Ramones – Pleasant Dreams (The New York Mixes)

It should probably go without saying, but this is solely for Ramones and/or "Pleasant Dreams" obsessives. It's not radically different than the 1981 original, but it is different enough to be a fun listen for Ramones nerds like me. As others have said, the louder guitars and overall drier mix is gratifying. But honestly, the 1981 original was well-produced, and so is this. If you think you'll enjoy it, you will. If you think you don't need it, you don't. Me, I love it, and hope there's plenty more similar stuff to come for the next few albums.

The pressing is slightly better than mediocre, which is disappointing given previous titles in this Ramones/RSD series. Some whoosing/tearing noise between songs and in the few quiet parts, some but not all of which responded to cleaning. Typically for this series, there is a bit of inner groove distortion audible in the last couple minutes of each side - nothing truly egregious, but it's there.

EDIT: Man, I've listened to this more than I ever would have imagined back when I first wrote this review. Also, a cartridge upgrade knocked out most of the IGD I was hearing back then. While it's still cheap, don't hesitate!

A good alternate mix but nowhere near some kind of incredible revelation - or album - that I was hoping it would be. That would need either a release of the demos from first generation sources or the album mixed to SOUND like the demos, which is how the Ramones WANTED it.

This has more guitar in the mix, it's a much, much drier mix, the drums are missing some echo and reverb and are lower in the mix, they sounded much more powerful than they do here, and Joey's vocals are missing a lot of nice touches that were on the regular album. There's also guitar parts missing in many places, various backing vocals (the "oh-oh-oh"s before the lead vocals start in We Want The Airwaves) and also other parts missing (the "Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!"s are not in The KKK Took My Baby Away).
To go over all the changes with it I would have to go through it a third time now (am editing after the second listen, which was better than the first, but still it's too dry compared to the final product I've known for almost 42 years). Don't Go was the weakest song on it now though, by far - and This Business Is Killing Me and Sitting In My Room lost a lot of something here, and I've always loved those two songs.

The song Come On now is also missing, which became my favorite song on the album over 30 years ago.

It's in no way a bad record, it's still a very good album, and it should be released on CD or digital.
I've been a Ramones fan since 1980, and I know I will never hear this album the way it was supposed to sound before the company executives forced them to continue going "more commercial."

The irony is this shows how GREAT a job Graham Gouldman did!
It becomes so much more apparent listening to this fairly stripped-down version.
The thing is, the released album didn't have the "Ramones sound," and anybody buying this hoping for that will be disappointed.

I love the original mix for this album was great, the demos are great, and it would be nice to have the latter released officially.

The cover of this is a million times better than the one from 1981, and it was based on the original cover design the band wanted.

Again, this is a good listen - it's interesting - but it's a real letdown for me after all the raving about it online.

Phenomenal and simply outstanding, this LP sounds very different from the original. Pure Ramones sound without any frills, just how the Ramones should sound! I would like to have the End of the Century in such a raw version then my life would be perfect;-)
I can only recommend everyone to get a copy of this, simply fantastic...

This definitely sounds like the mixes were all done together, as a work in progress. First 3 songs have the kick drum with too much midrange, so it sounds like a baseball bat smacking a side of pork, but after that, the drums sound much more balanced. Also note how the how Joey's lead & backing vocals collide with each other on cuts A2 & A5--this mix was created to hear nuances with each take, not to put the vocals in the best balance. And Johnny's guitars sound a lot more like on Road To Ruin, which is to say they sound great!

Nice quiet vinyl & good mastering, and the extra songs also make it worth buying this version--I even like "Touring" here, because the arrangement is better & fresher than the released version on Mondo Bizarro, IMHO.

When this was announced, I was off the moon.

Even though Pleasent Dreams isn't my favorite Ramones album, it still marked a change in the bands style to a hard edge.

This remix sounds eerily similar to the original Pleasent Dreams. Which isn't a bad thing. It brings the album new life.

I'm glad the mix has little to no backing or guitar fills, it makes it more Raw.

I don't know what Rhino has planned for subterranean jungle, but hopefully either live album or a complete remix or even a full demo album. Which would be cool.

The yellow vinyl is a cool editon. Maybe for SJ they might do a pink vinyl, I don't know...

Sounds better than the demos on the net, but not great. This would be cool with "end of the century" or "subterranean jungle", but I don't think this album needs a rough mixes version. Some of the songs sounds practically the same as the original, and I was hoping to hear a version of "come on now" without those annoying keyboards, but the song it's not on the album.Johnny Ramone barely talked throughout his career, but, according to the insert, he did backing vocals here, and Joey is credited as Jeffrey Hyman. The 3 added songs are cool.

Fun album but was surprised it sounded so polished consider it is early mixes. Great RSD release though. Vinyl sounds amazing.

Great record. Since its original release PD has been my 5th favorite Ramones album (after the original 4) and this does nothing to change that. It's a rawer mix and there are little or no backing vocals and guitar fills. Some tracks also end differently. IMO Joey was at the height of his vocal finesse on this album. Nice job all around with this release.

Mine has a slight warp which is not affecting the sound just a little disappointing

Is this just a remaster of the same album tracks, or are these actually different recorded versions?