Album of the Day

Fifty years ago this day, the Ramones released their eponymous debut. As befits the first true punk album, it was utterly devoid of pretension; recorded in a little over a week for a little over $6000, its 14 tracks buzz by in a little under half an hour. Though such simple, fast and fun songs as “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Beat On The Brat” and “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue” would inspire legions of followers, the Queens quartet also paid tribute to the '60s pop-rock that inspired them with a cover of Chris Montez's “Let's Dance” and the Searchers-esque jangle of their own “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.” Cut for FM broadcast shortly after the band’s END OF THE CENTURY sessions, LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO got its first official release on Record Store Day as a 140-gram color vinyl 2-LP set.