Too Tough to Die

Last updated

Too Tough to Die
Ramones - Too Tough to Die cover.jpg
Studio album by
the Ramones
ReleasedOctober 1, 1984
RecordedJuly 1984
StudioMedia Sound Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length36:13
Label Sire
Producer
Ramones chronology
Subterranean Jungle
(1983)		Too Tough to Die
(1984)		 Animal Boy
(1986)
Singles from Too Tough to Die
  1. "Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" b/w "Wart Hog"
    Released: December 1984 (US)

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 (credited as T. Erdelyi), 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. [1]

Contents

The album's overall style leaned toward that of punk rock and heavy metal music, rather than pop music which had been a focus of several of the band's previous albums. Too Tough to Die borrows upon elements such as guitar riffs from 1983's Subterranean Jungle . For the second time, after "Time Bomb" on Subterranean Jungle, bassist Dee Dee Ramone performs lead vocals on the album and receives vocal credits for two tracks. The album also contains the band's only instrumental piece, "Durango 95".

Critics appreciated the band's return to earlier methods of writing, recording, and production, noting they had strayed from the pop music genre. Despite critical acclaim, Too Tough to Die performed poorly in album sales. At this point in their career, the album was the band's lowest peaking record on the Billboard 200.

Recording and production

The recording of Too Tough to Die began in the summer of 1984 at the Media Sound Studios in New York City. [2] The album's recording process used similar techniques which were used to record their 1976 eponymous album, [3] with Rolling Stone 's Kurt Loder describing it as "virtually live in the studio". [4] The album marked the debut of new drummer Richie Ramone, who replaced Marky Ramone after he was fired for excessive drinking. [5] The album's songs were written mainly by bassist Dee Dee Ramone and guitarist Johnny Ramone, while lead singer Joey Ramone did not participate in the process as much as usual because he "wasn't feeling well" prior to recording. [6] Joey did, however, write the songs "No Go" and "Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)" after receiving help with the guitar part for the latter song by Daniel Rey. [7] Johnny Ramone recalled:

As we got ready to make Too Tough To Die, we were focused in the same direction, and it made a difference. We knew we needed to get back to the kind of harder material we'd become known for. The pop stuff hadn't really worked, and we knew we were much better off doing what we did best. [8]

Previous Ramones records featured celebrity record producers in an attempt to gain some sort of popularity. Since this method did not yield the results which they were expecting, Sire Records contacted the producers of 1978's Road to Ruin : Ed Stasium and ex-band member Tommy Ramone. [9] Too Tough to Die has less production value than previous recordings by the Ramones. Because critics often disapproved of the sound quality on End of the Century and Pleasant Dreams , the band leaned towards a harsher sound. [10]

Too Tough to Die was also the first of three studio albums that were licensed from Sire Records to the independent record label Beggars Banquet Records for release in the UK. The deal saw the group's work promoted better and resulted placings on the UK album and singles charts. The group had not charted in the UK since 1980's End of the Century .

Cover art

The cover photo for the album was taken by photographer George DuBose in a tunnel in Central Park, New York City, near the Central Park Zoo. In the photo, the band members are standing side-by-side underneath an underpass arch, with their dark silhouettes illuminated in the background with blue lighting and dry ice fog. [1] [11] Johnny wanted the artwork to conceptually refer to the film A Clockwork Orange, released in 1971. [1] [12] [13] DuBose relates: "Johnny wanted a picture that would evoke memories of the gang in A Clockwork Orange." [12] DuBose also stated that the band did not need their faces on the cover because they had grown significantly in popularity; however, he originally intended to include their faces. The photograph on the album cover was a "lucky accident" after DuBose's flashes failed to fire and he unintentionally shot the band members in silhouette. [1] [14]

Music and compositions

Just as the recording methods resembled that of the band's 1970s era, the musical style which they produced also favored the band's earlier approach to punk rock. Even though "Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" featured a synthpop feel, the overall sound leaned more toward heavy metal music rather than pop music, which had been a major focus of the band's writing process throughout the 1980s. Authors Scott Schinder and Andy Schwartz explained:

With Tommy Ramone/Erdelyi and Ed Stasium returning as producers, the album was, to some degree, the Ramones' response to America's burgeoning hard-core punk scene, and did much to restore the band's musical credibility ... Too Tough to Die reclaimed the Ramone's original values of energy, catchiness, and brevity without resorting to retro pandering. It also featured the band's strongest set of songs since Rocket to Russia , with Dee Dee (who wrote or co-wrote nine of the album's thirteen songs) demonstrating a thoughtful, introspective edge on 'I'm Not Afraid of Life' and an apocalyptic social conscience on 'Planet Earth 1988.' [15]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the album uses the "big guitar riffs" featured on Subterranean Jungle and transfigures them to be "shorter and heavier." [16] The songs featured on the album are mostly rather short and have a considerably fast tempo, which was a typical quality of the band's early work. [16] The album features the only instrumental piece which the band released: "Durango 95", which clocks in at under a minute, being the shortest Ramones track on a studio album. [4] (The album also includes one of the longest Ramones studio recordings, "Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)" on side two.) The title of "Durango 95" is a reference to a car driven in A Clockwork Orange. [12] "Durango 95" and "Wart Hog" are two songs which are 7
4 in certain parts of both songs, a meter which is extremely rare in punk rock.

Too Tough to Die is also the second Ramones release which did not feature lead singer Joey Ramone on each track; both "Wart Hog" and "Endless Vacation" feature bassist Dee Dee Ramone as lead vocalist, while "Durango 95" is a short instrumental. [15] Initially, "Wart Hog"'s appearance on the album was declined by Joey Ramone, but guitarist Johnny Ramone argued for including the song, later stating, "If I hadn't lobbied for them, they wouldn't be on the [album]." [17] The lyrics to the song were not included on the initial printing of the album because Sire considered the drug-inspired lyrics to be too explicit for potential fans. [4] [15] In his autobiography, Commando , Johnny Ramone stated the album title was in reference to a near fatal beating he received in 1983 that required emergency brain surgery.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [16]
Robert Christgau A [18]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 6/10 [19]

Too Tough to Die was generally well received by critics. Music critic Robert Christgau suggested that the album's sound was a retreat to their earlier styles "with the cleansing minimalism of their original conception evoked", saying their initial sound was "augmented rather than recycled." [18] Kurt Loder of Rolling Stone concluded his review by saying that "Too Tough to Die is a return to fighting trim by the kings of stripped-down rock & roll." [4] In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it "the last great record [the Ramones] would ever make" and noted that the use of Tommy Ramone as the album's producer was beneficial since it aided in the group returning "to simple, scathing punk rock." [16] He also stated that the album reads "like a reaction to hardcore punk", while still maintaining their more melodic style in songs. [16]

The album was the band's lowest peaking record at that point in their career, debuting at number 171 on the US Billboard 200. [20] It also peaked at number 49 on the Swedish Sverigetopplistan chart, [21] and in a revival of fortunes spent three weeks on the UK Albums Chart where it peaked at number 63. [22] The only single released from the album, "Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" (backed with "Wart Hog" in the US and "Chasing the Night" in the UK) peaked at number 85 on the UK Singles Chart, where it spent two weeks. [23]

Guitar World magazine placed the album on their list of "New Sensations: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1984". [24]

Track listing

Track listing adapted from the Too Tough to Die expanded edition liner notes. [10]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mama's Boy" Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, T. Erdelyi 2:09
2."I'm Not Afraid of Life"Dee Dee Ramone3:12
3."Too Tough to Die"Dee Dee Ramone2:35
4."Durango 95" (Instrumental)Johnny Ramone0:55
5."Wart Hog"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:54
6."Danger Zone"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone2:03
7."Chasing the Night" Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Busta Jones 4:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)"Dee Dee Ramone4:06
9."Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)"Joey Ramone, Daniel Rey 4:31
10."Planet Earth 1988"Dee Dee Ramone2:54
11."Humankind" Richie Ramone 2:41
12."Endless Vacation"Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:45
13."No Go"Joey Ramone3:03
2002 Expanded Edition CD (Warner Archives/Rhino) bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Street Fighting Man" (B-side) Mick Jagger, Keith Richards 2:56
15."Smash You" (B-side)Richie Ramone2:23
16."Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" (demo)Dee Dee Ramone3:17
17."Planet Earth 1988" (demo; Dee Dee vocal version)Dee Dee Ramone3:02
18."Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)" (demo)Joey Ramone, Daniel Rey4:06
19."Endless Vacation" (demo)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone1:46
20."Danger Zone" (demo; Dee Dee vocal version)Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone2:07
21."Out of Here" (demo)Ramones4:10
22."Mama's Boy" (demo)Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, T. Erdelyi2:15
23."I'm Not an Answer" (demo)Ramones2:16
24."Too Tough to Die" (demo; Dee Dee vocal version)Dee Dee Ramone2:35
25."No Go" (demo)Joey Ramone3:05
Note

Personnel

Personnel adapted from the Too Tough to Die expanded edition liner notes, [10] except where noted.

Ramones

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (1984)Peak
position
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [27] 26
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [28] 49
UK Albums (OCC) [29] 63
US Billboard 200 [30] 171

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Ramone</span> American punk rock singer (1951–2001)

Jeffrey Ross Hyman, known professionally as Joey Ramone, was an American singer, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of the punk rock band Ramones. His image, voice, and his tenure with the Ramones made him a countercultural icon. He, along with the guitarist Johnny Ramone, are the only two original members who stayed in the band until the disbandment in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dee Dee Ramone</span> American bassist (1951–2002)

Douglas Glenn Colvin, better known by his stage name Dee Dee Ramone, was an American musician. He was the bassist and a founding member of the punk rock band the Ramones. Throughout the band's existence, he was the most prolific lyricist and composer, writing many of their best-known songs, such as "53rd & 3rd", "Chinese Rock", "Commando", "Wart Hog", "Rockaway Beach", "Poison Heart" and "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg". The latter won the New York Music Award for best independent single of the year in 1986, while Animal Boy, which the song is from, won for best album.

<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>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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Ramone</span> American guitarist (1948–2004)

John William Cummings, better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American musician who was the guitarist and a founding member of the Ramones, a band that helped pioneer the punk movement. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Until the band's disbandment in 1996, Johnny, along with the lead vocalist Joey Ramone, were the only two original members who stayed since its inception.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Ramone</span> Hungarian-American drummer (1949–2014)

Thomas Erdelyi, known professionally as Tommy Ramone, was a Hungarian-American musician. He was the drummer for the influential punk rock band the Ramones from its debut in 1974 to 1978, later serving as its producer, and was the longest-surviving original member of the Ramones.

<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>Leave Home</i> 1977 studio album by the Ramones

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.

<i>Halfway to Sanity</i> 1987 studio album by the Ramones

Halfway to Sanity is the 10th studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, and their last album to feature drummer Richie Ramone. It was produced by Daniel Rey and released on September 15, 1987, by Sire Records. Recording sessions began that April at Intergalactic Studios in New York City, with the band recording instruments before vocals in order to learn songs more quickly. It fared well on charts outside the United States, but peaked at No. 172 on the Billboard 200.

<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.

<i>Brain Drain</i> (album) 1989 studio album by the Ramones

Brain Drain is the eleventh studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on May 23, 1989. It is the last Ramones release to feature bassist/songwriter/vocalist Dee Dee Ramone, the first to feature Marky Ramone since his initial firing from the band after 1983's Subterranean Jungle and the band's last studio album on Sire Records. It ends with their unlikely seasonal song "Merry Christmas ".

<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>Adios Amigos</i> (Ramones album) 1995 studio album by the Ramones

¡Adios Amigos! is the fourteenth and final studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones. It was released on July 18, 1995, through Radioactive Records. The Ramones disbanded a year after its release and subsequent tour.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock 'n' Roll High School (song)</span> 1979 single by the Ramones

"Rock 'n' Roll High School" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, from the soundtrack album Rock 'n' Roll High School. The single did not chart in the U.S. but peaked at number 67 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Durango 95" is a short instrumental by the punk rock band The Ramones. It is the fourth track on their eighth studio album Too Tough to Die. The song is a cultural reference to the car driven by Malcolm McDowell's character in the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange. The cover of the Too Tough to Die LP recalled a scene in the film. The track is also the only instrumental piece that the band ever recorded.

<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, the Ramones are often cited as the first true punk band. Though achieving little commercial success, the band is seen today as highly influential in punk culture.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 True 2005, p. 196.
  2. ↑ True 2005, p. 190.
  3. ↑ Rombes 2005, p. 69.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Loder, Kurt. "Too Tough To Die | Album Reviews | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  5. ↑ Leigh 2009, p. 228.
  6. ↑ Bowe 2010, p. 71.
  7. 1 2 Leigh 2009, p. 244.
  8. ↑ Bowe 2010, p. 69.
  9. ↑ Melnick & Meyer 2007, p. 195.
  10. 1 2 3 Too Tough to Die (expanded) (Compact Disc). Ramones. Rhino Records. 2002. 8122-78158-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Melnick & Meyer 2007, p. 210.
  12. 1 2 3 True 2005, p. 195.
  13. ↑ Bozzola, Lucia. "A Clockwork Orange - All Movie Guide". AllMovie . All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-06-19. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  14. ↑ "Webpage of George DuBose". George-dubose.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  15. 1 2 3 Schinder & Schwartz 2007, p. 555.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Too Tough to Die – Ramones | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  17. ↑ Ramone 2012, ch. 10.
  18. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1976-05-14). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . New York. Archived from the original on 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ "The Ramones US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  21. ↑ "swedishcharts.com - Discography Ramones". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  22. ↑ "RAMONES | Artist | Official Charts". Officialcharts.com. UK Albums Chart. Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  23. ↑ "The Ramones – Howling at the Moon/Chasing the Night: чартов". Music Ency. Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  24. ↑ New Sensations: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1984 | Guitar World
  25. ↑ "Ed Stasium, Session Musician, Producer Etc." ramonesheaven.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  26. 1 2 Wurster, Jon (2022). "JON WURSTER TALKS WITH ENGINEER/PRODUCER ED STASIUM, ON THE OCCASION OF THE RSD 2022 RELEASE OF THE RAMONES' THE SIRE ALBUMS 1981-1989". recordstoreday.com. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  27. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  28. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Ramones – Too Tough to Die". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  29. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  30. ↑ "Ramones Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.