Producers: Craig Leon, T. Erdelyi, Marty Thau.

Reissue producers: Gary Stewart, Bill Inglot.

Engineers: Rob Freeman, Jack Malken, Don Hunerburg.

Recorded at Plaza Sound, Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York and 914 Studios, Blauvelt, New York. Includes liner notes by Donna Gaines and Arturo Vega.

Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot (Digiprep).

Personnel: Joey Ramone (vocals); Johnny Ramone (guitar); Dee Dee Ramone (bass guitar); Tommy Ramone (drums).

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Recording information: 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY; Plaza Sound, Radio City Music Hall, NY.

Photographers: Arturo Vega; Robert Matheu.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Roberta Bayley; Arturo Vega.

The Ramones' self-titled debut is a justifiably adored album--not just one of the best albums to come out of the initial New York punk explosion of the mid-'70s, but one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time. RAMONES is one of those rare records where there is not a single weak or out-of-place song. Changeups like the bubblegummy near-ballad "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" and the uncharacteristically harsh "53rd and 3rd" (an unsentimental song about Dee Dee Ramone's days as a teenage hustler) vary the album's sound and mood more than its detractors (and even some of its fans) maintain.

The 2001 reissue adds eight bonus tracks. Most are culled from early demos, including two songs, "I Can't Be" and "I Don't Wanna Be Learned/I Don't Wanna Be Tamed," that were never officially recorded, and two others, "You Should Never Have Opened That Door" and "I Don't Care," which eventually appeared on their second and third albums respectively. None of the demos are particularly different from the final recordings, but, interestingly, they tend to be a little slower and poppier-sounding. The cleaner-sounding, more trebly single mix of "Blitzkrieg Bop" closes the package.

Rhino's 2001 expanded reissue of the Ramones' seminal debut album would have been welcomed if it had simply brought the original album back in print. It may have been available as part of the wonderful All the Stuff & More, Vol. 1 compilation, but there's nothing like hearing the original album in a concentrated blast of gleeful primitivism -- unless it's hearing it in this expanded form with eight bonus tracks. Apart from the final cut, the single version of "Blitzkrieg Bop," these are all demos, some appearing on All the Stuff & More, some appearing on a 1997 7" on Norton Records, some previously unreleased. It would be misleading to call these bonus cuts revelatory, even if they do confirm the group's affection for pop, but they're all welcome additions to the album, especially since they do contain "I Can't Be" and "I Don't Wanna Be Learned/I Don't Wanna Be Tamed," songs that never made it to Ramones albums, plus early versions of "I Don't Care" and "You Should Never Have Opened That Door." On top of the music is the 20-page booklet, containing full artwork and lyrics, tons of rare photographs, and notes from Donna Gaines. It's a terrific package, and it's not just for the dedicated Ramones or punk fan -- it's essential for any rock library. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine