'Ain't It Fun - Dee Dee Ramone

Advantages: It is The Ramones
Disadvantages: One Song with Ghastly Production

...As album titles go it is a pity that this one is not true, "Too Tough To Die" is often described as being the Ramones heavy metal album, I spit on such sentiment. True the sound is a lot beefier but in no way can this album be called a heavy metal album. This was their eighth studio album marking their ten year anniversary in 1984, the line up was Johnny (Guitar), Joey (Vocals), Dee Dee (Bass) and Ritchie (Drums). The album was produced by T. Erelyi (also know as Tommy Ramone the bands original drummer) and Ed Stasium. They were all happy having these two men at the helm producing the album as they both knew what the band should sound like. The album kicks off with Dee Dee counting us into "Mama's Boy" and we can see where the heavy metal tag comes from but this is misconceived driven by a sixties type surf garage riff. Dee Dee's "I... Read review

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Advantages: IT IS JOEY RAMONE, DUDE
Disadvantages: Why did he not take Robbie Williams Instead

...I approached this album with some trepidation, knowing that a Romone's solo album could be a hazardous purchase, especially given the varying quality of Dee Dee's solo output which has made me avoid Markys post Romones solo work for no real good reason. The other thing was that this was released posthumously so I did not want it to spoil my memories of Joey. Ok Joey was the Ramone with the pop sensibilities a lanky geek with a great voice and possibly more deserving of the title as the Paul McCartney of the Ramones, a title that was often laid on Dee Dee. Joeys songs were always a lot more pop orientated that Dee Dee's and the lyrical content of Dee Dee's songs was always nastier, probably due to the nature of being Dee Dee Ramone more than anything else. Enough of this critique of the differences between Joey and Dee Dee Ramone... Read review

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Advantages: Some great Tunes
Disadvantages: production has caused it to age

...Joey's, but still very powerful and unique, which adds something to these songs. This was the first Ramones album after Bass player and main songwriter Dee Dee Ramone's departure, despite this there are still 3 of his songs on the album. The best of which being the very poingnat Poison Heart a semi autobiographical song which has become even more so after his death from a Heroin overdose in 2000. In fact according to Dee Dee's autobiography (Poison Heart - Surviving the Ramones) he origonally wrote this song for the late Johnny Thunders and he could not listen to the demo of it that he recorded with him. Whilst this Album is nowhere near as good as the classic first 4 Ramones albums, it would be a good starting point for anyone who has never heard them before.... Read review

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