Like so many groups whose appeal surfs through multiple generations, The Ramones have had a bunch of compilation albums, and we will probably see more in the future. I have yet to come across a lame Ramones collection, but this particular compilation gives you the greatest adrenalin rush for your buck.

The first three tunes are identical to their debut album, but instead of easing into the sweet "I Want To Be Your Boyfriend," they follow up with more high-energy ear fuel with "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment," and "Commando." No Lagardian pauses here, folks! In fact, if you want a wide variety of Ramones songs that include their semi-mellow side, you are best off buying each individual album instead of any compilations, since most of these collections focus on their high-octane classics (which, I admit, is what they did best!)

If you are one of those Ramones fans who preferred their earlier years, "Loud, Fast" delivers more of their classics, but gives their later years a decent backseat. A nice addition to these memorable cuts are several solo tunes by Dee Dee Ramones, including "The Crusher." Very trippy,as Dee Dee's material strayed from the traditional Ramones aura; he had a unique vision!

The only reason I would discourage anybody from buying this CD has nothing to do with flaws. I believe The Ramones are one of those rare groups who put out so much great material, so much which didn't wind up in any "Greatest Hits" collections, that buying each and every one of their releases is worth every penny. But--- to each his or her own, so if you want to buy just one Ramones CD, and get a great sampling of their work, this is the album to buy.

Hits is something of a misnomer when it comes to the Ramones. It's more like the tongue in cheek title that the Red Hot Chili Peppers gave their 1993 EMI collection, "WHAT hits?!?" I am sure that anyone who is a die hard fan probably has all these on CD somewhere, or would have picked alternate titles than the ones presented here. It is going to be a damn long time before we have the likes of the Ramones on this earth again, or a band with this kind of influence. So since Johnny Ramone was the one with his hand in the title hat, I'll not quibble over what should and should not be here. Suffice to say that it's all good...and just to have a single disc that spans the entire legacy of the Ramones' recordings (and leaves the redundant live records out of the picture) is reason to believe in a higher power.

For all the critical nit-picking that has occasionaly been leveled about the lack of variation in the Ramones' style, this CD lays that argument to waste. "Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio" would be a classic out of anybody's songbook, the Phil Spector production should have made this the breakout record that the band so obviously longed for. But it isn't the same song as the rappy "Wart Hog" which isn't the same song as the near metal "Psycho Therapy" which isn't the same song as the trippy "Highest Trails Above" which isn't the three chord attack of "Blitzkreig Bop" etc., etc.

The unifying thread through almost all of these songs was Joey Ramone's voice, which became more and more soulful as their career proceeded. If Dee Dee and Johnny gave guts to the band, it was Joey's voice that gave it heart. These may have been the "toughest" of the Ramones' songs, yet these "brothers" were never without spirit. When listening to this disc, it's the Ramones' spirit and heart that will stick in your memory, just as much as any of the classic rock hooks they were so adept at creating.

Without the Ramones, there'd be NO Clash, NO Sex Pistols, NO Dead Kennedys, NO Buzzcocks, NO Rezillos. It all started with the Ramones, when they went on their tour in London, which they kicked off on the day of America's Bicentennial, on July 4, 1976. A decade after the Beatles, Kinks, the Who and Spinal Tap, the Ramones invaded the U.K. with their garage rock brand of PUNK with Johnny Ramone slashing out three power chords with his chainsaw guitar attack and Joey singing in his velvety monotone. Within a year, all of the sudden, punk rock bands were emerging from the U.K. left and right, all of the sudden the ignorant press (read: Rolling Stones, et al.) were calling punk a "British import".

So, let's put this stupid history revisionism to rest: The Ramones were punk. Punk started with the Ramones, and without the Ramones, there'd be no punk.

If they were merely another metal band at the time of their incarnation (such as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, or Kiss), their influence would have been for nil.

I was there. I remember it all, and, yes, the Ramones were a bona fide punk band.

This record has some of their best. Enjoy!

This collection of Ramones songs is great. Has ever single Ramones song worth owning, like popular songs "Blitzkreig Bop", "Beat On The Brat", "Pinhead", "Rockaway Beach", "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "I Wanna Be Sedated", "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do", "Rock N' Roll High School" and many more. As well as great lesser-known-to-everyone-but-fans songs like "Commando", "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment", "Teenage Lobotomy", "I'm Against It", "I Wanted Everything", "Psycho Therapy" and many more. The inside album sleeve is also alot of fun to read, with biographies of the band members and pictures, as well as a breif history. I found reading about the Ramones fascinating. I must have for every Ramones fan, and great for kids who are into stupid Simple Plan and stuff like off of that stuff and into real punk like The Ramones! Great!

What, exactly, is, or was, punk rock? We can conjure up visions of Sid Vicious, spiked 'do's and safety pins, but ultimately it's the music and attitude.

Those who believe punk started with the Ramone's first album are wrong, but not really too far off. One can easily cite the MC5 with their stripped down attack and fighting attitude that reflected the other side of the '60's - the riots, anger and demonstrations. Ditto for Iggy Pop.

The Ramones are the most definitive punk band because they weren't ashamed of their roots, early '60's rock and roll, bubblegum pop and the enthusiasm of the earliest rock pioneers like Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. It's all closely related.

"Loud, Fast Ramones . . ." is a great intro for first time explorers into their legendary slashing chords and Joey Ramone's melodic voice that held the songs together and allowed the music to blaze and allow a precious peek back to some great rock 'n roll from the aforementioned sixties. Too bad this collection doesn't include their cover of "Do You Wanna Dance?" that was also covered by the Beach Boys, whom the Ramones were big fans.

From "Blitzkrieg Bop" to "Mama's Boy" and "Psychotherapy", it's all here and guaranteed to give you a speeding ticket if you listen in the car.

Punk and '80's hardcore can arguably be classified as the last real rock and roll music before the corporations took total control and left us with the bland, nondescript alternative bands we have today. How I long for the days when bands all had their own sound and look. "Loud, Fast . . ." is a fine homage to a great band.