I could say the Ramones are the greatest band ever. Of course I might say that about other bands too, like the Cramps for instance, or the Fortune Tellers. The Ramones have meant a lot to me. They invented punk rock and maybe they even invented a whole culture. There was never anyone like the Ramones. They played very simple rock and roll music in a new way. Fast, short songs, no guitar solos, no drum solos. The guitar was very simple (just a few bar chords) but crunchy and loud. I think lots of people may have been scared by punk rock and didn't understand the Ramones. They were actually very positive. There is a lot of humor in their songs. And they were big fans of the Beatles.

Their first couple of records are totally classic. I love the third one, Rocket to Russia. Pleasant Dreams is a really fun record and it has a song about the death of radio, which had already ocurred so long ago, We Want the Airwaves ("Mister programmer, I got my hammer, I'm gonna smash my..smash my..radio-o, we want the airwaves. We want the airwaves, baby, if rock is gonna stay alive."). Of course the Ramones were not heard a lot on the radio. I liked Outsider on Subterranean Jungle ("I'm an outsider, outside of everything"), and they also cover the Chambers Brothers song, Time has Come Today, how about that? Too Tough to Die is an awesome, powerful record. Animal Boy was very interesting (but maybe not the best production). Halfway to Sanity had an excellent sound. Their records all sound a little different since they have different producers (noted in discography below). On Brain Drain, Marky returns as the drummer and the drums sound great and are very prominent in the mix, produced by Bill Laswell. Adios Amigos, their farewell studio record from 1995 is really cool. You really should get some Ramones records (and play them loud).

The Ramones star in a very cool and fun movie called Rock and Roll High School. Check it out. They were even on the Simpsons. Smithers hired them to play at Mr. Burns' birthday party. "Ah, these minstrels will soothe my tired nerves." (October 31, 1993)

There was a cool interview long ago in Guitar Player magazine with Johnny. He says that he never practiced. Actually there's 3 issues of Guitar Player with articles on Johnny Ramone: 4/85, 7/94, and 10/99. Dee Dee is also in the 4/85 issue.

I saw the Ramones in Dallas once, probably '86 or '87. It was the loudest show I ever saw, my ears rang for almost two days, the longest they ever have. The place was packed, tons of people, and the crowd went wild the second the first song started. Two giant mosh pits formed and raged nonstop. I also saw them when they came to OU in Norman and played in a ballroom in the Student Union (04/19/90).

There's an excellent book about the Ramones called Ramones - An American Band. It includes a list of every show they played, which shows them playing almost nonstop year after year. They worked hard. They earned a huge following of very dedicated fans and they never let them down. They finally retired after a couple of decades, playing their last show in 1996. Definitely one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever.

Ramones Links:

ramones.com

The Records:


NOTE: some time ago Rhino reissued most Ramones CDs with tons of extra songs.


Ramones (1976) Sire
Produced by Craig Leon
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Tommy
The first record. The punk rock revolution begins.
The Songs: Blitzkrieg Bop, Beat on the Brat, Judy is a Punk, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, Chainsaw, Now I wanna Sniff Some Glue, I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement, Loudmouth, Havana Affair, Listen to My Heart, 53rd & 3rd, Let's Dance, I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You, Today Your Love Tomorrow the World.

Leave Home (1977) Sire
Produced by Tony Bongiovi and T. Erdelyi
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Tommy
Some early copies of LP exist with song Carbona Not Glue, removed after threatened lawsuit from Carbona and replaced with Sheena Is a Punk Rocker.
Song Pinhead inspired by 1932 Tod Browning film Freaks.
The Songs: Glad to See You Go, Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment, I Remember You, Oh Oh I Love Her So, Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, Suzy Is A Headbanger, Pinhead, Now I Wanna Be A Good Bouy, Swallow Your Pride, What's Your Game, California Sun, Commando, You're Gonna Kill that Girl, You Should Never Have Opened That Door.

All the Stuff and More - Volume One (1990) Sire
CD release of first 2 LPs (above), includes 5 extra songs.

Rocket to Russia (1977) Sire
Produced by Tony Bongiovi and T. Erdelyi
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Tommy
The Songs: Cretin Hop, Rockaway Beach, Here Today Gone Tomorrow, Locket Love, I Don't Care, Sheen Is A Punk Rocker, Were a Happy Famliy, Teenage Lobotomy, Do You Wanna Dance?, I Wanna Be Well, I Can't Give You Anything, Ramona, Surfin' Bird, Why Is It Always This Way?

Road to Ruin (1978) Sire
Produced by T. Erdelyi and Ed Stasium
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Marky (replaces Tommy on drums)
The Songs: I Just Want to Have Something to Do, I Wanted Everything, Don't Come Close, I Don't Want You, Needles and Pins, I'm Against It, I Wanna Be Sedated, Go Mental, Questioningly, She's the One, Bad Brain, It's A Long Way Back.

All the Stuff and More - Volume 2 (1991) Sire
CD release of 3rd and 4th LPs (above), includes 4 extra songs.
Amazon

End of the Century (1980) Sire
Produced by Phil Spector
The Songs: Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio?, I'm Affected, Danny Says, Chinese Rock, The Return of Jackie and Judy, Let's Go, Baby I Love You, I Can't Make It On Time, This Ain't Havana, Rock N' Roll High School, All the Way, High Risk Insurance.
Amazon

Pleasant Dreams (1981) Sire
Produced by Graham Gouldman

The Songs: We Want the Airwaves , All's Quiet on the Eastern Front, The KKK Took My Baby Away, Don't Go, You Sound Like You're Sick, It's Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World), She's A Sensation, 7-11, You Didn't Mean Anything to Me, Come On Now, This Business Is Killing Me, Sitting In My Room
Amazon

Subterranean Jungle (1983) Sire
Produced by Ritchie Cordell and Glen Kolotkin
The Songs: Little Bit O' Soul, I Need Your Love, Outsider, What'd Ya Do?, Highest Trails Above, Somebody Like Me, Psycho Therapy, Time Has Come Today, My-My Kind of A Girl, In the Park, Time Bomb, Every Time I Eat Vegetables It Makes Me Think Of You.
Amazon

Too Tough to Die (1984) Sire
Produced by T. Erdelyi and Ed Stasium
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Richie (replacing Marky on drums)
A powerful great-sounding record.
The Songs: Mama's Boy, I'm Not Afraid of Life, Too Tough to Die, Durango 95, Wart Hog, Danger Zone, Chasing the Night Away, Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La), Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love), Planet Earth 1988, Humankind, Endless Vacation, No Go.
Amazon

Animal Boy (1986) Sire
Produced by Jean Beauvoir
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Richie
The Songs: Somebody Put Something in My Drink, Animal Boy, Love Kills, Apeman Hop, She Belongs to Me, Crummy Stuff, My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg), Mental Hell, Eat That Rat, Freak of Nature, Hair of the Dog, Something to Believe In.
Amazon

Halfway to Sanity (1987) Sire
Produced by the Ramones and Daniel Rey
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Richie
The Songs: I Wanna Live, Bop 'Til You Drop, Garden of Serenity, Weasel Face, Go Lil' Camaro Go (with Debby Harry), I Know Better Now, Death of Me, I Lost My mind, A Real Cool Time, I'm Not Jesus, Byb Bye Baby, Worm Man.
Amazon

Brain Drain (1989) Sire
Produced by Bill Laswell
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Marky (returns as drummer)
Includes title song from Stephen King movie, Pet Sematary
The Songs: I Believe in Miracles, Zero Zero UFO, Don't Bust My Chops, Punishment Fits the Crime, All Screwed Up, Palisades Park, Pet Sematary, Learn to Listen, Can't Get You Outta My Mind, Ingnorance Is Bliss, Come Back Baby, Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight).
Amazon

Mondo Bizzaro (1992) Radioactive
Produced by Ed Stasium
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Marky, CJ (replacing DeeDee on bass)
The Songs: Censorshit, The Job That Ate My Brain, Poison Heart, Anxiety, Strength to Endure, It's Gonna Be Alright, Take It As It Comes, Main Man, Tomorrow She Goes Away, I Won't Let It Happen, Cabbies On Crack, Heidi Is A Headcase, Touring
Joey, Johnny, Marky, CJ
Amazon

Acid Eaters (1994) Radioactive
Produced by Scott Hackwith
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Marky, CJ
Interesting collection of psychedelic 60's hits.
Pete Townsend joins on vocals on Substitute
The Songs: Journey to the Center of the Mind (Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes), Substitute (The Who), Out of Time (Rolling Stones), The Shape of Things to Come (Max Frost and the Troopers), Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane), When I Was Young (The Animals), 7 And 7 Is (Love), My Back Pages (The Byrds), Can't Seem to Make You Mine (The Seeds), Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival), I Can't Control Myself, Surf City (Beach Boys)
Amazon

Adios Amigos (1995) Radioactive
Produced by Daniel Rey
The band is: Joey, Johnny, Marky, CJ (some songs by Dee Dee)
The Songs: I Don't Want to Grow Up, Making Monsters For My Friends, It's Not For Me To Know, The Crusher, Life's A Gas, Take the Pain Away, I Love You, Cretin Family, Have a Nice Day, Scattergun, Got a Lot to Say, She Talks to Rainbows, Born to Die in Berlin.
Amazon

RamonesMania (1988) Sire
Greatest Hits Collection
Amazon

It's Alive (1979)
Amazon

Loco Live (1992) Sire
Produced by the Ramones and Adam Yellin
Recorded live in Barcelona, Spain
Amazon

Greatest Hits Live (1996) Radioactive
Produced by Ed Stasium and Daniel Rey
Recorded 2/29/96 at The Academy in NYC.
Amazon

Hey! Ho! Let's Go! The Anthology (1999) Rhino
2 CDs, 58 songs.
Amazon

There are also some solo records, which I mostly haven't gotten to. I think Joey's record (released after he died) is a very cool one.

Some Videos:

End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2004)
Comprehensive even-handed documentary. Totally awesome!!!
Official Site: www.endofthecentury.com

RAW (2004)
This one is an official release by the Ramones. Lots of live footage. Awesome, of course.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Ramones (1990)
Includes music videos. (have not seen it)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6302374057

Around the World with the Ramones (1998)
Documentary of last tour, filmed by Marky Ramone. (have not seen it)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1566054419

Rock and Roll High School (1978)
Video and DVD both out of print. Can still find used.
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6304492391


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This page revised 09/19/16      Links checked 12/02/99