Brain Drain (album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B[2] |
Brain Drain is the 11th studio album by the American punk rock band the Ramones. It was released on March 23, 1989.[1] It is the last release to feature bass player Dee Dee Ramone, the first release to feature Marky Ramone since his departure after Subterranean Jungle, and the last studio album on Sire Records.
About the making of the album, Dee Dee wrote in his autobiography, Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones:
- It was tough recording the Brain Drain album because everyone took their shit out on me. I dreaded being around them. It drove me away — I didn't even end up playing on the album. Everybody in the band had problems; girlfriend problems, money problems, mental problems.
Songs
"Palisades Park" is a cover song, originally recorded by Freddy Cannon in 1962.
"I Believe in Miracles" was covered by Eddie Vedder and Zeke for the We're a Happy Family—A Tribute to the Ramones album and is frequently covered by Pearl Jam at their shows.
It contains the single "Pet Sematary", written for the Stephen King movie adaptation of the same name. The single became one of the Ramones' biggest radio hits, and a staple in their concerts during the 1990s.[3]
"Pet Sematary" was covered by German industrial metal band Rammstein as a B-side to their single Ich will in 2001. The song is performed live with Clawfinger. It was also performed by the Plain White T's for Frankenweenie (Unleashed). The song was later covered by a psychobilly band, the Creepshow, as a bonus track for their second album, Run For Your Life, in 2008.
In the music videos for "Pet Sematary", Dee Dee Ramone played the bass but in "I Believe In Miracles" & "Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight)", C. J. Ramone replaced Dee Dee's position as a bassist. "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" was covered by Joey Ramone on his second posthumous album Ya Know?.
"Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" was included in the movie soundtrack Christmas With The Kranks.[4]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Believe in Miracles" | Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey | 3:19 |
| 2. | "Zero Zero UFO" | Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey | 2:25 |
| 3. | "Don't Bust My Chops" | Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone, Daniel Rey | 2:28 |
| 4. | "Punishment Fits the Crime" | Dee Dee Ramone, Richie Stotts | 3:05 |
| 5. | "All Screwed Up" | Joey Ramone, Andy Shernoff, Marky Ramone, Daniel Rey | 3:59 |
| 6. | "Palisades Park" | Charles Barris | 2:22 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Pet Sematary" | Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey | 3:30 |
| 8. | "Learn to Listen" | Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Marky Ramone, Daniel Rey | 1:50 |
| 9. | "Can't Get You Outta My Mind" | Joey Ramone | 3:21 |
| 10. | "Ignorance Is Bliss" | Joey Ramone, Andy Shernoff | 2:38 |
| 11. | "Come Back, Baby" | Joey Ramone | 4:01 |
| 12. | "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" | Joey Ramone | 2:04 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Pet Sematary (Bill Laswell Version)" | Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey | 3:35 |
Credits
- Ramones
- Joey Ramone – Lead vocals (all but 4)
- Johnny Ramone – Lead guitar
- Dee Dee Ramone –Bass guitar (credited, but did not record bass), backing and lead (4) vocals, synthesizer
- Marky Ramone – Drums
- Additional musicians
- Daniel Rey – bass guitar
- Jean Beauvoir - bass guitar (performed on at least "Pet Semetary")[5]
- Andy Shernoff – bass guitar (performed on at least "All Screwed Up" and "Ignorance Is Bliss")
- Artie Smith – additional guitars
- Robert Musso – additional guitars
- Production
- Jean Beauvoir – producer
- Bill Laswell – producer
- Daniel Rey – producer, musical coordinator
- Gary "Muddbone" Cooper – production assistant
- Mark Sidgwick – production assistant
- Nicky Skopelitis – production assistant
- Kim White – production assistant
- Robert Musso – engineer, mixing
- Martin Bisi – assistant engineer
- Oz Fritz – assistant engineer
- Judy Kirschner – assistant engineer
- Robbie Norris – assistant engineer
- Jason Corsaro – mixing
- Howard Weinberg – mastering
- George DuBose – artwork, coordination
- Matt Mahurin – artwork
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Billboard 200 | 122[6] |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Pet Sematary" | Modern Rock Tracks | 4[7] |
References
- ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Brain Drain - Ramones". AllMusic.
- ^ "Robert Christgau review".
- ^ "MattFini's Halloween Top 10 Lists: Most Memorable End Credit Songs".
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-with-the-kranks-original-soundtrack-mw0000141733
- ^ Buskin, Richard. "The Ramones 'Pet Sematary' - Classic Tracks". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Billboard album chart history-The Ramones". Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ "Billboard singles chart history-The Ramones". Retrieved March 2, 2009.