Cuz Lately It All Sounds The Same To Me

From their fifth album "End Of The Century," the Ramones challenge the listener to remember Rock 'N' Roll's roots.

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In the lyrics are references to "Hullabaloo, Upbeat, Shindig and Ed Sullivan, too," as well as Murray "The K," Alan Freed, Jerry Lee, John Lennon, T. Rex and Ol' Moulty.

Alan Freed was the disc jockey who is credited with coining the term "Rock 'N' Roll" during his stint at WJW Radio, Cleveland, and at 1010 WINS, New York, during the early 1950s.

Murray "The K" Kaufman, who assumed Freed's primetime slot at 1010 WINS after the "Payola Scandal," has been called "The Fifth Beatle" for his promotion of the British pop stars on their arrival in America. Murray "The K" is also given credit for giving the Rolling Stones a leg up by suggesting that they do a cover of "Time Is On My Side," which became their first number one hit in America.

Victor Moulton, better known among the knowledgeable as Moulty, drummer for the Barbarians from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Barbarians were touted as America's version of the Rolling Stones in the the early 60s.

In 1964, Phil Spector financed the T.A.M.I. Show as part of a rock documentary released in 1965. In addition to Moulty and the Barbarians, the lineup at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium included the Rolling Stones, who refused to go on before James Brown; Chuck Berry, who refused to go on until he had been paid in full in cash; and a very nervous Diana Ross who had never before played to so many people.

A single of a song called "Moulty," performed by Moulton with members of Bob Dylan's band the Hawks was released in 1966. The song is an autobiographical account of how Moulty lost his left hand, purported to be in a pipe bomb accident at age 14. Moulty wore a metallic claw prosthetic. The single was released without the consent of the Barbarians though it has since been added as a bonus track to the CD version of their only LP release, "Are You A Boy Or A Girl?" due to its unexpected success as a single.

"Shindig" was the first of the prime-time rock music shows to be aired on television. Hosted by LA disc jockey Jimmy O'Neill and broadcast live, "Shindig" was broadcast in black and white featured live performances by the top acts of the early 1960s accompanied by the "Shindigger Dancers." "Shindig" was replaced by "Batman" in 1966 after only a year and a half.

"Hullabaloo," debuted in 1965, was much like "Shindig" and also only lasted a year and half. "Hullabaloo," of course, also had its own "Hullabaloo Dancers." The early episodes of "Hullaballo" were hosted by Beatles manager Brian Epstein and were filmed in black and white. Later episodes aired in color and featured a different guest host each week. NBC destroyed most of the color masters from the later shows to make more room in its archives, leaving behind mostly black and white kinescope masters from the earlier episodes.

"The Upbeat Show," originally called the "Big Five Show," aired from 1964 to 1971 from Cleveland, Ohio, and featured the "Upbeat Dancers." "The Upbeat Show" was hosted by Don Webster. Webster is now the director of the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame.

Ed Sullivan is best known for his variety show, "The Ed Sullivan Show." The show lasted for more than 20 years and became an American institution. It was on "The Ed Sullivan Show" where the controversial filming of Elvis Presley only from the waist up took place.

Jerry Lee Lewis was the next big star to emerge from Sam Phillips' Sun Records after Phillips sold Elvis Presley's contract to RCA. With "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and Otis Blackwell's "Great Balls Of Fire," Lewis almost stole the crown from the King while Elvis was stationed in Germany. Truly a versatile singer, Lewis has described himself as the only "rock 'n' rollin', country singing', gospel-talkin', rhythm & blues, honky tonker in the music business." On a winter's day in 1956, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins held a jam session at Sun Studios for which they became known as the "Million Dollar Quartet."

John Lennon and Paul McCartney made up what is arguably the most famous pop songwriting team of all time in the form of the Beatles. Lennon at one time quipped that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus." Much of the Beatles' success in America can be attributed to manager Brian Epstein making the proper connections with Murray "The K." Lennon was shot in 1980 outside his New York City apartment building, the "Dakota," by Mark Chapman.

T. Rex was the early 1970s glam rock creation of Marc Bolan. The lasting image of the guitarist/singer depicts Bolan in a top hat, feather boa and platform shoes. Bolan was killed at age 29 in a car accident in 1977, yet his musical style and attire have remained as a strong influence for many.

"End Of The Century," released in 1980 and was produced by Phil Spector. The album was the first, and only, time the Ramones are not depicted in their trademark leather jackets for the cover art, each donning, instead a different, solid color t-shirt.

Phil Spector, remembered for the "Wall Of Sound," the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" and the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," was arrested on Monday in the shooting death of a woman at his Los Angeles home. He was later released after posting $1 million dollars bail.

"End Of The Century" was Spector's last major production and contained a cover of the Ronnettes hit, "Baby, I Love You," originally sung by Spector's wife, Ronnie Spector. In true punk fashion, guitarist Johnny Ramone refused to play on the Ramones version of the song.

Spector was known for being a tyrant in the studio and his marriage to Ronnie Spector was rumored to be full of jealous tirades and abuse. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone said that Spector pulled a gun on the band during the recording of "End Of The Century."

In his autobiography, "Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones," Dee Dee also asserts that the bass playing on "End of the Century" is not his and that, up to the writing of the book, he had no idea who actually did play bass on it.

Joey Ramone managed to see the "End Of The Century" before succumbing to lymphatic cancer in 2001. However, as the lyrics proclaim, "It's the end of the 70's. It's the end of the century," Joey may have felt that he had already witnessed the "End Of The Century" 20 years prior.

The Ramones were inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame in 2002.