“Hey ho, let’s go!” With that call to arms the Ramones launched their recording career and changed the face of music forever, spawning punk rock and reinvigorating the ailing art form known as rock ’n’ roll. Formed in the Forest Hills section of Queens, NY in 1974, the Ramones were completely original, forging a whole new sound and direction for music and giving birth to punk.

 

With the 1976 release of their debut album the Ramones issued a manifesto with their groundbreaking sound, inspiring countless others to pick up guitars and rock. Ramones contained 14 tunes – including classics like “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Beat On The Brat,” “Judy Is A Punk,” and “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” – and ran a tight 32 minutes, thanks to the fact that every song clocked in well under three minutes (and many under two).

 

The Ramones’ sophomore effort Leave Home from 1977 saw the band expanding on their sound slightly by including more melodic songs like “What’s Your Game,” “Swallow My Pride,” and “I Remember You.” But the chain saw guitars are still as sharp as ever on songs like “Glad To See You Go,” “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment,” and “Pinhead,” with its classic “Gabba Gabba Hey!” chant.