Jump to content

Ramones (album)

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 67.169.209.62 (talk) at 13:21, 19 September 2018 (→Background). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the Ramones' debut album. For the cover album by Screeching Weasel, see Ramones (Screeching Weasel album).

Ramones
Four men standing against a graffiti-covered wall. Each man has a black leather coat, blue jeans, and brown hair. At the top of the black-and-white image, "RAMONES" is spelled out in all caps.
Studio album by
the Ramones
ReleasedApril 23, 1976 (1976-04-23)
RecordedFebruary 1976
StudioPlaza Sound, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, New York, United States
GenrePunk rock
Length29:04
Label
Producer
Ramones chronology
Ramones
(1976) 		Leave Home
(1977)
Singles from Ramones
  1. "Blitzkrieg Bop"
    Released: February 1976
  2. "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"
    Released: February 1976

Ramones is the debut studio album by American punk rock band the Ramones, released on April 23, 1976 by Sire Records. After Hit Parader editor Lisa Robinson saw the band at a gig in New York City, she wrote about them in an article and contacted Danny Fields, insisting that he be their manager. Fields agreed and convinced Craig Leon to produce Ramones, and the band recorded a demo for prospective record labels. Leon persuaded Sire president Seymour Stein to listen to the band perform, and he later offered the band a recording contract. The Ramones began recording in January 1976, needing only seven days and $6,400 to record the album. They used similar sound-output techniques to those of the Beatles and used advanced production methods by Leon.

The album cover, photographed by Punk magazine's Roberta Bayley, features the four members leaning against a brick wall in New York City. The record company paid only $125 for the front photo, which has since become one of the most imitated album covers of all time. The back cover depicts an eagle belt buckle along with the album's liner notes. After its release, Ramones was promoted with two singles which failed to chart. The Ramones also began touring to help sell records; these tour dates were mostly based in the United States, though two were booked in Britain.

Violence, drug use, relationship issues, humor, and Nazism were prominent in the album's lyrics. The album opens with "Blitzkrieg Bop", which is among the band's most recognized songs. Most of the album's tracks are uptempo, with many songs measuring at well over 160 beats per minute. The songs are also rather short; at two-and-a-half minutes, "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement" is the album's longest track. Ramones contains a cover of the Chris Montez song "Let's Dance".

Ramones peaked at No. 111 on the US Billboard 200 and was unsuccessful commercially, though it received glowing reviews from critics. Many later deemed it a highly influential record, and it has since received many accolades, such as the top spot on Spin magazine's list of the "50 Most Essential Punk Records". Ramones went on to inspire many bands including Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks, and the Clash. Aside from sparking the punk rock scene in both the US and the UK, it has had a significant impact on other genres of rock music, such as grunge and heavy metal. The album was ranked at number 33 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2012[1] and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2014.[2]

Background

The Ramones began playing gigs in mid-1974, with their first show at Performance Studios in New York City.[3] The band, performing in a style similar to the one used on their debut album, typically performed at clubs in downtown Manhattan, specifically CBGB and Max's Kansas City.[4] In early 1975, Lisa Robinson, an editor of Hit Parader and Rock Scene, saw the fledgling Ramones performing at CBGB and subsequently wrote about the band in several magazine issues. The group's vocalist Joey Ramone related that "Lisa came down to see us, she was blown away by us. She said that we changed her life; she started writing about us in Rock Scene, and then Lenny Kaye would write about us and we started getting more press like The Village Voice. Word was getting out, and people starting coming down."[5] Convinced that the band needed a recording contract, Robinson contacted Danny Fields, former manager of the Stooges, and argued that he needed to manage the band. Fields agreed because the band "had everything [he] ever liked,"[5] and became the manager in November 1975.[6]

On September 19, 1975, the Ramones recorded a demo at 914 Sound Studios, which was produced by Marty Thau. Featuring the songs "Judy Is a Punk" and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", the band used the demo to showcase their style to prospective labels.[7][8] Producer Craig Leon, who had seen the Ramones perform in the summer of 1975, brought the demo to the attention of Sire Records' president Seymour Stein.[6][9][10] After being persuaded by Craig Leon and his ex-wife Linda Stein, the Ramones auditioned at Sire and were offered a contract, although the label had previously signed only European progressive rock bands.[7][11] Drummer Tommy Ramone recalled: "Craig Leon is the one who got us signed, single handed. He brought down the vice president and all these people—he's the only hip one in the company. He risked his career to get us on the label."[6][12] The label offered to release "You're Gonna Kill That Girl" as a single, but the band declined, insisting on recording an entire album. Sire accepted their request and agreed to release a studio album instead.[9][13]

Recording and production

A building in a city at night that reads "RADIO CITY" in all caps lit up in various places around the building
Ramones was recorded on the eighth floor of Radio City Music Hall.

In January 1976 the band took a break from their live performances to prepare for recording at Plaza Sound studio.[14] Sessions began later that month and were completed within a week for $6,400;[15][16] the instruments took three days and the vocal parts were recorded in four days.[17] In 2004, Leon admitted that they recorded Ramones quickly due to budget restrictions, but also that it was all the time they needed.[18]

"Doing an album in a week and bringing it in for $6,400 was unheard of, especially since it was an album that really changed the world. It kicked off punk rock and started the whole thing—as well as us."

—Joey Ramone[19]

The band applied microphone placement techniques similar to those which many orchestras used.[20] The recording process was a deliberate exaggeration of the techniques used by the Beatles in the early 1960s, with a four-track representation of the devices. The guitars can be heard separately on the stereo channels—electric bass on the left channel, rhythm guitar on the right—drums and vocals are mixed in the middle of the stereo mix.[21] The mixing of the production also used more modern techniques such as overdubbing, a technique used by studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to the material. The band also used a technique known as doubling, where the vocal line used is sung twice.[18]

Recording for the album was expanded by Mickey Leigh (Joey's brother) and Leon with percussion effects, which went unmentioned in the liner notes to the album's release.[14] Author Nicholas Rombes said that the production's quality sounded like "the ultimate do-it-yourself, amateur, reckless ethic that is associated with punk," but concluded that they approached the recording process with a "high degree of preparedness and professionalism."[22]

Artwork and packaging

An image that is primarily black and white (monochrome) photo which consists of small writing on the upper side and a bald eagle belt buckle on the bottom side.
The back cover to the Ramones album was designed by artist Arturo Vega, who produced the photo of a belt buckle in a photo booth.[23]

Initially, the Ramones wanted an album cover similar to Meet the Beatles! (1964) and subsequently had pictures taken in that style by Danny Fields but Sire was dissatisfied with the results. The art direction was by Toni Wadler and, according to cartoonist John Holmstrom, the "Meet The Beatles" cover idea came out "horribly".[24] Wadler later chose a photo by Roberta Bayley, a photographer for Punk magazine for the cover. The black and white photograph on the front of the album was originally in an issue of Punk.

The cover photo features (from left to right) Johnny, Tommy, Joey and Dee Dee Ramone, staring at the camera with blank faces. They are all wearing ripped/faded blue jeans and leather jackets, standing upright against the brick wall of a private community garden called Albert's Garden, located in the Bowery neighborhood of New York City between Bowery Street and Second Street.[23][24] The stance of the group members in the photograph would influence their future cover designs as well, with the majority of their succeeding albums using a picture of the band on the front cover.[23] Music historian Legs McNeil states that "Tommy [is] standing on his tip-toes and Joey [is] hunched over a bit."[24] The back cover art, which depicts a belt buckle with a bald eagle and the band's logo, was designed by Arturo Vega.[23] Liner notes on the back cover fail to acknowledge backing vocalists and additional instrument players. Leigh, who performed backing vocals on several tracks, asked guitarist Johnny why he was not mentioned on the record's credits. Johnny replied: "We didn't want people to get confused with who's in the band or who's not. It's our first album, you know, and we didn't want people to get confused."[24]

The artwork became one of the most imitated album covers in music. The image of a band in front of a brick wall dressed in ripped jeans and leather jackets was copied by Alvin and the Chipmunks in Chipmunk Punk.[24] Ramones's artwork was ranked number 58 on Rolling Stone's 1991 list of 100 Greatest Album Covers.[25]

Promotion

Singles

There were two singles released from the album: "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend". The first was released in February 1976, originally as a 7" split single with "Havana Affair" as its B-side.[26] The release, along with the Ramones 2001 Expanded Edition, featured "Blitzkrieg Bop" remixed as a single version,[27][28] although it maintains a time of two minutes and twelve seconds.[29] On January 6, 2004, Rhino Entertainment re-released "Blitzkrieg Bop" as a CD single, using "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" as its B-side.[30] "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" was released in February 1976 as a 7" single. It included "California Sun" and "I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You" as B-sides.[26][31] "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" was also released in the UK, giving the band a presence in the European marketplace.[32] Even though the song saw some success in the UK and Europe, it failed to chart in the top 50.[33]

Touring

A black and white picture of a rock band with four members shown performing on stage.
The Ramones performing in 1976 in Toronto.

In 1974 the band played 30 performances, nearly all at the New York-based club CBGB. All but one of the band's 1975 gigs were booked for New York City, with Waterbury, Connecticut as the exception. After the album's recording, the Ramones headlined for very few shows, usually opening for an identified cover band which played Aerosmith and Boston. When they opened at Brockton, Massachusetts, the audience appeared extremely uninterested in the Ramones so Johnny swore off playing as an introduction for other bands.[34] Following this, Fields booked several headlining shows around the Tri-state area, and they began playing frequently at gigs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City. After performing with Blondie in New Jersey, they continued their tour to Boston, Massachusetts for three shows.[35] Leigh later said of the tour:

Travelling was difficult. Most of the time, it was just Danny Fields, me, and the members of the band. We'd get two rooms in the hotel, three of us in each. They couldn't afford any more help at that point, so the band had to pitch in unloading the equipment. I'd play the drums during sound checks, while Tommy went out to the board and mixed the sound—and instructed the soundman not to fuck with the settings. We would enlist the aid of any fan willing to help us load out at the end of the night.[35]

At the time, Leigh was road manager, stage manager, chauffeur, and head of security. Vega, who contributed to the album's packaging, helped out with the road crew as much as possible. Tommy's friend Monte Melnick occasionally helped with the audio output, but this was typically done by Leigh.[35]

Following their debut album's release, the band performed at over 60 concerts for its promotion.[36] While most of the gigs were booked in North America, two dates—July 4 and 5—were in London's Roundhouse venue and Dingwalls, respectively. Linda Stein pushed to make these events happen, setting up the band performances in the UK during the United States Bicentennial. Fields relates: "On the two-hundredth anniversary of our freedom, we were bringing Great Britain a gift that was forever going to disrupt their sensibilities."[37] The band sold out for their first London performance, with an audience of roughly 3,000.[38] Leigh described the Dingwalls gig as very similar to performances at CBGB.[39] Likewise, these venues would go on to be headlined by other punk bands like the Clash and Sex Pistols.[36][40] The band performed over 100 concerts the following year.[36]

Lyrics and composition

The songs on Ramones addressed several lyrical themes including violence, male prostitution, drug use, and Nazism. While the moods displayed in the album were often dark,[41] Johnny said that when writing the lyrics they were not "trying to be offensive."[42] Many songs from the album have backing vocals from different guests. Leigh sang backing vocals on "Judy Is a Punk", "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", and in the bridge of "Blitzkrieg Bop". Tommy sang backing vocals on "I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You", "Judy Is a Punk", and during the bridge of "Chainsaw".[43] The album's engineer, Rob Freeman, sang backing vocals for the final refrain of "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend". The album's length is 29 minutes and four seconds and it contains 14 tracks.[16]

The opening Blitzkrieg Bop was written by Tommy, and originally named "Animal Hop".[45] Once Dee Dee reviewed the lyrics, the band changed the wording, the name, and partially the theme.[46] According to Tommy, the song's original concept was about "kids going to a show and having a good time", but the theme became more Nazi-related after its revision.[46] The piece begins with an instrumental interval which lasts about 20 seconds. At the 20th second, the guitar and bass cease, marking Joey's first line, "Hey ho, let's go!" The bass and guitar gradually rebuild and become "full–force" once all the instruments play together in ensemble.[44] The piece resolves by repeating what is played from 0:22–0:33.[44] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described "Blitzkrieg Bop" as a "three-chord assault."[47][48]

"When I lived in Birchwood Towers in Forest Hills with my mom and brother. It was a middle-class neighborhood, with a lot of rich, snotty women who had horrible spoiled brat kids. There was a playground with women sitting around and a kid screaming, a spoiled, horrible kid just running around rampant with no discipline whatsoever. The kind of kid you just want to kill. You know, 'beat on the brat with a baseball bat' just came out. I just wanted to kill him."

—Joey Ramone on "Beat on the Brat".[17]

Beat on the Brat was said by Joey to have origins relating to the upper class of New York City. Dee Dee, however, explained that the song was about how Joey saw a mother "going after a kid with a bat in his [apartment building's] lobby and wrote a song about it."[49]

Judy Is a Punk – written around the same time as "Beat on the Brat" — was written by Joey after he walked by Thorny Croft, an apartment building "where all the kids in the neighborhood hung out on the rooftop and drank."[50] The song's lyrics are fictional and refer to two juvenile offenders in Berlin and San Francisco and their possible deaths at the conclusion of the song.[50] "Judy Is a Punk" is the original album's shortest track at 1:39.[51]

I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend – the album's slowest song – was solely written by Tommy and pays homage to love songs by pop music acts of the 1960s. The song used a 12-string guitar, glockenspiel, and tubular bells in its composition,[52] and was said by author Scott Schinder to be an "unexpected romantic streak".[53]

Chain Saw opens with the sound of a running circular saw and was influenced by the 1974 horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. At nearly 180 beats per minute, "Chain Saw" had the fastest tempo of the album's songs, and according to Rombes, is the most "home-made" sounding.[54]

Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue contains four lines of minimalist lyrics that depict youthful boredom and inhaling solvent vapors found in glue. "I hope no one thinks we really sniff glue," said Dee Dee. "I stopped when I was eight [years old]."[55] Dee Dee also explained that its concept came from adolescent trauma.[55] After several songs by the Ramones whose titles began with "I Don't Want to ... ", Tommy said that "Now I Want to Sniff Some Glue" is the first positive piece on the album.[50] The song served as an inspiration for one of the first punk fanzines, Mark Perry's Sniffin' Glue.[50][56]

I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement is also minimalist, and inspired by horror movies. The entire text is composed of three lines, and the composition was based on three major chords. With a playing time of 2:35, it is the longest piece on the album.[55] (Asked about the bathroom at CBGB, Debbie Harry remarked: "I think that song from the Ramones is partially about that: 'I don't wanna go down to the basement…' As kids, we never wanted to go down to the basement cos it was so dark and scary. And that toilet was certainly very scary.")[57]

Loudmouth has six major chords and is harmonically complex. The song's lyrics are — depending on the reading and punctuation — a single row or four very brief lines.[58]

Havana Affair has a lyrical concept incorporating the comic strip Spy vs. Spy by Cuban-born illustrator Antonio Prohias.[59][60] At roughly 170 beats per minute, "Loudmouth" and "Havana Affair" proceed at about the same tempo.[59]

'Havana Affair' segues into Listen to My Heart – the first of many Ramones songs to voice an ironic and pessimistic perspective on a failing or failed relationship.[59]

A picture looking up at an intersection street pole where East 53rd Street and Third Avenue.
Street signs at the intersection of East 53rd Street and Third Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The song "53rd and 3rd" is based on the street's reputation for male prostitution.

Written solely by Dee Dee, the lyrics of 53rd and 3rd concern a male prostitute ("rent boy"), waiting at the corner of 53rd Street and Third Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. When the prostitute gets a customer, he kills the customer with a razor to prove he is not a homosexual.[61] In interviews, Dee Dee described the piece as autobiographical. "The song speaks for itself," Dee Dee commented in an interview. "Everything I write is autobiographical and written in a very real way, I can't even write."[62] Johnny insisted that the song is about "Dee Dee turning tricks."[63] The half-sung and half-shouted bridge in "53rd and 3rd" are performed by Dee Dee, whose voice is described by author Cyrus Patell as what "breaks the deliberate aural monotony of the song and emphasizes the violence of the lyric."[64]

Let's Dance is a version of the Chris Montez song.[43], featuring Leon playing Radio City's large Wurlitzer pipe organ.[52]

I Don't Want to Walk Around with You consists of two lyric lines and three major chords. One of the group's earliest compositions, written at the beginning of 1974, it was the opener on their first demo.[53][65]

'I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You' fades into the closing Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World, which refers to a Hitler Youth member.[14][63] Seymour Stein complained about its original lyrics — "I'm a Nazi, baby, I'm a Nazi, yes I am. I'm a Nazi Schatze, y'know I fight for the Fatherland" — insisting the track was offensive. When he threatened to remove the track from the album, the band put together alternate lyrics: "I'm a shock trooper in a stupor, yes I am. I'm a Nazi Schatze, y'know I fight for the Fatherland." Stein accepted the revision and it was duly released.[63][66]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[47]
The Austin Chronicle[67]
The Guardian[68]
Mojo[69]
NME10/10[70]
Q[71]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[72]
Spin Alternative Record Guide10/10[73]
Uncut[74]
The Village VoiceA[75]

Ramones was released on April 23, 1976 by Sire Records and received glowing reviews. In May, John Rockwell of the New York Times published a rave review, saying: "What the Ramones do is deliver a nonstop set of short, brisk, monochromatically intense songs. [...] conventional considerations of pace and variety are thrown calculatedly to the winds. The ingredients are simplicity itself." Rockwell noted: "the effect in the end amounts to an abstraction of rock so pure that other associations get left behind."[76] Nick Kent favourably commented in the NME: "This record poses a direct threat to any vaguely sensitive woofer and/or tweeter lodged in your hi-fi...".[77] Critic Robert Christgau in The Village Voice gave the album a positive review, specifically writing about the album's themes and sound quality.[75] In July, Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone wrote in 1976 that the album was similar to early rock and roll, and was constructed using rhythm tracks of great intensity.[78] In August, Creem dubbed The Ramones as "The most radical album of the past six years", saying: "[it] is so strikingly different, so brazenly out of touch with prevailing modes as to constitute a bold swipe at the status quo." Reviewer Gene Sculatti saw it as "a rock 'n' roll reactionary's manifesto" [...] "a sharp wedge between the stale ends of a contemporary music scene bloated with graying superstars and overripe for takeover."[79] Critic Joe S. Harrington declared that the album was a huge landmark for music history, proclaiming that "[it] split the history of rock 'n' roll in half." Theunis Bates, a writer for Time, summed the album up with: "Ramones stripped rock back to its basic elements ... lyrics are very simple, boiled-down declarations of teen lust and need."[80] Bates also said that it "is the ultimate punk statement."[80] Charles M. Young of Rolling Stone regarded Ramones as "one of the funniest rock records ever made and, if punk continues to gain momentum, a historic turning point."[81]

"I love this record—love it—even though I know these boys flirt with images of brutality (Nazi especially) in much the same way 'Midnight Rambler' flirts with rape. This makes me uneasy. But my theory has always been that good rock and roll should damn well make you uneasy ..."

—Robert Christgau[75]

Later reviews of Ramones tended to praise the album's influence on rock music. In 1995, Jeff Tamarkin of The AllMusic Guide to Rock said that the album ignited the punk rock era, writing: "rock's mainstream didn't know what hit it."[80] In 2001, April Long of NME rewarded the album with a perfect score, remarking that the Ramones were "arguably the most influential band ever," despite their lack of mainstream acceptance.[70] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic also deemed the album influential, saying "In comparison to some of the music the album inspired, The Ramones sounds a little tame—it's a little too clean, and compared to their insanely fast live albums, it even sounds a little slow."[47] The album's sound was considered by Erlewine to be "all about speed, hooks, stupidity, and simplicity."[47]

Regardless of this critical acclaim, Ramones was not successful commercially. It only reached No. 111 on the US Billboard 200,[82] and sold 6,000 units in its first year.[83] Outside the US, the album peaked at No. 48 on the Swedish Sverigetopplistan chart.[84]

The album was included in Spin magazine's List of Top Ten College Cult Classics (1995), where it was noted that "everything good that's happened to music in the last fourteen years can be directly traced to the Ramones."[85] Also in 1995, the Spin Alternative Record Guide named it the No. 1 alternative rock album.[85] In 2001, the magazine also included the album in its special issue 25 Years of Punk with a list of The 50 Most Essential Punk Records, where it resided at the top spot.[86] That same year, it was named the fourth best punk album by Mojo, who called it the "coolest, dumbest, simplest, greatest rock'n'roll record ever to be cut by four sweet, dysfunctional screw-ups."[87]

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 2002 induction ceremony, with the website stating that their first album changed the rock genre from "bloated and narcissistic", to "basic" rock and roll.[3][88] In 2003, Ramones was considered by Spin's Chuck Klosterman, Greg Milner, and Alex Pappademas to be the sixth most influential album of all time. They noted that the album "saved rock from itself and punk rock from art-gallery pretension."[89] Q Magazine included the album in their "100 Greatest Albums Ever" (2003) list, where it was listed at No. 74.[90] In 2006, it was chosen by Time as one of the 100 greatest albums ever.[91] Ramones was included in Chris Smith's 2009 book 101 Albums that Changed Popular Music, who said the album "opened a whole new world of garage rock for those fed up with the excesses of existing rock gods."[92] It was also included in the 2005 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[93] In 2010, it was ranked as the greatest debut album of the year in 1976.[94] It was placed second in the Rolling Stone 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time list in 2013.[95] The album went gold in the US just after its 38th anniversary, certified by the RIAA on April 30, 2014.[2]

In 2016, Rhino Records announced[96] the July 29 release of a 40th-anniversary deluxe edition comprising three CDs and one LP, including stereo and mono mixes of the original album; single mixes, outtakes and demos; and a live 1976 performance.

Legacy and influence

Ramones is considered to have established the musical genre of punk rock, as well as popularizing it years afterward. Rombes wrote that it offered "alienated future rock", and that it "disconnected from tradition."[97] The album was the start of the Ramones' influence on popular music, with examples being genres such as heavy metal,[98] thrash metal,[99] indie pop,[100] grunge,[101] post-punk,[102] and most notably, punk rock.[103] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said of their influence on rock in general:

When the [Ramones] hit the street in 1976 with their self-titled first album, the rock scene, in general, had become somewhat bloated and narcissistic. The Ramones got back to basics: simple, speedy, stripped-down rock and roll songs. Voice, guitar, bass, drums. No makeup, no egos, no light shows, no nonsense. And though the subject matter was sometimes dark, emanating from a sullen adolescent basement of the mind, the group also brought cartoonish fun and high-energy excitement back to rock and roll.[3]

Despite the lack of popularity in its era, the importance of the album for the development of punk rock music was incredible, influencing many of the most well-known names in punk rock, including The Damned, the Clash, Black Flag, Misfits, and Green Day. Billie Joe Armstrong, singer for Green Day, explained his reasoning for listening to the band: "they had songs that just stuck in your head, just like a hammer they banged right into your brain."[103] The album also had a great impact on the English punk scene as well, with the bassist for Generation X, Tony James, saying that the album caused English bands to change their style. "When their album came out," commented James, "all the English groups tripled speed overnight. Two-minute-long songs, very fast."[104] In another interview, James stated that "Everybody went up three gears the day they got that first Ramones album. Punk rock—that rama-lama super fast stuff—is totally down to the Ramones. Bands were just playing in an MC5 groove until then."[88] In 1999, Classic Albums by Collins GEM recognized Ramones as the start of English punk rock and called it the fastest and hardest music that could possibly be concocted, stating: "The songs within were a short, sharp exercise in vicious speed-thrash, driven by ferocious guitars and yet halting in an instant. It was the simple pop dream taken to its minimalist extreme."[80] In 2012 the album was preserved by the National Recording Registry, deeming it "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."[105]

Cover versions and tributes

Each song on Ramones has been covered by various bands. Sonic Youth covered "Beat on the Brat" on their 1987 EP Master=Dik,[106] and, in 1991, German punk band Die Toten Hosen played "Blitzkrieg Bop" on their cover album Learning English, Lesson One.[107] A tribute album titled Gabba Gabba Hey: A Tribute to the Ramones was released on August 30, 1991. It contained the songs "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", "53rd & 3rd", "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement", "Loudmouth", and "Beat on the Brat".[108] Screeching Weasel released Ramones (1992), which consisted of the band performing the entire album track list.[109] 1998's Blitzkrieg Over You!: A Tribute to the Ramones featured a cover "Judy Is a Punk" in German,[110] and in 2000, both "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Beat on the Brat" appeared on Dee Dee Ramone's solo release Greatest & Latest.[111] The compilation album Ramones Maniacs included Youth Gone Mad's version of "Blitzkrieg Bop" (featuring a guest appearance by Dee Dee Ramone) and Yogurt's rendition of "Beat on the Brat".[112] "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Havana Affair", "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", and "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" were all covered on The Song Ramones the Same.[113] We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones (2003) featured several of the album's songs covered by bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Havana Affair"), Rob Zombie ("Blitzkrieg Bop"), Metallica ("53rd & 3rd"), U2 ("Beat on the Brat"), Pete Yorn ("I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"), and John Frusciante ("Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World").[114] In 2006, "Blitzkrieg Bop" was reworked into a children's song on the album Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids.[115]

Track listing

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Backing vocalsLength
1."Blitzkrieg Bop"Tommy Ramone, Dee Dee RamoneLeigh2:12
2."Beat on the Brat"Joey Ramone 2:30
3."Judy Is a Punk"Joey RamoneLeigh, Tommy1:30
4."I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"Tommy RamoneLeigh, Freeman2:24
5."Chain Saw"Joey RamoneTommy1:55
6."Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue"Dee Dee Ramone 1:34
7."I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone 2:35
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Backing vocalsLength
8."Loudmouth"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone 2:14
9."Havana Affair"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone 2:00
10."Listen to My Heart"Dee Dee Ramone 1:56
11."53rd & 3rd"Dee Dee Ramone 2:19
12."Let's Dance" (Chris Montez cover)Jim Lee 1:51
13."I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You"Dee Dee RamoneTommy1:43
14."Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World"Dee Dee Ramone 2:09
Total length:29:04
2001 Expanded Edition CD[29][116]
No.TitleNotesLength
15."I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" (demo)Produced by Marty Thau; First issued on The Groups Of Wrath: Songs Of The Naked City (1991),[117] recorded at 914 Studios3:02
16."Judy Is a Punk" (demo)Produced by Marty Thau; First issued on The Groups Of Wrath: Songs Of The Naked City (1991),[117] recorded at 914 Studios1:36
17."I Don't Care" (demo)Produced by Tommy; Previously Unissued1:55
18."I Can't Be" (demo)Produced by Tommy; First issued on All The Stuff (And More!) Volume 1, Sire #262201:56
19."Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (demo)Produced by Tommy; Previously Unissued1:42
20."I Don't Wanna Be Learned/I Don't Wanna Be Tamed" (demo)Produced by Tommy; First issued on All The Stuff (And More!) Volume 1, Sire #262201:05
21."You Should Never Have Opened That Door" (demo)Produced by Tommy; Previously Unissued1:54
22."Blitzkrieg Bop" (single version)Produced by Craig Leon; First issued on "Blitzkrieg Bop" single2:12
Total length:43:06

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[118]
Ramones

Production

Charts

Album

Chart (1976 - 2011) Peak
position
Italian Albums Chart[119] 67
Swedish Albums Chart[120] 48
US Billboard 200 111

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[121] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Year Label Format Catalog Ref
Worldwide release 1976 Sire Records LP SR-6020 [47][122]
Worldwide release 1996 WEA CD WPCR-1805 [122][123]
Worldwide release 1999 WEA CD WEA 1805 [122][124]
Worldwide release 2001 Rhino CD RR-7520 [122][125]
Worldwide release 2001 Rhino CS RR 74306 [122][126]
Worldwide release 2004 Phantom Import Distribution CD 7599274212 [122][127]
Worldwide release 2005 Rhino CD WPCR75060 [122][128]
Worldwide release 2006 Sire CD 7599274212 [122][129]
UK release 2006 Phantom Import Distribution LP EU9103253P [122][130]
Worldwide release 2006 WEA LP WEA-24323-5 [122][131]
Worldwide release 2007 WEA CD WEA-7506-0 [122][132]
US release 2008 Wrong Records CD RR-9274-21 [122][133]
Worldwide release 2010 Warner CD 79796 [122][134]
Worldwide release 2011 Rhino LP 8122797667 [122][135]
Worldwide release 2012 Hi Horse Records LP HH 75200 [122][136]

References

Citations

  1. ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Ramones, 'Ramones'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b "RIAA - Gold & Platinum". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2014-06-07. Retrieved 2014-06-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Ramones". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2004-09-15. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  4. ^ Melnick & Meyer 2003, p. 33.
  5. ^ a b Rombes 2005, p. 65.
  6. ^ a b c Rombes 2005, p. 66.
  7. ^ a b True 2005, p. 51.
  8. ^ Porter 2004, p. 43.
  9. ^ a b Porter 2004, p. 37.
  10. ^ True 2005, p. 50.
  11. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 126.
  12. ^ Rombes 2005, p. 67.
  13. ^ Melnick & Meyer 2007, p. 62.
  14. ^ a b c Leigh 2009, p. 131.
  15. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 128.
  16. ^ a b Ramones (Liner). Ramones. Sire Records. 1976.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ a b Rombes 2005, p. 69.
  18. ^ a b Rombes 2005, p. 73.
  19. ^ McNeil & McCain 2009, p. 229.
  20. ^ Rombes 2005, p. 72.
  21. ^ Savage 2002, p. 143.
  22. ^ Rombes 2005, p. 5.
  23. ^ a b c d Rombes 2005, p. 75.
  24. ^ a b c d e Leigh 2009, p. 138.
  25. ^ "100 Greatest Album Covers". Rolling Stone. 1991-11-14.
  26. ^ a b Strong 2006, p. 899.
  27. ^ "Blitzkrieg Bop!!" (7-inch single). Ramones. Philips Records. 1976. 6078 503.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ "Ramones First Four Albums Set For Reissue". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-01-25. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ a b Ramones (2001 Expanded Edition CD) (Liner). Ramones. Rhino Records. 1976.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ "Blitzkrieg Bop/Sheena Is a Punk Rocker – The Ramones". AllMusic. 2004-01-06. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
  31. ^ Thompson 2000, pp. 423, 579.
  32. ^ Thompson 2000, p. 579.
  33. ^ Ramone & Kofman 2000, p. 77.
  34. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 136.
  35. ^ a b c Leigh 2009, p. 137.
  36. ^ a b c Bessman 1993, pp. 31–35.
  37. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 146.
  38. ^ Leigh 2009, pp. 147–149.
  39. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 150.
  40. ^ Bowe 2010, p. 6.
  41. ^ Sabin 2002, p. 164.
  42. ^ Jim Fields (director) Michael Gramaglia (director) (2003-01-19). End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (Motion picture). United States: Rhino Records/Sire Records. Event occurs at 20:25 – 20:45. Archived from the original (DVD) on 2010-06-04. Retrieved 2010-06-04. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ a b Leigh 2009, p. 135.
  44. ^ a b c Rombes 2005, p. 77.
  45. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 120.
  46. ^ a b Leigh 2009, p. 121.
  47. ^ a b c d e Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ramones – Ramones". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  48. ^ Erlewine 2001, p. 327.
  49. ^ McNeil & McCain 2009, p. 183.
  50. ^ a b c d True 2005, p. 60.
  51. ^ "Ramones [Expanded], The Ramones, Music CD – Barnes & Noble". Music.barnesandnoble.com. 2001-06-19. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  52. ^ a b Schinder & Schwartz 2007, p. 543.
  53. ^ a b Schinder & Schwartz 2007, p. 539.
  54. ^ Rombes 2005, p. 85.
  55. ^ a b c Rombes 2005, p. 86.
  56. ^ Savage 2002, p. 182.
  57. ^ Anders, Marcel (June 2014). "I was criticised for being too sexual. But it was innocent compared to today". Classic Rock #197. p. 54.
  58. ^ Rombes 2005, p. 87.
  59. ^ a b c Rombes 2005, p. 88.
  60. ^ Dowel; Halperin; Mangus 2006, p. 55.
  61. ^ McNeil & McCain 2009, p. 215.
  62. ^ Porter 2004, p. 50.
  63. ^ a b c Leigh 2009, p. 134.
  64. ^ Patell 2011, pp. 132–133.
  65. ^ True 2005, p. 23.
  66. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 133.
  67. ^ Beets, Greg (2001-07-13). "Ramones: Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, Road to Ruin". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  68. ^ Petridis, Alexis (2016-07-28). "Ramones 40th anniversary super-deluxe edition review – rock boiled down to its absolute essence". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  69. ^ Savage, Jon (September 2016). "The need for speed". Mojo (274): 102.
  70. ^ a b Long, April (2001-06-19). "Album Reviews – Ramones : Ramones / Leave Home / Rocket To Russia / Road To Ruin". NME. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-09. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  71. ^ Quantick, David (August 2016). "Year Zero". Q (362): 118.
  72. ^ Wolk, Douglas (2004). "Ramones". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp. 675–76. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2012-12-08. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  73. ^ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  74. ^ "Ramones: Ramones". Uncut (51): 94. August 2001.
  75. ^ a b c Christgau, Robert (1976-05-14). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2013-05-27. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  76. ^ Rockwell, John (21 May 1976), Ramones Sire SASD 7520, p. 82
  77. ^ Kent, Nick (15 May 1976). "Ramones - Ramones (Sire records import)". NME. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  78. ^ Nelson, Paul (1976-07-29). "Ramones". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  79. ^ Sculatti, Gene (August 1976), "The Ramones: Ramones", Creem
  80. ^ a b c d Ramones advertising art. Today New York... tomorrow the world. Sire Records. ABC Records. 1976
  81. ^ Young, Charles M. (15 December 1977), "Ramones", Rolling Stone
  82. ^ "Ramones | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  83. ^ True 2005, p. 55.
  84. ^ "swedishcharts.com – Discography Ramones". Sverigetopplistan. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2010-12-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  85. ^ a b Marks & Wisband 1995, pp. 3–22.
  86. ^ SPIN Magazine Vol. 17, Issue. 5, March 2001: 25 Years of Punk, p. 100. Vibe/Spin Ventures, New York, 2001. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  87. ^ Mojo (112): 7. March 2003. {{cite journal}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |journal= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  88. ^ a b Strongman 2008, p. 111.
  89. ^ Klosterman, Chuck; Milner, Greg; Pappademas, Alex. "Fifteen Most Influential Albums ... | SPIN | Profiles | Spotlight". Spin magazine. 2003-07-09. Archived from the original on 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  90. ^ "100 Greatest Albums Ever". Q Magazine (112): 145. January 2003. {{cite journal}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |journal= (help)
  91. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (2 November 2006). "Ramones | All-Time 100 Albums | Entertainment | time.com". time.com. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  92. ^ Smith 2009, p. 129.
  93. ^ Dimery 2010, p. 424.
  94. ^ "NME – The 50 Greatest Debut Albums Ever | Entertainment | nme.com". nme.com. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  95. ^ "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time | Entertainment | rollingstone.com". rollingstone.com. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  96. ^ http://store.ramones.com/products/ramones-40th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
  97. ^ Rombes 2005, p. 40.
  98. ^ Hoye 2003, p. 124.
  99. ^ Young, Charles M. (2004-09-16). "Johnny's Last Stand". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2010-11-13. Retrieved 2009-11-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  100. ^ Keene, Jarret (2007-11-29). "Candy Man". Tucson Weekly. Archived from the original on 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2009-11-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  101. ^ Hurwitz 2006, p. 16.
  102. ^ Roach 2003, pp. 60–63.
  103. ^ a b Doeden 2006, p. 10.
  104. ^ Doane 2012, p. 22.
  105. ^ "Registry Choices 2012: The National Recording Preservation Board (Library of Congress)". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  106. ^ "Master Dik - Sonic Youth | Overview | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  107. ^ Thompson 2000, p. 330.
  108. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Gabba Gabba Hey: A Tribute to the Ramones – Various | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  109. ^ Thompson 2000, p. 400.
  110. ^ Mallon, Tom; Keiper, Nicole (November 2000). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. 87: 62.
  111. ^ Ramone 2003, p. 258.
  112. ^ "Amazon.com: Ramones Maniacs: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  113. ^ "The Song Ramones the Same: A Tribute to the Ramones – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  114. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to the Ramones – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  115. ^ Apar, Corey. "Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  116. ^ Leigh 2009, p. 113.
  117. ^ a b "The Groups of Wrath chronicles the advent of the punk scene". The Tech. February 18, 1992. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  118. ^ "Ramones | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  119. ^ "Italian Albums Chart - June 9, 2011".
  120. ^ "Swedish Albums Chart - September 7, 1976".
  121. ^ "American album certifications – Ramones – Ramones". Recording Industry Association of America.
  122. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Ramones – The Ramones | Releases | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  123. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (WEA 1996)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  124. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (WEA 1999)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  125. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Rhino 2001 CD)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  126. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Rhino 2001 Cassette)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  127. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Phantom 2004)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  128. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Rhino 2005)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  129. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Sire 2006)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  130. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Phantom 2006 EU)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  131. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (WEA 2006)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  132. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (WEA 2007)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  133. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Wrong 2008)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  134. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Warner 2010)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  135. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Rhino 2011)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  136. ^ "Ramones – The Ramones | Release Information | AllMusic (Hi Horse 2012)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-19.

Bibliography

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ramones_(album)&oldid=860262685"