release date: Nov. 4, 1977
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,42]
producer: Tony Bongiovi, Tommy Ramone
label: Sire Records - nationality: USA
Tracklist: 1. "Cretin Hop" (5 / 5) - 2. "Rockaway Beach" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" (4 / 5) - 4. "Locket Love" (4 / 5) - 5. "I Don't Care" (3,5 / 5) - 6. "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (5 / 5) - 7. "We're a Happy Family" (4 / 5) - 8. "Teenage Lobotomy" (4 / 5) - 9. "Do You Wanna Dance?" (org. video) (4,5 / 5) - 10. "I Wanna Be Well" (4 / 5) - 11. "I Can't Give You Anything" (3,5 / 5) - 12. "Ramona" (3,5 / 5) - 13. "Surfin' Bird" (4 / 5) - 14. "Why Is It Always This Way?" (3,5 / 5)
3rd studio album by Ramones follows 10 months after Leave Home. The band has kept the same producer-duo from the predecessor, which had a hard rock tone that sort of didn't pay justice to the band or its image, and luckily, the two producers have helped creating a much more fitting sound.
The album shows a matured band who has learned what works and what doesn't, and despite having the same producer duo as on Leave Home (Jan. 1977) this sounds much better. The compositions seem stronger but perhaps it's more the impression of a more diverse album with the usual fast 1-2-3-4 'bubblegum'-like tracks combined with fine distinctive hooks, slower compositions, and a band now flirting with surf rock inspiration that just add other ingredients. The album is the last to feature the original line-up as drummer Tommy Ramone (Thomas Erdelyi) left after the release to concentrate on mixing and producing music.
This is my all-time favourite Ramones album, and back when I heard it first around 1980, I played and shouted "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker na-a-a-a-ow!" at maximum volume so my parents must have asked themselves whatever happened to my ABBA albums.
[ allmusic.com, NME 5 / 5 stars ]
1977 Favourite releases: 1. Ramones Rocket to Russia - 2. The Clash The Clash - 3. The Jam In the City
