April 23, 1976. Ramones release their self-titled debut and, for the most part, invent punk rock as we now know it. Let’s look back at this seminal album.
Adam 12
5 Fast Facts: Ramones 'Ramones' Turns 45
April 23, 1976. Ramones release their self-titled debut and, for the most part, invent punk rock as we now know it. Let’s look back at this seminal album.
1) "Blitzkrieg Bop" is the album's opening track and lead single. Despite the fact that it's now one of the band's best-known, most-loved songs--and an iconic song in the punk genre--it never made the charts upon release.
2) "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" was the follow-up single to "Blitzkrieg Bop." It also failed to chart. Early on in the Ramones' career, when they would play CBGB's, Talking Heads--another CBGB regular--would cover the song live.
3) Not Judy, but Roberta Bayley of Punk Magazine, took the photo for the album's cover. Sire Records only paid $125 for the iconic image, which has been imitated by countless bands over the years.
Upon being signed to a recording contract by Seymour Stein of Sire Records, the band entered the studio in January of 1976. It took them only 7 days and $6,400 to finish the album.
The album featured one cover song: "Let's Dance" by Chris Montez. This set the tone for future Ramones releases, which always featured covers of songs the band's members grew up listening to.