THIS Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio

Album: The Ramones, End of the Century, 1980

Best Cover Track: "Baby, I Love You"

Best Original Track: "The Return of Jackie and Judy"

Lasting Memory: Shortly after I discovered End of the Century existed during my freshman year of high school, I dubbed it from a friend of mine, quickly replaced that dub with an actual cassette reissue of the album, and just about played the tape blank. You name something I did between the fall of 1984 and the winter of 1986, and I did that thing at least once while listening to End of Century -- up to and including listening to other tapes and LPs in my then-minuscule collection.

End of the Century is as perfect a rock 'n' roll album as it is possible to make. Other self-contained collections of songs may match its scope and execution, but none could surpass what the Ramones accomplished while working with, and thoroughly hating, Phil Spector to produce End of the Century.

Opening with the love letter/mission statement "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" and closing with the sign of things to come proto-hard core ditty -- yes, "ditty" -- "High Risk Insurance," End of the Century is the epitome of everything every band at any time was trying to accomplish when its members plugged in their guitars, screwed down their snare heads, and rolled three-quarters inch tape in the studio.

In between the all-time classic bookends already named and hotlinked fall the all-time classic punk tour song "Danny Says," the all-time classic happy heroin addiction song "Chinese Rock," the all-time classic high school screwup song "The Return of Jackie and Judy," the all-time classic Ronettes cover "Baby, I Love You," and the all-time classic filler track "All the Way," which has the all-time classic lyrics "Doomsday, doomsday is coming like the 8:01/ But until than, Lord, I'm gonna have some fun."

Which is all not to even mention that End of the Century features the definitive version "Rock 'n' Roll High School."

I was, and still am, affected.

Up Next: Ramones, Pleasant Dreams, 1981