Leave Home

Last updated

Leave Home
Ramones - Leave Home cover.jpg
Studio album by
the Ramones
ReleasedJanuary 10, 1977
RecordedOctober–November 1976 [1]
StudioSundragon, New York City
Genre
Length29:57
Label Sire
Producer
Ramones chronology
Ramones
(1976)
Leave Home
(1977)
Rocket to Russia
(1977)
Singles from Leave Home
  1. "Swallow My Pride"
    Released: February 1977
  2. "I Remember You"
    Released: February 1977 (UK) [2]
  3. "Carbona Not Glue"
    Released: 1991

Leave Home is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones. It was released on January 10, 1977, through Sire Records, with the expanded CD being released through Rhino Entertainment on June 19, 2001. Songs on the album were written immediately after the band's first album's writing process, which demonstrated the band's progression. The album had a higher production value than their debut Ramones and featured faster tempos. The front photo was taken by Moshe Brakha and the back cover, which would become the band's logo, was designed by Arturo Vega. The album spawned three singles, but only one succeeded in charting. It was also promoted with several tour dates in the United States and Europe.

Contents

The songs in Leave Home concentrate on various themes, with the musical tones being diverse as well. Some tunes were more pop-oriented, while others, like "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" and "Pinhead" were loaded with distorted guitars and had a more punk rock sound. The song "Carbona Not Glue" was taken off the album because it potentially violated the trademark of the stain-removal product Carbona. The track was replaced with "Babysitter" in the United Kingdom and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" in the United States (prior to its inclusion on Rocket to Russia ); both "Carbona" and "Babysitter" were included on the 2001 expanded edition. [3]

Critical reception for the album was generally favorable, with several reviewers pointing out the fact that it highly resembled the band's debut album. Critics also said the album was less groundbreaking than their debut but had humorous and enjoyable pieces. The album peaked at 148 on the Billboard 200 despite its critical acclaim as well as the band members expecting more commercial success.

Background

The writing and structure are both somewhat more sophisticated than the songs on their previous record. Guitarist Johnny Ramone relates: "We recorded them in the order they were written; we wanted to show a slight progression in song structure." [4] Most of the songs were written in the band members' homes, rather than at a studio; "Suzy Is a Headbanger" was written in drummer Tommy Ramone's loft apartment. [5] Joey Ramone later recalled:

I wrote most of the stuff I contributed at my apartment in Forest Hills before I left and moved back to a place in the city. I had no amp at home, just an electric guitar. I recorded it onto a cassette and played that back at rehearsal. We had better production, we were playing a little faster, and we had a lot of songs accumulated. We were in really good shape for that album. [6]

Recorded October and November 1976 in New York City at Sundragon Studios through Sire Records, Leave Home featured increased sound quality through more advanced output methods. Sire set their budget at about $10,000, hiring Tony Bongiovi to produce the album, and Tommy Ramone (credited as T. Erdelyi) to co-produce. More emphasis was placed on the album's mixing and engineering than their debut album, which received merely $6,400 to record and produce. [7] [8] With a more fine-tuned and exceptional sound, Leave Home also presented a production value superior to other punk rock bands at the time. Author Joe S. Harrington called the band's production "brilliant", and noted that it "put them ahead of the run-of-the-mill garage band." [9]

The title Leave Home refers to the Ramones' leaving New York City to go on tour around the world. The album cover was designed by Moshe Brakha, who had worked with the Rolling Stones to yield the Black and Blue (1976) cover art, and would later work with artists like Devo and Iron Maiden. [10] The back cover of the album was a drawing of a bald eagle by graphic designer Arturo Vega. The image would soon become the band's logo. [6]

Carbona controversy

The original release included "Carbona Not Glue" as the fifth track. However, a month before the band released Leave Home, Ramones' manager Danny Fields announced to the band that Carbona was a registered trademark and that their record label had to remove the song from the album's track listing. Legs McNeil recalled: "I was shocked. It was such a great song, so radio-friendly—like a song the Beatles or the Rolling Stones would have written if they were just starting out in 1976, with great harmonies and catchy lyrics." [11] Although early purchasers of the Sire release got an album that included the song, "Carbona Not Glue" was later replaced by "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" for the US release, and "Babysitter" for the UK release. [12] [13] In the early ‘90s, after being unavailable for years, the song was bootlegged as a 45 RPM single with "I Can't Be" as the B-side. The single's cover sported a faux Sub Pop Singles design, despite not actually being released by the label. The song was revived on the 2001 Extended Edition of the album, which also included "Babysitter". [13]

Promotion

There were three singles released from Leave Home: "I Remember You", "Swallow My Pride", and "Carbona Not Glue", released respectively. [14] "Swallow My Pride" was the only single from Leave Home that charted, peaking at thirty-six on the United Kingdom singles chart. [14] [15] The album's final single, "Carbona Not Glue"/"I Can't Be", was released in 1991 as a bootleg. The single was given four out of five stars by AllMusic's Matt Whalley, who said that the song "could have been one of the Ramones' most popular tracks if it was not pulled from the album for legal reasons." [16] Whalley called the B-side "I Can't Be" "simple", describing it as "in the same vein as 'Carbona Not Glue,' only shifting focus to relationships." [16]

After the album came out in February, the band began a four-week tour of the United States starting with Los Angeles. On February 4, the band played at the Nassau Coliseum with Blue Öyster Cult, and played with Suicide the next day at CBGB. A week after this, the band played with Blue Öyster Cult again in Poughkeepsie, to which Johnny relates: "Those arena shows were a little better for us, although we would have more bad experiences in those big places. I never really enjoyed playing them." [6] The band used their newly designed logo as a backdrop at concerts. They also had more advanced lighting techniques, but still only used white lights. [6]

In April 1977, the band left the United States to begin their tour of Europe. Ramones co-headlined with Talking Heads, who were a new wave band formed in 1975. During a Marseilles gig, the Ramones caused a power outage to a quarter of the city during a sound check. The gig was cancelled when police arrived and dispersed the fans. When their tour manager arranged for a stop at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, Johnny refused to leave the bus, saying he refused to see "a bunch of old rocks". [17] The band's Europe tour came to an end on June 6, 1977. [18]

Composition

Leave Home has various lyrical themes throughout its track list. The opening song, "Glad to See You Go", is rather uptempo and frenetic. The track was about Dee Dee's then-girlfriend Connie, who was well known in the punk rock scene as having once dated New York Dolls bassist Arthur Kane and attempting to cut his finger off with a knife. Connie also harmed Dee Dee in several ways, such as slicing his buttocks with a beer bottle. At the time, every other member of the band despised Dee Dee's girlfriend and he eventually broke up with her. Joey recalls: "Dee [Dee] and I came up with the song 'Glad to See You Go,' about Connie's leaving." In the mid-1980s, Connie died from a drug overdose. [19] "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" utilizes Joey's singing abilities with its vocal-demanding melody. [20] [21] Author Scott Schinder called the song a "sing-along mental-illness ode." [22] The next song, "I Remember You" was said by author Greil Marcus to be all about the moment where "Joey's voice turns the single word "you" into pure poetry." [23] "Oh, Oh, I Love Her So" pays homage to the 1950s doo-wop genre, and consists of a three-chord barrage. [24] The song was written solely by Joey, where in the song he humorously tells of how he met a girl at Burger King and they fell in love by a soda fountain. [23]

"Carbona Not Glue" was written as a follow-up to "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" from their debut album. The song was Legs McNeil's favorite song from Leave Home, who relates: "[The song] was meant to clarify that while glue might not be good for you, the cleaning fluid Carbona was definitely a better high." [25] The song contemplates around Beach Boys harmonies, and it uses "bouncy" guitar riffs. [21] [26] "Suzy Is a Headbanger" was inspired by the 1947 film noir Nightmare Alley , with the lyrics detailing a female involved in the punk rock scene. [24]

The lines "Gabba Gabba Hey" at the end of "Pinhead" were taken from the horror film Freaks , which the band saw in Cleveland, Ohio after their gig was cancelled. Joey's brother Mickey Leigh said that it was specifically taken from the scene where "the midget groom does a dance on the banquet table and sings 'Gobble gobble, we accept you, one of us' to his bride." The song is an audience participation song, and during live performances, Leigh appears on stage holding a sign that bore the text "Gabba Gabba Hey". [5] "Pinhead", the album's longest piece, leads into "Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy", which portrays a confused adolescent wanting to be good, yet also yearning to run away from home. [22] The next song on the album, "Swallow My Pride", was a piece written solely by lead singer Joey Ramone, who states that the concept deals with their record company Sire Records; Tommy used the expression "you gotta swallow your pride" when signing to their record company. [29] Record World said of "Swallow My Pride" that the Ramones "pack more energy into a two minute song than just about anyone else." [30] "What's Your Game" is one of the band's most melodic songs and was called "wistful" by Marcus. [23] [31] It was written by Joey about how he yearns for a girl to be herself instead of something she's not. [13]

The album's only cover song, "California Sun", was written by Henry Glover and Morris Levy, and originally recorded by The Rivieras. While the lyrics and musical structure remain the same throughout the piece, Joey's pronunciation upon words significantly lessened the similarity to the original song. The sound output tone also differs from the original, with more distortion as well as a faster tempo. Author Steve Waksman relates: "From the opening bars, 'California Sun' becomes subject to the Ramones' distinctive brand of musical minimalism paired with sonic excess. The chords go by in a blur of distortion; the drums and bass kick at seemingly twice the speed of the Rivieras." [32] The twelfth track "Commando" has a theme which deals with war movies and contains multiple military references. Author Avram Mednick said the song was a successor to "Blitzkrieg Bop", released on the band's debut album. He also noted that it has a "bouncy melody and an infectious call-and-response chorus." [21] "You're Gonna Kill that Girl", which was written very early in the band's career, was also rooted in doo-wop genre. Mednick commented that it appealed highly to those tuning into the Ramones in the UK, and also said it has a "lovely misogynistic tune." [21] The final guitar chord on the track is played by drummer Tommy since Johnny rarely played acoustic. [6] The album's final track, "You Should Never Have Opened That Door", was written by Dee Dee and Johnny, and circles themes of horror films and hints that people in these movies tend to be naïve and unintelligent. [33] [34]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [35]
The Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [36]
Christgau's Record Guide A [37]
NME 10/10 [38]
Pitchfork 9.5/10 [39]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [40]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [41]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [42]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 9/10 [43]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [44]

Leave Home was released on January 10, 1977, and was well received by critics. Although the album did not receive much initial reception, Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone gave the album a favorable review in 1977, saying that it is very similar to their debut yet more experienced sounding. He sums up the album with: "The Ramones are as direct and witty as before. They've also lost just a pinch of their studied rawness: whether this is a sign of maturity or sellout is a matter for debate. The Ramones make rousing music and damn good jokes, but they're in a bind: the hard rock of this group is so pure it may be perceived as a freak novelty by an awful lot of people." [45] The Los Angeles Times deemed the songs of Leave Home "two-minute metal operettas for the Blank Generation." [46] In Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote, "People who consider this a one-joke band aren't going to change their minds now. People who love the joke for its power, wit, and economy will be happy to hear it twice. Hint: read the lyrics." [37] The year-end critics' poll at NME ranked it at No. 9 among the top "Albums of the Year" for 1977, with "Sheena" ranked at No. 5 among the year's top tracks. [47]

Retrospective reviews have also been positive. Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine found it very similar to their debut. Though he did consider it to be slightly more pop music oriented, Erlewine writes that despite being "weaker" than its preceding album, Leave Home "deliver[s] at breakneck speed and conclude[s] in under a half-hour." April Long from NME especially favored "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", calling it "a punk-surf-pop crossover that has never been rivalled." [38] It was given a favorable review by PopMatters editor Adrien Begrand, who called it his favorite Ramones album, saying: "In this album, the Ramones are witty, menacing, goofy, cynical, and head-over-heels in love, all at the same time." During his extensive review, he called "I Remember You" a "perfect bubblegum pop song", while saying that "Pinhead" urges "all the freaks of the world to unite as one" with the lines "D-U-M-B / Everyone's accusing me." [13]

Commercial performance

The album did not chart as well in the United States as its predecessor, peaking at number 148 on the Billboard 200. [48] It was, however, the band's first album to chart on the UK Albums Chart, debuting at number 45. [15] Many of the songs on Leave Home were not considered by Mickey Leigh to be "radio–friendly" because "Carbona Not Glue" was about Intoxicative inhalant. [49] Joey relates: "We thought we had a lotta songs that should've been hits. If you grew up in the sixties, things would just get played and be hits right off the bat. So we thought since our music was doin' something unique that everyone would pick up on that. What really happened was we were so alien that no one wanted to touch us. And so we wouldn't get played." [50]

Track listing

All tracks originally credited to the Ramones (except "California Sun"). Actual writers are listed alongside the tracks. Writing credits are credited to Mickey Leigh's book I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir. [51]

Original release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Glad to See You Go" Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone 2:10
2."Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone 1:38
3."I Remember You"Joey Ramone2:15
4."Oh Oh I Love Her So"Joey Ramone2:03
5."Carbona Not Glue"Ramones1:56
6."Suzy Is a Headbanger"Ramones2:08
7."Pinhead"Ramones2:42
Total length:14:52
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy"Dee Dee Ramone2:10
9."Swallow My Pride"Joey Ramone2:03
10."What's Your Game"Joey Ramone2:33
11."California Sun" Henry Glover, Morris Levy 1:58
12."Commando"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:51
13."You're Gonna Kill That Girl"Joey Ramone2:36
14."You Should Have Never Opened That Door"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:54
Total length:15:05 29:57

US reissue

UK reissue

2001 expanded edition CD bonus tracks

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Babysitter"Ramones2:44
16."Loudmouth" (live)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone2:08
17."Beat on the Brat" (live)Joey Ramone2:36
18."Blitzkrieg Bop" (live)Tommy Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone2:13
19."I Remember You" (live)Ramones2:17
20."Glad to See You Go" (live)Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone2:03
21."Chain Saw" (live)Joey Ramone1:51
22."53rd & 3rd" (live)Dee Dee Ramone2:27
23."I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" (live)Tommy Ramone2:22
24."Havana Affair" (live)Dee Dee Ramone1:53
25."Listen to My Heart" (live)Dee Dee Ramone1:47
26."California Sun" (live)Glover, Levy1:58
27."Judy Is a Punk" (live)Joey Ramone1:23
28."I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You" (live)Dee Dee Ramone1:31
29."Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World" (live)Dee Dee Ramone2:52
30."Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (live)Dee Dee Ramone1:28
31."Let's Dance" (live)Jim Lee2:06
Total length:67:04

Notes

2017 40th anniversary deluxe edition

Disc 1

Original album

Disc 2

Sundragon rough mixes
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Glad to See You Go" (rough mix)Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone2:13
2."Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" (rough mix)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:43
3."I Remember You" (rough mix)Joey Ramone2:20
4."Oh Oh I Love Her So" (rough mix)Joey Ramone2:08
5."Carbona Not Glue" (rough mix)Ramones1:53
6."Suzy Is a Headbanger" (rough mix)Ramones2:13
7."Pinhead" (rough mix)Ramones2:44
8."Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy" (rough mix)Dee Dee Ramone2:15
9."Swallow My Pride" (rough mix)Joey Ramone2:08
10."What's Your Game" (rough mix)Joey Ramone2:38
11."California Sun" (rough mix)Glover, Levy2:04
12."Commando" (rough mix)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:55
13."You're Gonna Kill That Girl" (rough mix)Joey Ramone2:42
14."You Should Never Have Opened That Door" (rough mix)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:54
15."Babysitter" (rough mix)Ramones2:54
40th anniversary extras
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
16."Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (single version)Joey Ramone2:45
17."I Don't Care" (B-side version)Joey Ramone1:38
18."Babysitter" (UK album version)Ramones2:47
19."Glad to See You Go" (Bubblegum Mix)Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone2:13
20."I Remember You" (instrumental)Joey Ramone2:20
21."Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" (Forest Hills Mix)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:43
22."Oh Oh I Love Her So" (Soda Machine Mix)Joey Ramone2:08
23."Carbona Not Glue" (Queens Mix)Ramones1:53
24."Suzy Is a Headbanger" (Geek Mix)Ramones2:13
25."Pinhead" (Psychedelic Mix)Ramones2:44
26."Pinhead" (Oo-Oo-Gabba-Uhuh Mix)Ramones2:44
27."Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy" (Bowery Mix)Dee Dee Ramone2:15
28."Swallow My Pride" (instrumental)Joey Ramone2:08
29."What's Your Game" (Sane Mix)Joey Ramone2:38
30."California Sun" (instrumental)Glover, Levy2:04
31."Commando" (TV Track)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:55
32."You're Gonna Kill That Girl" (Doo Wop Mix)Joey Ramone2:42
33."You Should Never Have Opened That Door" (Mama Mix)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:54
Total length:75:10
Notes

Disc 3

Live at CBGB, New York City (April 2, 1977)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement" (live)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone2:07
2."Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (live)Dee Dee Ramone1:36
3."Blitzkrieg Bop" (live)Tommy Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone2:09
4."Swallow My Pride" (live)Joey Ramone2:06
5."Suzy Is a Headbanger" (live)Ramones2:13
6."Teenage Lobotomy" (live)Ramones2:06
7."53rd & 3rd" (live)Dee Dee Ramone2:10
8."Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy" (live)Dee Dee Ramone2:12
9."Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (live)Joey Ramone2:39
10."Let's Dance" (live)Lee2:03
11."Babysitter" (live)Ramones2:52
12."Havana Affair" (live)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:51
13."Listen To My Heart" (live)Dee Dee Ramone1:46
14."Oh Oh I Love Her So" (live)Joey Ramone1:53
15."California Sun" (live)Glover, Levy1:53
16."I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You" (live)Dee Dee Ramone1:32
17."Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World" (live)Dee Dee Ramone2:36
18."Judy Is a Punk" (live)Joey Ramone1:40
19."Pinhead" (live)Ramones2:42
Total length:39:45
Note

LP

Original album - 40th anniversary mix

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic [26] and the 2017 deluxe edition booklet. [1]

Ramones

Additional musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (1977)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [53] 45
US Billboard 200 [54] 148

Related Research Articles

<i>Rocket to Russia</i> 1977 studio album by the Ramones

Rocket to Russia is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, and was released on November 4, 1977, through Sire Records. It is the band's last album to feature original drummer Tommy Ramone, who left the band in 1978 to focus on production. The album's origins date back to the summer of 1977, when "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" was released as a single. That summer was known as the peak of the punk rock genre since many punk bands were offered recording contracts. The album's recording began in August 1977, and the band had a considerably larger budget with Sire allowing them between $25,000 and $30,000; much of this money went toward the album's production rather than recording.

<i>Ramones</i> (album) 1976 studio album by the Ramones

Ramones is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band 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 several articles about the group and asked Danny Fields to 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.

<i>End of the Century</i> 1980 studio album by the Ramones

End of the Century is the fifth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on February 4, 1980, through Sire Records. The album was the band's first to be produced by Phil Spector, though he had offered the band his assistance earlier in their career. With Spector fully producing the album, it was the first release that excluded original member Tommy Ramone, who had left the band in 1978 but had produced their previous album Road to Ruin. Spector used more advanced standards of engineering, such as high-quality overdubbing and echo chambers. These painstaking methods caused conflict between the band and Spector since the Ramones were accustomed to a quicker recording process. Spector emphasized the production value as well, working with a budget of around $200,000, far exceeding their earlier album sessions.

<i>Road to Ruin</i> (Ramones album) 1978 studio album by the Ramones

Road to Ruin is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on September 22, 1978, through Sire Records as LP record, 8 track cartridge & audio cassette. It was the first Ramones album to feature new drummer Marky Ramone, who replaced Tommy Ramone. Tommy left the band due to low sales of previous albums as well as stress he experienced while touring; however, he stayed with the band to produce the album with Ed Stasium. The artwork's concept was designed by Ramones fan Gus MacDonald and later modified by John Holmstrom to include Marky instead of Tommy.

<i>Pleasant Dreams</i> 1981 studio album by the Ramones

Pleasant Dreams is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on July 20, 1981, through Sire Records. While the band members wanted Steve Lillywhite to produce, Sire chose Graham Gouldman in an attempt to gain popularity through a well-known producer. The recording process brought about many conflicts between band members, most notably the strife between Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone, due to Johnny starting a relationship with Joey's girlfriend. There were also disputes about the overall direction of the album, with Johnny leaning towards hard rock and Joey towards pop punk. Ultimately, the album incorporated high production values and varying musical styles, straying from traditional punk rock on songs such as "We Want the Airwaves", "She's a Sensation" and "Come On Now". It is the first Ramones album not to feature any cover songs.

<i>Subterranean Jungle</i> 1983 studio album by the Ramones

Subterranean Jungle is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released by Sire Records on February 23, 1983. Overall, the album featured a return to a somewhat more hard punk rock style compared to the band's previous two albums End of the Century in 1980, and Pleasant Dreams in 1981, which were the most pop-focused of the band's career. This direction was encouraged by guitarist Johnny Ramone. The recording sessions saw disputes between band members, mainly due to struggles with alcohol addiction by Joey Ramone and Marky Ramone, and the drug addiction of Dee Dee Ramone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonzo Goes to Bitburg</span> 1985 single by the Ramones

"Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" is a protest song by American punk rock band the Ramones. It was issued as a single in the UK by Beggars Banquet Records in mid-1985. The song is an emotionally charged commentary on the Bitburg controversy from earlier that year, in which U.S. president Ronald Reagan had paid a state visit to a German World War II cemetery and gave a speech where numerous Waffen-SS soldiers were buried. Lyrically, the song was a departure from the usual Ramones topics. While not commercially successful, it was critically well received.

<i>Too Tough to Die</i> 1984 studio album by the Ramones

Too Tough to Die is the eighth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones. It was released on October 1, 1984, and is the first Ramones record to feature Richie Ramone on drums. With ex-member Tommy Ramone producing, the recording process was similar to that of the band's 1976 self-titled debut album. Likewise, the record's style—both lyrically and compositionally—saw the band returning to their roots. The photograph on the album cover, which features silhouettes of the band members, resulted from a "lucky accident" after photographer George DuBose's camera malfunctioned.

<i>Its Alive</i> (Ramones album) 1979 live album by Ramones

It's Alive is the first live album by the American punk rock band the Ramones, titled after the 1974 horror film of the same name. It was recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London on December 31, 1977, and released in April 1979 as a 2-LP set. The album draws from the band's first three studio albums: Ramones (1976), Leave Home (1977), and Rocket to Russia (1977). Four concerts during the UK tour were recorded, but the New Year's Eve one was chosen because ten rows of seats were thrown at the stage after the concert and it was considered the best of the performances at the venue.

<i>Mondo Bizarro</i> 1992 studio album by the Ramones

Mondo Bizarro is the twelfth studio album by American punk rock band Ramones, released on September 1, 1992, by Radioactive Records. It is the first studio album to feature their new bassist, C.J. Ramone, who replaced original member Dee Dee Ramone. The album was re-released in the UK by the Captain Oi! record label on August 10, 2004, with the band's cover of the Spider-Man theme song included as a bonus track.

<i>Animal Boy</i> 1986 studio album by Ramones

Animal Boy is the ninth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released through Sire Records on May 19, 1986. Due to conflicts within the group, the album features less of lead singer Joey Ramone, both in performing and writing, and less performing from guitarist Johnny Ramone. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone wrote and sang more on this album than on previous albums, and Richie Ramone became the first drummer to write songs for the band since Tommy Ramone, the band's original drummer. Richie also wrote for Too Tough To Die (1984). The album spawned four singles, all of which charted on the UK Singles Chart, as well as other charts. In addition to singles, the band promoted their album using a music video for "Something to Believe In", which parodied the contemporary benefit concerts Live Aid and Hands Across America.

<i>Loud, Fast Ramones: Their Toughest Hits</i> 2002 greatest hits album by The Ramones

Loud, Fast Ramones: Their Toughest Hits is a compilation of Ramones songs. Curated by Johnny Ramone, the initial 50,000 copies of the album include the 8-song bonus disc Ramones Smash You: Live ’85. The bonus disc features previously unreleased live recordings made on February 25, 1985 at the Lyceum Theatre in London. It is notable for being the only officially released live recording on CD to feature Richie Ramone on drums.

<i>Ramones Mania</i> 1988 greatest hits album by Ramones

Ramones Mania is the first greatest hits album by the American punk rock band the Ramones. It was released on May 31, 1988 through Sire Records and consists of 30 Ramones songs, including some single versions, a single B-side and one previously unreleased take.

<i>All the Stuff (And More) Volume One</i> 1990 compilation album by Ramones

All the Stuff Volume One is a compilation album by the Ramones. It includes their first two albums, Ramones and Leave Home, in their entirety, with the exception of "Carbona Not Glue," a song that was on the original release of Leave Home but was later removed from the album under pressure from the Carbona company and replaced with an early mix of "Sheena is a Punk Rocker." Also included are a handful of bonus tracks of varying origins: "I Don't Wanna Be Learned/I Don't Wanna Be Tamed" and "I Can't Be" were early, previously unreleased demos; "Babysitter" had originally been the b-side to the "Do You Wanna Dance?" single and was the first replacement of "Carbona Not Glue"; and the final two tracks, "California Sun" and "I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You," are live tracks recorded at The Roxy in Los Angeles, California and released as the b-sides of both the "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" and "I Remember You" singles in 1976. Liner notes were written by Oedipus of Boston punk fame.

"Carbona Not Glue" is a song by the Ramones from their second album, Leave Home (1977).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheena Is a Punk Rocker</span> 1977 song by Ramones

"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, released in 1977 through Sire Records. Written by front man and lead vocalist Joey Ramone it appears on the band's third studio album Rocket to Russia (1977). The song is well known for its early 1960s influence of surf rock and bubblegum pop that influenced Joey; it has since remained one of the band's most popular songs.

Gabba is a London-based British tribute band performing ABBA songs in the stripped down punk style of the Ramones, a style of pop punk they dubbed discopunk and claim to have invented. They formed in 1996 and took their name in 1999. They have released one album as of 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramones discography</span> Discography of American punk rock band

The Ramones were an American punk rock band from New York City. Their discography consists of fourteen studio albums, ten live albums, sixteen compilation albums, seventy-one singles, thirty-two music videos and ten films. The band formed in early 1974, and upon signing with Seymour Stein of Sire Records, the Ramones released their self-titled debut album on April 23, 1976. Despite the recording process only taking a week and being on a budget of $6,400, the album has since become their most accoladed and iconic release. 1977's Leave Home was the band's follow up album, released less than a year later, also through Sire. While it was the first album to chart in the United Kingdom, it did not chart as well in the United States as Ramones, nor their third record, Rocket to Russia, which was released in late 1977. Road to Ruin was the band's fourth studio album and their first to feature a change in the band member line-up, with drummer Marky Ramone replacing Tommy Ramone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramones</span> American punk rock band

The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often cited as the first true punk band. Though initially achieving little commercial success, the band is seen today as highly influential in punk culture.

<i>Morrissey Curates The Ramones</i> 2014 greatest hits album by The Ramones

Morrissey Curates The Ramones is a compilation album by the American punk rock band the Ramones, compiled by British musician Morrissey. It consists primarily of songs from their first four albums, Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, and Road to Ruin. While Morrissey initially wrote a negative review of the Ramones 1976 debut album in Melody Maker, he was invited by the band's management to pick the tracks for the compilation. The album was released on vinyl on November 28, 2014, and limited to 9,000 copies.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Stasium, Ed (2017). Leave Home (booklet). Ramones. Rhino/Sire. pp. 8–9. 081227940270.
  2. True 2002, p. 343.
  3. Discogs – Leave Home – 2001-06-19th reMastered CD; Rhino Records / Sire / Warner Archives (R2 74307) US
  4. Lander 2010, p. 194.
  5. 1 2 Leigh 2007, p. 141.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Ramone 2012, ch. 2.
  7. Porter, p. 75
  8. Leigh 2009, p. 128.
  9. Harrington 2002, p. 334.
  10. "Moshe Brakha". AllMusic . Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  11. Bessman 1993, p. 74.
  12. Gimarc 1994, p. 53.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Begrand, Adrien (2003-06-26). "The Ramones: Leave Home". PopMatters . Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  14. 1 2 Thompson 2000, p. 580.
  15. 1 2 "Ramones". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  16. 1 2 Whalley, Matt. "Carbona Not Glue/I Can't Be – Ramones". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  17. Ramone 2003, pp. 202–203.
  18. Owen, Ed (1980-11-01). "Hispavox Organizes Ramones' Spain Tour". Billboard . Vol. 92, no. 44. p. 80.
  19. McNeil, Legs; Holmstrom, John (August 1986). "We're A Happy Family". Spin . Vol. 2, no. 5. p. 69.
  20. Mednick 2013, p. 168
  21. 1 2 3 4 Mednick 2013, p. 169
  22. 1 2 Schinder & Schwartz 2008, p. 546.
  23. 1 2 3 Marcus 2007, p. 110
  24. 1 2 Mednick 2013, p. 170
  25. Leigh 2007, p. 164.
  26. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Leave Home – Ramones". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  27. Wolf 2007, p. 112.
  28. True 2002, p. 84.
  29. Leigh 2007, p. 139.
  30. "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. March 26, 1977. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  31. "Out Now: Ramones: The Sire Years (1976–1981)". Rhino Entertainment. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  32. Waksman 2009, pp. 118–119
  33. Schinder & Schwartz 2008, p. 547.
  34. True 2002, p. 81.
  35. Deming, Mark. "Leave Home – Ramones". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  36. Beets, Greg (2001-07-13). "Ramones: Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, and Road to Ruin (Rhino)". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  37. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1981). "Ramones: Ramones Leave Home". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor and Fields. ISBN   0-89919-026-X . Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  38. 1 2 Long, April (2001-06-19). "Ramones: Ramones / Leave Home / Rocket To Russia / Road To Ruin". NME . Archived from the original on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  39. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2017-07-22). "Ramones: Leave Home". Pitchfork . Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  40. Doherty, Niall (August 2017). "Ramones: Leave Home". Q . No. 375. p. 115.
  41. Rathbone, Oregano (September 2017). "Ramones – Leave Home (40th Anniversary Edition)". Record Collector . No. 470. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  42. Wolk, Douglas (2004). "The Ramones". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  675–76. ISBN   978-0-7432-0169-8.
  43. Sheffield, Rob (1995). "Ramones". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 320–22. ISBN   978-0-679-75574-6.
  44. "Ramones: Leave Home". Uncut . No. 51. August 2001. p. 94.
  45. Tucker, Ken (1977-04-07). "Leave Home". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  46. Fancher, Lisa (Apr 6, 1977). "Ramones Leave Home". Los Angeles Times. p. 4.20.
  47. "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  48. "Ramones | Charts & Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2011-12-31. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  49. Leigh 2007, pp. 165–166.
  50. Leigh 2007, p. 165.
  51. Leigh 2009, p. 133
  52. True 2002, p. 345.
  53. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  54. "Ramones Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.

Works cited