Three Chords And A Few Ramones

Every once in a while I wish I had a time machine. I would use the time machine and visit parts of the past that I wish I was a part of. One the first journey's would be the early 1960's. I always wanted to be part of the Jazz explosion of Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane. I would stick myself at the Village Vanguard and catch John Coltrane or Bill Evans with his great trio of Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. It would be interesting watch this scene develop into something that would be part of my musical loves. I am sure that every moment would be quite jaw dropping.

Another time machine run would be to the era of the Fillmore period of music. This would be the era of 1966-1971. If you are like me and love music live the Fillmore shows were a site to behold. I been told by family and friends that some of these shows were some of the best. What I would give to see the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers on a Febuary night in 1970 play from roughly 10pm at night and play all the way to the wee small hours when the sun was coming up the next day. Another show seeing the triple bill of Steve Miller, Neil Young and Crazy Horse and Miles Davis (Bitches Brew period no less) play for a great crowd. There would be so many shows. I cannot imagine seeing them all, but I would try my best to catch something so magical on a night at the Fillmore.



The third and possible time machine run would be to 1975-1979. I would once again plop myself in the city of New York and to CBGB's and catch people like Blonde, Richard Hell, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Television and of course the Ramones. I would go to these shows and soak all the culture and scene of what was the birth of so much stuff. I actually been to shows at CBGB's but way after this scene was the place to go for great music. I went to an anniversary concert week back in 1995 where I saw people like Living Colour, The Cramps, Patti Smith, and countless others. It was a great time and where age was not discriminated and I could be talking with someone who was there in 1975 and he told me about the first time he saw the Talking Heads and told me how out of sorts they looked, but they could play and that was good enough for him.

In my time machine I would see these shows. I really was and still is a fan of Television. That same person who mentioned the Talking Heads told me about the 50 plus shows he saw of The Ramones. He was the one who coined my title of this post. He would tell his parents even though he was seventeen, he was going out to see a live show "Hey Ma, I am going to see three chords and a few Ramones." He told me how great this music was with such conviction that every one of the 50 shows that he saw of them it never got old. The music was full of energy and the time was priceless. Every time they played at the CBGB's they would play for about an hour and the place would go crazy. They would try out new songs and if the crowd liked them they would add them to the new album. It was quite an experience like no other.



I have seen the Ramones about a dozen times, but nothing like that person I talked to. He and I still talk about that golden era. He misses it as much as I wish I was there. Once in a while I pull out my Ramones albums and remember that golden era. Today I played the first Ramones album and really gave it a listen. While shoveling snow today it quickly made all the snow go away and the worries were gone, but the time back in 1977 where I wish I was it made it all the more wonderful. All the songs on here are great and I am sure by now are engraved in your memory banks everything from "Beat on the Brat" to "53rd and 3rd" to "Judy Is a Punk" and the famous "Blitzkrieg Bop." All of it classic and all of it wonderful. What would I give to go back and watch and listen to this all unfold before my eyes. Classic all the way and rightfully should be turned up all the way.

Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat with a baseball bat
Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh.

Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat with a baseball bat
Oh yeah, oh yeah,uh-oh
Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh.

What can you do?
What can you do?
With a brat like that always on your back
What can you lose?

What can you do?
What can you do?
With a brat like that always on your back
What can you lose?


Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh.
Yeah

Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat
Beat on the brat with a baseball bat
Oh yeah, oh yeah, uh-oh.