Ramones ‎– End Of The Century

Its almost crazy to say you have a favorite Ramones album. There’s just so many great ones, and of course their release of the double album Ramones Alive as a response to Kiss Alive was just so genius at the time, its hard to say which record was even the most influential on punk rockers. They had such a long career doing what Ramones do, and having the most fun live shows of any punk band ever.

However, for me, “End Of The Century” holds a special place at the number one spot of Ramones records, and here’s why.

There are several cross-over moments on this record that I love, I’ll try to name them all. First off, it was the first time the Ramones went to their childhood idol producer Phil Spector to really get them that doo-wop sound they grew up on, and albeit we have heard the nightmarish stories of him holding them hostage at gunpoint like the crazy man he was, when you hear songs like “Baby I Love You”, you understand fully why they wanted him as a producer, even as he shaped their biggest hit from this record “Rock And Roll Radio.” This album also has “Rock And Roll High School” which led to the now-famous Ramones movie starring a young P.J. Soles. I hear Spector made Johnny strum the opening feedback guitar for this song over 100 times to get it right. Indeed, Phil Spector broke the Ramones into mainstream.

This is also the album where Dee-Dee co-wrote “Chinese Rock” with Richard Hell of Johnny Thunders’ Heartbreakers, and both bands released their own version at the same time on their own records. It is very difficult to decide which one is better, they are both so good and so similar. I’d say it’s a dead tie. There are also several appearances of Walter Lure (who replaced Richard Hell in the Heartbreakers) playing lead guitar on this album, which he was known to do with the Ramones as Johnny refused to play a single lick of lead guitar.

There is also an interesting moment in the middle of “Let’s Go” where the Ramones are clearly playing the intro to “Sonic Reducer” by the Dead Boys. I am not sure of the story on this, or if it was just a matter of subliminal stealing as both bands flourished in New York at this time. But its cool to hear nevertheless, they even use the flange effect. So I would guess the Ramones or Spector stole the riff from “Young Loud & Snotty.”


The production is great, the performance is perfect, the strife of the recording is captured, the artwork is simple and on point. Its my favorite Ramones record, damnit.

Worst sounding record I own by the Ramones or anyone else. Stay away from SCORPIO

how to find if its a promo copy and the value

some covers are prone to ring wear. This one is in particular seems to always get a case of ring wear. I am guessing it is a weakness in the printing process of the cover.

My UK copy, SRK 6077 has a weird half gloss/half matt front cover? Anybody else?..........

This is a good quality sounding pressing. Full sound and good bass.On 180 gram black vinyl.

The sound is awful on this reissue. I will have to wait for a next reissue with better sound quality.

This edition also comes with a fold-out black and white insert with lyrics and a photo.