Ramones - Ramones (2LP, 45RPM)
Ramones
- Joey Ramone – lead vocals
- Johnny Ramone – guitar
- Dee Dee Ramone – bass, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on "53rd & 3rd"
- Tommy Ramone – drums, backing vocals, hand claps
Craig Leon – pipe organ on "Let's Dance", additional guitar, backing vocals
Mickey Leigh – backing vocals, hand claps
Rob Freeman – backing vocals
Arturo Vega – hand claps
Danny Fields – hand claps
Written by Tommy Ramone (A1, B1), Dee Dee Ramone (A1, B3 to D1, D3-4), Joey Ramone (A2-3, B2), Johnny Ramone (B4, C1-2), Jim Lee (D2)
2LPs, gatefold jacket printed by Stoughton Printing
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 45 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Quality Record Pressings
Label : Analogue Productions - Acoustic Sounds 40 Series
Original Label : Sire
Recorded in January 1976 at Plaza Sound, Radio City Music Hall in New York City
Engineered by Rob Freeman
Mixed by Craig Leon, Rob Freeman
Produced by Craig Leon
Photography by Roberta Bayley, Arturo Vega
Originally released in April 1976
Reissued in 2026
Tracks:
Side A:
- Blitzkrieg Bop
- Beat on the Brat
- Judy Is a Punk
Side B:
- I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
- Chain Saw
- Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
- I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement
Side C:
- Loudmouth
- Havana Affair
- Listen to My Heart
Side D:
- 53rd & 3rd
- Let's Dance
- I Don't Wanna Walk Around with You
- Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World
Awards:
Spin magazine's The 50 Most Essential Punk Records – Ranked 1
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Ranked 47
Placed first in Rolling Stone 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time list
Chosen by Time as one of the 100 greatest albums ever
Included in Chris Smith's 2009 book 101 Albums That Changed Popular Music
Included in the 2005 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
Reviews :
“With the three-chord assault of "Blitzkrieg Bop," The Ramones begins at a blinding speed and never once over the course of its 14 songs does it let up. The Ramones is all about speed, hooks, stupidity, and simplicity. The songs are imaginative reductions of early rock & roll, girl group pop, and surf rock. Not only is the music boiled down to its essentials, but the Ramones offer a twisted, comical take on pop culture with their lyrics, whether it's the horror schlock of "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement," the gleeful violence of "Beat on the Brat," or the maniacal stupidity of "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue." And the cover of Chris Montez's "Let's Dance" isn't a throwaway -- with its single-minded beat and lyrics, it encapsulates everything the group loves about pre-Beatles rock & roll. They don't alter the structure, or the intent, of the song, they simply make it louder and faster. And that's the key to all of the Ramones' music -- it's simple rock & roll, played simply, loud, and very, very fast. None of the songs clock in at any longer than two and half minutes, and most are considerably shorter. 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 -- but there's no denying that it still sounds brilliantly fresh and intoxicatingly fun.” AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ratings :
AllMusic : 5 / 5 , Discogs : 4.61 / 5