With TOO TOUGH the Ramones take on the '80s, and the '80s go down with a second round TKO. After a few fallow years and some substandard albums (by the band's standards anyway), they came rushing back into the ring with a fresh sense of purpose. The addition of new drummer Ritchie Ramone and the return of long-lost brother Tommy (who sat in as producer along with original engineer Ed Stasium) doubtlessly added some fuel to the fire, creating this punchy, revved-up, and highly worthy addition to the Ramones' catalogue. TOO TOUGH finds the Ramones expanding their musical palette further than usual, adding crunchy metal riffs to the title song and "I'm Not Afraid of Life," while "Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" adds new wave keyboards courtesy of the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. The adventurous Dee Dee takes center stage for two hardcore songs, "Endless Vacation" and the manic "Wart Hog," giving Joey a brotherly run for his money. The best example of a Ramones formula song, "Durango 95," was destined to become the band's concert intro song. TOO TOUGH is proof positive that the words "punk" and "longevity" can go together in the same sentence.
Disc 1: Mama's Boy I'm Not Afraid Of Life Too Tough To Die Durango 95 Wart Hog Danger Zone Chasing The Night Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La) Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love) Planet Earth 1988 Humankind Endless Vacation No Go Street Fighting Man Smash You Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La) (Demo Version) Planet Earth 1988 (Dee Dee Vocal Version) Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love) (Demo Version) Endless Vacation (Demo Version) Danger Zone (Dee Dee Vocal Version) Out Of Here Mama's Boy (Demo Version) I'm Not An Answer Too Tough To Die (Dee Dee Vocal Version) No Go (Demo Version)