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Ramones is the eponymously titled debut studio album by the American punk rock band the Ramones. It was released on April 23, 1976 through Sire Records. After Craig Leon agreed to produce the album, the band recorded a demo to promote their sound to prospective record labels. After much encouragement, Sire president Seymour Stein offered the band a recording contract and the Ramones began recording in February 1976. The band needed only seven days and $6,400 to record Ramones, using similar sound output techniques that The Beatles used. The album cover was photographed by Punk magazine's Roberta Bayley and featured the four members leaning against a brick wall in north side New York City. After its release, Ramones was promoted with two singles and several tour dates.

Lyrical themes of the album center Nazism, violence, male prostitution and drug use. It opens with the Hit song "Blitzkrieg Bop" which has been featured in several different commercials. The majority of the album's tracks feature a notably rapid tempo, with many songs being well over 160 beats per minute. The album's most sustained song is "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement" at twp minutes and thirty-five seconds. Ramones also contains a cover of the Chris Montez song "Let's Dance."

Despite peaking at 111 on the US Billboard 200, the album has been very well received by critics. It was rewarded several five star reviews, with many critics commenting on the album's establishment of the punk rock genre. Ramones has recieved many accolades as well, earning the top spot on Spin magazine's list of The 50 Most Essential Punk Records. It also went on to serve as an inspiration to many bands like the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, The Clash, and Green Day. Aside from sparking the punk rock scene in both the US and UK, Ramones has had significant impact on many other branches of rock and roll like grunge and heavy metal.

Cover versions

Each song on Ramones has been covered by various bands. In 1991, German punk band Die Toten Hosen played "Blitzkrieg Bop" on their cover album Learning English, Lesson One. A tribute album entitled Gabba Gabba Hey: A Tribute to the Ramones was released on August 30, 1991, contained the songs: "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue," "53rd & 3rd," "I Do not Wanna Go Down To The Basement," "Loudmouth," and "Beat on the Brat." Screeching Weasel released Ramones (1992), which consisted of the band performing the entire album track list. 1998's Blitzkrieg Over You!: A Tribute to the Ramones featured a cover "Judy Is A Punk" in German, and in 2000, both "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Beat on the Brat" were in Dee Dee's solo release entitled Greatest & Latest. The compilation album Ramones Maniacs included Youth Gone Mad's version of “Blitzkrieg Bop” and Yogurt's version of "Beat On The Brat". "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Havana Affair," "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," and "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" were all covered on The Song Ramones the Same. We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones (2003) had several of the album's songs covered by bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Havana Affair"), Rob Zombie ("Blitzkrieg Bop"), Metallica ("53rd & 3rd"), U2 ("Beat on the Brat"), Pete Yorn ("I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"), and John Frusciante ("Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World"). In 2006, "Blitzkrieg Bop"'s composition was fashioned into a children's version of the song on the album Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids.

The Ramones began playing gigs in mid 1974, with their first show at Performance Studios in New York City. Having a style similar to the songs they would release on their debut album, they typically performed at clubs in downtown Manhatten, specifically CBGB and Max's Kansas City.