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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. Blitzkrieg Bop…

Ramones debut album

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.

Blitzkrieg Bop

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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.


I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

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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.


Judy Is A Punk

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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.


53rd & 3rd

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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.


Let's Dance

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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.

adam12Writer
Adam 12 is the Program Director of Boston's ROCK 92.9, heard weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. He's been flexing his encyclopedic rock knowledge in New England for over 2 decades, both on-air and online, at WBCN, WFNX, Boston.com, and indie617. At ROCK 92.9, he keeps you in the know on the big stories from the Boston music scene and writes about great places to eat, drink (beer), and to spend time outdoors in and around Boston.