Ramones

Like the debut Black Sabbath album, the Ramones first can also lay claim as progenitor for an entire genre. I’m not here to argue about what is the first “punk” album (I think The Who might be able to argue paternity on a Maury episode) however, this is an album that launched a million bands.

Released on April 23, 1976 but they began recording in January of that year. The band had a rough demo they had been shopping around. 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. Stein agreed to see the band play live. After being persuaded by Craig Leon and his former wife Linda Stein, they were offered a contract.

The label wished to release “You’re Gonna Kill That Girl” as a single, but the band declined, insisting on recording an entire album instead. After some serious negotiations, the label agreed to move forward with a full-length album. The band recorded quickly, only seven days and on a shoestring budget of $6,400 (equivalent to $36,200 in 2026).

The instruments took three days and the vocal parts were recorded in four days. The recording process worked well for both parties; Sire could not afford additional studio session time; however, The Ramones didn’t need it either. The band was so incredibly sound and solid that the album was essentially a studio version of their live set.

The tunes represented life in New York in the mid-late 70’s covering themes from violence, horror movies, male prostitution, and drug use. The album opener and most beloved song “Blitzkrieg Bop” was originally entitled Animal Hop. After Dee Dee Ramone rewrote lyrics, a genre was defined and an anthem was born.

“Beat on the Brat” follows up Bop. A tune Joey Ramone wrote about “a lot of rich, snotty women who had horrible, spoiled brat kids.” Dee Dee explained “Joey saw a mother “going after a kid with a bat in his apartment building’s lobby and wrote a song about it”

One of the earliest songs in the band’s repertoire “Judy Is A Punk.” Written around the same time as “…Brat.” Inspired by kids in their neighborhood who drank and hung out. It is the shortest tune on the LP at 1:32 seconds. “I Want To Be Your Boyfriend” is the “slow” song on the album. A love letter to The Beatles that was heavily inspired by “I Should Have Known Better.”

“Chain Saw” was written after the band left a showing of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” It’s the fastest tune on the album at a staggering 180 BPM.

“Now I Want To Snuff Some Glue” written by Dee Dee about, well, getting high on airplane model glue. “I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement” is another horror movie inspired tune. It serves as their own “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The albums “epic” track at 2:40 seconds.

“Loudmouth” was a set opener for the band for years and is written about a very annoying person. “Havana Affair” was partly inspired by the Mad Magazine “Spy vs Spy” comic series. “Havana Affair” segues into “Listen to My Heart” and is the first of many songs written about failed love affair with a pessimistic perspective. “53rd & 3rd” is a Dee Dee tune inspired by his real-life experiences as a male hustler. Dee Dee commented in an interview: “Everything I write is autobiographical and written in a very real way, I can’t even write.”

“Let’s Dance” is a very strong cover of the Chris Montez classic. The Ramones paying homage to their influences.

“I Don’t Wanna Walk Around with You” is one of the earliest Ramone songs written in 1974. This was included on their very first demo tape. These segues into the album closer “Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World.” Written about Hitler Youth. After threatened to remove the track from the album completely it went through several different rewrites until Stein would agree to include on the album.

At 29:04 the album is an absolute auditory assault that doesn’t have a weak spot or wasted moment. Pure energy and aggression, with pop hook after pop hook.

The band wanted an album cover exactly like “Meet the Beatles!” After seeing the intended album shot, they all agreed that was the perfect cover. Ripped jeans, leather jackets, t-shirts and attitude, the album has been cited as one of the very best covers.

When the album came out it originally peaked at 111 on the Billboard charts. However, in time it has reached legendary status. This is if not the birth, certainly a sibling, of Punk Rock. The album is as essential to any collection as a Abbey Road, Kind of Blue or Master of Puppets.

DJ Madness