCALS AND THE HARMONIES WERE BEAUTIFUL. THE STRINGS GAVE THE SONG A SEAMLESS ANGELIC FLOW. STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS TO THIS DAY.
JOHNNY CASH - RING OF FIRE
BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT'S JOHNNY CASH, THE MEXICAN STYLE BRASS OPENING THE SONG IS AS CLASSIC AS IT GETS AND JOHNNY'S VOICE AND LYRICS ARE, IN MY OPINION, PEERLESS.
BLACK SABBATH - SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH
THE WORLD CHANGED FOR ME FROM THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THIS IN 1975, 2 YEARS AFTER IT'S RELEASE. THE OPENING GUITAR RIFF AND THE POWER THAT THE DRUMS AND BASS COME IN WITH HOOKED ME RIGHT AWAY, AND OZZY'S HIGH DRONING VOCALS INSTANTLY MADE THEM MY FAVORITE BAND OF ALL TIME. SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH IS THE SONG THAT KICKED OFF THE REST OF MY LIFE.
THE RAMONES - JUDY IS A PUNK
ALTHOUGH BLITZKRIEG BOP AND I WANNA BE SEDATED ARE THE MORE WELL KNOWN SONGS, JUDY TO ME IS THE GREATEST PUNK ROCK SONG EVER WRITTEN. PERFECT IN EVERY WAY, IT IS A FREIGHT TRAIN OF A SONG WITH A GREAT POP MELODY THAT NEVER LOSES IT'S MOMENTUM.
THE CLASH - WHITE RIOT
THE CLASH TOOK PUNK ROCK TO A PLACE IT HAD NEVER BEEN. THEIR TOUGH STREET SOUND BLENDED WITH REGGAE RYTHM SECTIONS AND SMART LYRICS, SET THEM APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE. WHITE RIOT IS A STRAIGHT UP ROCKER OF A SONG ABOUT STREET PROTESTS AND REBELLION IN 1970'S ENGLAND, WITH LYRICS THAT PUT YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHAOS WITH BRICK IN HAND AND A FURIOUS ANTHEM DRIVING YOU ON.
I remember hearing Johnny Cash sing Ring of Fire over my grandma's radio at her farm when was a kid. In 1963, I would have been 12 years old. I clearly remember that Summer and that song and how it felt to hear his huge voice drop down and sing, "It burns burns burns..." and I could see that fire and I remember those words.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen. Great story.. Thanks for checking out CJ's picks.
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