Standing in the Spotlight

This article is about Dee Dee King's album. For Suzi Quatro's album, see In the Spotlight.

Standing in the Spotlight
Studio album by Dee Dee King
Released	1989
Recorded	1989
Genre	Old school hip hop, punk rock
Length	31:46
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Daniel Rey
Dee Dee Ramone chronology
Standing in the Spotlight (1989) I Hate Freaks Like You (1993)

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Standing in the Spotlight is an album by Dee Dee Ramone released in 1989, under the rap moniker Dee Dee King. The album is sometimes considered to be one of the biggest failures in recording history, while others argue the whole affair was tongue-in-cheek.

This album was released after Dee Dee left the Ramones and marks a radical shift from the guitar-based punk rock music he was widely known for. There are many rumors as to how this recording came to be, one being that he spent time in drug rehabilitation with people who turned him on to rap music. Prior to this album, he had recorded a single called "Funky Man"; this was not included on the album. Joey Ramone wanted this album to be well received, as it would help kickstart his own solo career. Dee Dee would show up to Ramones gigs in full rap regalia, and it was very frustrating for his bandmates.

Musically, the songs vary from old school hip-hop (e.g., "Mashed Potato Time", "Commotion In The Ocean") to rock and roll (e.g., "Baby Doll") to doo-wop.

Marky Ramone, newly sober, played drums on this album according to Vera Ramone-King's book, "Poison Heart". Dee Dee was also struggling with his sobriety, so they became friends and Marky played drums for Dee Dee at gigs as well. Debbie Harry sings backup vocals on "Mashed Potato Time" and "German Kid". "German Kid" also features Dee Dee rapping in both English and German (Dee Dee spent a lot of his youth in Germany). "Baby Doll" was a ballad he wrote for Vera, his wife. According to her book Poison Heart when he played it for her, they both cried.

"The Crusher" was re-recorded by the Ramones and released in 1995 on the ¡Adios Amigos! album.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Dee Dee King and Daniel Rey; except where indicated

1. "Mashed Potato Time" (Eddie Holland, Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Robert Bateman, Freddie Gorman) – 3:15
2. "2 Much 2 Drink" – 3:32
3. "Baby Doll" – 4:41
4. "Poor Little Rich Girl" – 2:31
5. "Commotion In The Ocean" – 3:23
6. "German Kid" – 4:05
7. "Brooklyn Babe" – 3:27
8. "Emergency" – 3:23
9. "The Crusher" – 3:29
10. "I Want What I Want When I Want It" – 4:31

Personnel

• Debbie Harry – background vocals on "Mashed Potato Time", "German Kid"
• Chris Stein – guitar
• Marky Ramone – drums
• Spyder Mittleman – saxophone