The 500 - #106 - Rocket To Russia - The Ramones

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by New York-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

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Album: #106

Album Title: Rocket To Russia

Artist: The Ramones

Genre: Punk, Surf Rock, Pop Rock

Recorded: Media Sound and Sundragon Studios, New York City, U.S.A.

Released: November, 1977

My age at release: 12, but my guest blogger was not born

How familiar was I with it before this week: I knew some songs, but my guest blogger was new to it

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at #385, dropping 279 spots

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Cretin Hop

For the sixth consecutive year, I asked the students in my class if they would be interested in being a guest poster on my #The500Blog series. To my delight, Hadley volunteered. This year our school was reorganized in September, and my Grade 7 class became a Grade 6/7 split. Although I lost five Grade 7 students, I was delighted to welcome 10 enthusiastic Grade 6 pupils into our learning space. Among them was Hadley, an infectiously positive and funny 11-year-old who immediately shared her love of music with me. I was thrilled when she offered to write this post and is now the youngest guest-blogger I have hosted. Enjoy her discovery of Rocket To Russia, by The Ramones.

A recent picture of Hadley, with our classroom's NHL Stanley
Cup Tournament behind her.

Helloooo, world. I’m Hadley and I'm a Grade 6 student at Sir Arthur Currie Public school in London, Ontario. I am your guest blogger for this week and I chose to write about Rocket to Russia by The Ramones. The album was released in 1977 and I wasn't born yet. In fact, I wouldn't be born until 37 years later...talk about an age gap, eh? Let me tell you a little about myself! I’m 11 years and 9 months old. I play rugby, draw in my free time and listen to music!

I picked Rocket To Russia because I already was familiar with some of the Ramones' music and their high energy sound. When I was around seven my eldest sister introduced me to them, and I liked them right away. I am a fan of punk rock music.

The Ramones in 1977, (l-r) Dee Dee, Tommy, Joey and Johnny Ramone.

Originally, I was supposed to write about Aftermath by The Rolling Stones, which was on the list a few weeks ago at #109, but unfortunately I got very sick so I was unable to do it. I had picked it because I am a fan of the song, Paint It Black. 

Album cover for Aftermath by The Rolling Stones.

My favourite artists currently are Noah Kahan, Hozier and Mitski, but I'm open to any type of music. I've listened to everything from Taylor Swift to Rush, currently my favorite song is Copacabana by Barry Manilow. It's a great song and I definitely recommend it.

When I first heard the title Rocket to Russia I thought of, well, what anybody would think of, a rocket traveling to Russia. As I stated earlier I was familiar with some of the Ramones’ music but this record was new to me. I was curious and picked it as the album to write about because of that unusual title. When I listened the first time, several songs intrigued me. The first three, Cretin Hop, Rockaway Beach, and Here Today, Gone Tomorrow are catchy and energetic. However, it was the track Teenage Lobotomy that first resonated with me because the title was so surprising. However, after listening through the record a few times I settled on Cretin Hop, the first track on the album. 

Album cover for the single to a live version of Cretin Hop.

A "cretin" is a word usually used as an insult for someone who is extremely stupid or foolish. Originally, the word used to be used in the medical world because a “cretin” referred to someone afflicted by cretinism, a congenital medical condition caused by untreated thyroid deficiency (often due to a lack of dietary iodine) that results in stunted physical growth and intellectual disability. The Ramones were aware of the word's history when they wrote this song which does not insult people who may be cretins. Instead, they are identifying with people who are different and the song is supposed to show support for all misfits and outcasts who don't easily fit into the world.

From Wikipedia, a person afflicted with Cretinism.

I personally liked this song the most on the album because of the catchy beat and the flow of the lyrics. I also like the way that the Ramones found a way to work in dark humor, which I also like to work into my conversations with friends. They are a band that doesn't take itself too seriously and I like that about them.

To finish off I decided to interviewing my teacher, Mr. Hodgkinson.

Me: Were you familiar with the band?

Mr. H: I was. I first heard about them when the movie Rock and Roll High School was in theatres. It was advertised in some of the magazines I loved, including National Lampoon.  That movie came out the summer before I went into Grade 9 and I really wanted to see it, but it wasn’t playing at the theatre in the small town where I lived. I was intrigued by it because it seemed to be a little dangerous and I was already a big fan of comedies like that. I was also starting to figure out what kind of music I liked. The poster looked like something out of Mad Magazine and was similar to the Animal House poster -- another movie I was desperate to see because of the reputation it already had among my friends.

Rock and Roll High School and Animal House movie posters.

Me: Were you familiar with this album in particular?

Mr. H.: I knew of the album, but did not own it. I am now familiar with many of the tracks, but I don’t think I ever listened to it in order until it came up on this list.

Me: Speaking of the songs, which is your favorite?

Mr. H: I’ve always liked Rockaway Beach, I love all things New York City. I’ve been there many times and even got married there. One of my favorite things to do there is to visit places made famous in songs and movies. So, I’ve been to Coney Island and Brighton Beach, but I have yet to make it to Rockaway Beach -- that is a future trip, for sure. I also love the cover songs on the record -- Do You Wanna Dance? And Surfin’ Bird.

Rockaway Beach lyrics.

Me: After listening to the album, what's your overall favorite thing about it?

Mr. H: I love the energy it brings. It is the kind of record that makes me want to move. I can see it being motivating during a gym workout. I also like that it is fearless. As you know, I often tell my students to “be willing to be a little ridiculous” when we are doing improv games or drama activities. The Ramones seem fearless and give themselves permission to have fun. I think I dismissed this music too easily as a kid because I was drawn toward more complex music - Rush, Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis. Now I realize that there is something wonderful about unabashed energy, enthusiasm and just trying something, like punk rock music, because it is fun.

Me: Thanks.

In my eyes the Ramones will always be legendary band no matter if I’m 11 or 26 they are forever in my thoughts and forever a brilliant band!

Thank you for reading!

Hadley

The 500 - #386 - Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

Album # 386

Album Title: Pretzel Logic
Artist: Steely Dan
Genre: Rock-Jazz-Fusion
Recorded: The Village Recorder, West Los Angeles
Released: February, 1974
My age at release: My guest blogger Heather was 6, I was 8
How familiar was I with it before this week: Very
Song I am putting on my Spotify: Any Major Dude Will Tell You 

Guest Blogger Introduction

This week, I am delighted to welcome my dear friend Heather Keep as guest blogger. We met at Saunders Secondary School where her future husband and my future wife also attended.  Consequently, the four of us have been part of each other's lives for 40 years. I was thrilled when she accepted my invitation to share her connection with this record by American music pioneers Steely Dan.

Background Information

Pretzel Logic was the third record from the American jazz, fusion, soft and pop rock band Steely Dan. It's story began in 1967 at Bard College, New York, when pianist Donald Fagen heard fellow student Walter Becker practising guitar at The Red Balloon Cafe on campus. The two cynics bonded over a love of music and beatnik culture. A musical experiment began and the duo became the core members of a musical collective they called Steely Dan. Together, they released nine records, and their attention to production and detail in the studio has become the stuff of legend. Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million records and were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2017, Becker died from esophageal cancer and the musical experiment came to an end.

By Heather Keep

Steely Dan was my "go-to-band" in high-school. At the time, I didn't know another soul who loved them like I did. Everyone seemed to know the classics, such as Rikki Don't Lose That Number, the lead single from the record, Pretzel Logic. However, few seemed to know those obscure "B-side" tracks like Kid Charlemagne from the The Royal Scam (1976) or Babylon Sisters from Gaucho (1980). 

Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan (1974)

Any Major Dude Will Tell You from this, the first of three Steely Dan records to appear on The 500 list, is one of those deep-cut pearls that I listened to as a young teen. The easy going melody, beautiful vocals, and layered acoustics always offered me comfort when I was feeling down. In some ways, it helped put things in perspective for a serious teenager dealing with high school in the 80s! 

That's me, the serious teenager on the far left (Circa 1981)

Any Major Dude's release on the flip-side of the single Rikki garnered some FM radio-play, but it has remained a hidden gem and one of Steely Dan's most underrated creations. I love it dearly still.

My introduction to Steely Dan came through my Uncle Brian and my dad. I have a clear memory of my dad lying on the carpet in our living room, headphones on, with Steely Dan spinning on the turntable. I thought my dad was so cool. I wanted to do that too and was intensely curious about this record he was listening too. 

I also have memories of my Uncle, with his wild, long, afro-like black curls, blasting Steely Dan on the cassette player at his house or in his car. The memories of which album he was playing are fuzzy, but I remember the feeling -- that great feeling was undeniable.

My sister (left), baby brother and me in 1974 - the year Pretzel Logic was released

Perhaps the thing that drew me most to the band was the inclusion of piano and electronic keyboards as principal instruments in their brilliantly orchestrated fusion of jazz, rock, and R&B. I started playing piano at six and continued to take lessons until I was 18. The classical training provided by the Royal Conservatory gave me a deep appreciation of the piano. 

I needed a way to reconcile my love of rock music with my love of the piano and the sounds it could make. Steely Dan was the answer. The band could perfectly blend keys and guitars and then accent them brilliantly with a jazzy saxophone or trumpet flourish. The keyboards didn't take over the ensemble, yet remained a crucial element in the music. The result was a unique sound and a genre too elusive to peg. Sometimes, I wasn't sure what I was listening to -- I just knew I loved it.

The walls of my teenage bedroom profess my love of piano and music.
I spent a lot of time there.

Pretzel Logic, the album's title track, is on the bluesy side and remains faithful to that genre, but is also a great example of the duo's knack for production. In it, the sax, trumpet and trombone accompany Fagen's Wurlitzer electric piano and Becker's guitar perfectly. I love the vocals on this track. Pretzel Logic was the first Steely Dan album to feature Becker on guitar. Prior to this, the guitar work had been shared by several top-shelf session musicians, with Becker only playing bass. The end result firmly established Steely Dan's trademark sound. 

With critical acclaim and commercial success with their first and biggest pop chart hit, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, the band embarked on a successful promotional tour. They even recruited future legend Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins Band) for backup vocals.

However, shortly after the tour ended, Becker and Fagan made the decision to focus exclusively on recording in the studio. The other members of the band (Danny Dias, Jeff Baxter and Jim Hodder) moved on to other projects. Steely Dan continued to record four more records before disbanding in 1982 to pursue their own solo careers. However, they reunited in the mid-90s to record and tour again.

For me, their music and sound remains in my top 10 list of all-time favourites. I have had the privilege of seeing them twice in concert at the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto. The first was their Art Crimes Tour in July, 1996 and the second, their Two Against Nature Tour in 2000 -- a record that won them Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. 

I'm also happy to say that my husband, who accompanied me to both of those shows, became a Steely Dan fan in the early days of our relationship. We still enjoy their music together and I continue to spread the "word of the Dan" to whomever will listen.

My time-battered concert shirt from the 1996 tour

Thanks to you Marc for giving me the opportunity to travel a bit down memory lane and revisit songs I haven't listened to in a long time. Food for the soul.