Forty-eight years ago, the world was introduced to Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy Ramone when The Ramones released their self-titled debut album. We all know how the iconic record influenced music, but here are 20 things you might not know about it:
1. The album was created in seven days in February 1976 for just $6,400. The instruments were recorded in three days and the vocals in four.
2. To record the album, the band used microphone placement techniques similar to the ones orchestras used.
3. Though it isnât mentioned in the liner notes, Joey Ramoneâs brother, Mickey Leigh, added backing vocals to the album. He requested to not be listed because he didnât want people to get confused over who was in the band.
4. The iconic album cover of the four band members against a brick wall was taken by Punk magazineâs Roberta Bayley. The record company paid $125 for the shot.
5. Before Bayleyâs shot, the band had paid another photographer $2000 for pictures similar to the cover of The Beatlesâ Meet the Beatles! They were very disappointed with the outcome of that shoot.
6. The brick wall on the album cover was part of a private community garden between Bowery Street and Second Street in New York City.
7. The album had two singles: âBlitzkrieg Bopâ and âI Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.â
8. âBlitzkrieg Bopâ was originally titled âAnimal Hopâ and was about kids going to a show and having a good time. DeeDeeRamonechanged the lyrics to be more Nazi-related.
9. Joey wrote âBeat on the Bratâ about spoiled, bratty neighborhood kids in the area of Queens where he lived. He explained that the kids were so annoying they were the kind youâd want to beat on with a bat.
10. The track âJudy is a Punkâ is the shortest song on the album clocking in at just one minute and 39 seconds.
11. Tommy Ramone wrote âI Wanna Be Your Boyfriendâ as an homage to love songs from the 1960s.
12. âChain Sawâ was influenced by the 1974 horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and even uses the sound of a running circular saw to open the track.
13. The track âI Donât Wanna Go Down to the Basementâ was also inspired by a horror movie. The minimalist tune is the same three lines of lyrics repeated, but itâs the longest song on the record at two minutes and 35 seconds.
14. Dee Dee has said that the song âNow I Want To Sniff Some Glueâ is not autobiographical, noting that he stopping sniffing glue at age eight.
15. Dee Dee wrote â53rd and 3rdâ about a male prostitute who kills a customer to show he isnât a homosexual. Dee Dee has said the song is autobiographical and Johnny previously stated that the track is about Dee Dee turning tricks.
16. The bandâs cover of Chris Montezâs âLetâs Danceâ features producer CraigLeon playing the Wurlitzer pipe organ at Radio City Musical Hall.
17. âI Donât Want to Walk Around with Youâ was one of the first songs the band wrote together and is the first track on their first demo tape. It was originally called âI Donât Want to Get Involved with You.â
18. The original lyrics of âToday Your Love, Tomorrow the World,â a song that refers to a Hitler Youth member, were âIâm a Nazi, baby, Iâm a Nazi, yes I am. Iâm a Nazi Schatze, yâknow I fight for the Fatherland.â Sire Records founder Seymour Stein felt they were offensive so the band change them to âIâm a shock trooper in a stupor, yes I am. Iâm a Nazi Schatze, yâknow I fight for the Fatherland.â
19. In 2001, Spin magazine put the record at the top of their list of The 50 Most Essential Punk Records.
20. Upon release, the album was not commercially successful, peaking at 111 on the Billboard 200 and selling just 6,000 copies in its first year out. However, in 2014, it was certified gold for sales over 500,000 copies.