While not a huge commercial success, The Ramones' – from Forest Hills, Queens, NY - self-titled debut on Sire records established the basis for how they would keep it fast and simple - 14 songs, 29 minutes total running time, and containing cuts that represented their views on love, life, and a lot of things they didn’t want to do. It was recorded in less than 3 weeks.
Featuring soon-to-be Ramones classics such as “Judy Is A Punk”, “Beat on the Brat”, “Blitzkrieg Pop” and a tune about something that Dee Dee Ramone really did want to do – “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue” – the record served to introduce the record-buying public (first, overseas, and then in the U.S.) with the band’s punk rock stylings and some of the energy that fans of their concerts at NYC’s CBGB’s club already knew about and loved. They found legions of fans in London, inspiring many new punk bands in the UK, and when they returned to the U.S., they were the punk band to beat (on the brat).
From 1974 thru their break-up in 1996, the Ramones toured almost continuously, and while their records were never huge sellers (with only one going gold), their shows were legendary, their influence undoubted, and so when Rolling Stone created their list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", The Ramones debut album came in at #33.
They entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, although singer Joey had died the previous year (and with Dee Dee and Johnny then both passing away in 2002 and 2004, respectively). Crummy stuff.
