50 Years Ago: The Ramones Released their Debut Album
Today in 1976, punk rock was (arguably) invented
Does it still sound punk to you?
The official historical record is clear on this matter. By the mid-’70s, rock music had become bloated and over-produced. That’s when four leather-clad goons lined up outside CBGB’s to set rock music back on course. The Ramones self-titled album, which dropped 50 years ago today, invented a whole new genre.
That’s the authoritative story of punk. But when you listen to those songs today, how rebellious do the Ramones sound? I personally hear a lot of bubblegum pop. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” is awash in early Beach Boys harmonies. “Judy Is a Punk” could fit on the Happy Days jukebox. And most of all, there is a lot of Phil Spector. (He would later produce their fifth record and pull a gun on them.) For something so new, the songwriting sure feels like a step back to the 1950s.
The main innovation of the album seems to be velocity. The band crammed 14 tracks into a little over half an hour. No patience, no contemplation.
I’m not here to rewrite history, but it makes me wonder: Was the first punk record really just sped-up doo-wop?
MORE ANNIVERSARIES
10 Years Ago Today: Beyonce surprise-released Lemonade, a concept album with an accompanying HBO movie.
55 Years Ago Today: With cover art conceived by Andy Warhol, the Rolling Stones released Sticky Fingers (1971), containing the singles “Wild Horses” and “Brown Sugar.”
70 Years Ago Today: In 1956, Elvis made his first Las Vegas residency debut at the New Frontier. It bombed so badly that it was cancelled after one week. But when he returned 13 years later, in 1969, this time at the Westgate, Elvis became one of the biggest attractions in the city’s history.
95 Years Ago Today: James Cagney delivered his career-defining performance in the premiere of The Public Enemy. It is most remembered for the grapefruit to the face scene.
410 Years Ago Today: Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare both died on this day in 1616. Weird! (Salman Rushdie wrote about the quadricentennial 10 years ago.)