Don't Worry About Me

For the film, see The Pool (play) § Film adaptation. For the song, see Don't Worry 'bout Me.

Don't Worry About Me
Studio album by Joey Ramone
Released	February 19, 2002
Recorded	2000–2001
Studio	Magic Shop, New York City Water Music Studios, Hoboken, New Jersey Baby Monster, New York City Loho Studios, New York City
Genre	Punk rock
Length	34:49
Label	Sanctuary
Producer	Daniel Rey
Joey Ramone chronology
Don't Worry About Me (2002) ...Ya Know? (2012)
Singles from Don't Worry About Me
"What a Wonderful World" Released: 2002

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B+ [2]
Entertainment Weekly	A− [3]
Punknews.org	[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
Spin	8/10 [6]
Uncut	[7]

Don't Worry About Me is the first album released by Joey Ramone as a solo artist. ^{[8] [9]} It was released posthumously on February 19, 2002, by Sanctuary Records, ^[10] less than a year after his death. The album was produced by Daniel Rey, who also did most of the guitar work. ^[5] Rey had previously produced three of the Ramones' albums, between 1987 and 1995.

The album includes two covers: "What a Wonderful World," originally performed by Louis Armstrong, and "1969," originally performed by the Stooges. ^[11] "What a Wonderful World" was used for the ending credits of Michael Moore's film Bowling for Columbine . ^[12] It also appeared on the soundtrack to Freaky Friday .

A DualDisc version of the album was released on November 19, 2002. It included the album in the DVD-Audio format, which is in 5.1 surround sound, as well as the music video for "What a Wonderful World" (directed by Debbie Harry) and other material.

Don't Worry About Me peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200. ^[13]

Critical reception

The Austin Chronicle wrote that "though Ramones neophytes would be best served by starting at the beginning, Don't Worry About Me is a must for card-carrying superfans." ^[14] Entertainment Weekly called the album "a testament to the uplifting power of rock." ^[3] Now wrote that it "boasts better songwriting and playing than the last few Ramones albums, with Joey singing strong, free of any ironic or goofy pose." ^[15] Wired wrote that "pointless guitar solos are evident on several tracks, but Joey's goofy teenage romanticism still manages to carry the day." ^[16] Uncut compares the album favourably to the Ramones saying it's "no disrespect to say that the most successful tracks are the ones that do sound like the Ramones". ^[17]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joey Ramone; except where indicated.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"What a Wonderful World"	Bob Thiele, George David Weiss	2:23
2.	"Stop Thinking About It"	Ramone, Andy Shernoff	2:57
3.	"Mr. Punchy"		2:35
4.	"Maria Bartiromo"		3:58
5.	"Spirit in My House"		2:02
6.	"Venting (It's a Different World Today)"		3:17
7.	"Like a Drug I Never Did Before"		2:04
8.	"Searching for Something"	Ramone, Al Maddy	4:12
9.	"I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)"		3:42
10.	"1969"	Dave Alexander, James "Iggy Pop" Osterberg, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton	3:40
11.	"Don't Worry About Me"		3:55

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. ^[18]

Musicians

• Joey Ramone – lead vocals (all tracks)
• Daniel Rey – guitars, backing vocals (tracks 1–7, 9 and 10)
• Al Maddy – guitars, bass, backing vocals (track 8)
• Mickey Leigh – guitars, backing vocals (track 11)
• Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals (tracks 1–7, 9 and 11)
• Jerry Only – bass (track 10)
• Marky Ramone – drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8)
• Frank Funaro – drums (tracks 2, 5, 9 and 11)
• Dr. Chud – drums (track 10)
• Joe McGinty – keyboards (tracks 1, 5, 9 and 11)
• Veronica Kofman – backing vocals (track 3)
• Helen Love – backing vocals (track 3)
• Captain Sensible – backing vocals (track 3)

Technical

• Daniel Rey – producer, engineer, mixing
• Jon Marshall Smith – engineer, mixing
• Joe Blaney – mixing ("Don't Worry About Me")
• Noah Simon – assistant mixing engineer ("Don't Worry About Me")
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• George Seminara – front cover photography
• George DuBose – package design
• Charlotte Lesher – executive producer
• Mickey Leigh – executive producer

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [19]	25
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [20]	19
US Billboard 200 [21]	109

References

1. "Don't Worry About Me - Joey Ramone | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
2. "Robert Christgau: Album: Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me". robertchristgau.com.
3. "Don't Worry About Me". EW.com.
4. "Joey Ramone - Don't Worry About Me". www.punknews.org. April 12, 2002.
5. "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . January 6, 2008. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008.
6. "Reviews". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. March 27, 2002 – via Google Books.
7. Clerk, Carol (2002). "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me (Sanctuary) ****" . Uncut. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
8. "Joey Ramone | Biography & History". AllMusic.
9. Maerz, Jennifer (February 24, 2002). "Joey Ramone's 'Worry': Rest Assured" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
10. "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me". PopMatters. March 27, 2002.
11. "Punk Rock Revolutionary: The Legacy of Joey Ramone". Los Angeles Times. February 13, 2002.
12. Bowling For Columbine End Credits.
13. "Joey Ramone". Billboard.^{[ dead link ]}
14. "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
15. Perlich, Tim (February 28, 2002). "JOEY RAMONE".
16. Poet, j. "Music". Wired– via www.wired.com.
17. Clerk, C. (2002) "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me (Sanctuary) ****". Uncut. The Ramones. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from http://www.rocksbackpages.com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/Library/Article/joey-ramone-dont-worry-about-me-sanctuary-
18. "Joey Ramone - Don't Worry About Me". Discogs. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
19. "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
20. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
21. "Joey Ramone Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2023.