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Adam 12

Released on September 22, 1978.

Ramones Road to Ruin was released on September 22, 1978. And there’s much more to it than “I Wanna Be Sedated.”

 

As I’m writing this, I’m reflecting on the album on it’s 45th anniversary. Road to Ruin is exactly 18 months older than I am. And, for a time, the Ramones were my favorite band in the whole wide world. So there’s layers of connective tissue here. I’ve written a ton about them in my time here at ROCK 92.9, too. Specifically, how I was able to get into their final Boston show on Valentine’s Day, 1996. Even though I was underage.

 

Like many Ramones fans–and many punk fans–I love the early stuff. Their self-titled debut is arguably punk rock’s Nevermind. And even though it’s a controversial take, I love 1981’s Phil Spector-produced End of the Century. Yeah, the band hated working with him. He pulled a gun on them, after all. But Spector’s wall-of-sound on a Ramones album is such a wildly satisfying listen.

 

Ramones ‘Road to Ruin’ Deserves a Revisit

As I referenced above, Road to Ruin is best known for one of the band’s best-known songs: “I Wanna Be Sedated.” A great song. A punk rock standard. I’m still playing it on ROCK 92.9 45+ years on. But peel back that layer of the onion and you’ll find an album full of great songs. That’s due in part to new-at-the-time drummer Mary Ramone who, as I see it, was an upgrade from founding drummer Tommy.

 

Marky had the same straightforward punk style as Tommy, but he added some jazz-inspired technical flourishes that really elevated the band’s game four albums in. See if you can pick out some of that in the short list of songs I’ve shared below. Maybe it will inspire you to throw on the full album and give it another spin through. It’s only a half-hour long, after all. Damn, I love punk rock.

  • "Don't Come Close"

    Wait, a Ramones ballad? I guess, by punk rock standards at least. Road to Ruin saw the band experiment with ballads, acoustic guitars, and guitar solos.

    Ramones - Don't Come Close (Official Music Video)
  • "Needles and Pins"

    The band was always well-know for paying homage to their ’50s and ’60s rock influences with cover songs. Their take on “Needles and Pins” is certainly a top cut.

    Needles and Pins (2018 Remaster)
  • "I Wanna Be Sedated"

    Wild to think this was the THIRD single off the album, released officially just a day prior to the album’s actual release. How do you not lead with this one?

    Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated (Official Music Video)
  • "She's the One"

    Make no mistake: the album had plenty of straightforward, Ramones-flavored punk. The fourth, UK-only single is a prime example.

    Ramones - She's The One (Official Music Video)
  • "Bad Brain"

    Ever heard of that D.C. hardcore band Bad Brains? Yeah, they got their name from this Ramones song.

    Bad Brain (2018 Remaster)