Brain Drain (album)

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Brain Drain
Studio album by
the Ramones
ReleasedMay 23, 1989
RecordedDecember 1988 – March 1989[1][2]
("Merry Christmas" recorded in 1987)
Studio
GenrePunk rock
Length35:02
LabelSire
Producer
Ramones chronology
Halfway to Sanity
(1987) 		Brain Drain
(1989) 		Mondo Bizarro
(1992)
Singles from Brain Drain
  1. "Pet Sematary"
    Released: June 1989
  2. "I Believe in Miracles"
    Released: November 1989 (German promo)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Robert ChristgauB[4]
Spin Alternative Record Guide2/10[5]

Brain Drain is the eleventh studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released on May 23, 1989.[3][6][7] It is the last Ramones release to feature bassist/songwriter/vocalist Dee Dee Ramone, the first to feature Marky Ramone since his initial firing from the band after 1983's Subterranean Jungle and the band's last studio album on Sire Records. It ends with their unlikely seasonal song "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)".

Background[edit]

In his 1998 autobiography, Dee Dee Ramone recalled: "It was tough recording the Brain Drain album because everyone took their shit out on me. I dreaded being around them. It drove me away—I didn't even end up playing on the album. Everybody in the band had problems; girlfriend problems, money problems, mental problems."[8]

Johnny Ramone expressed similarly unfavorable sentiments in his 2012 posthumous autobiography, Commando, calling it one of his least favorite albums. He elaborated, "Bill Laswell's production is too dense; he had me record the guitars on five or six tracks. So the album took too much time, and there were too many Joey songs on it, which always took more time". However, he added that the album "has a couple of bright spots, like 'I Believe in Miracles' and 'Punishment Fits the Crime.'" He awarded both the Brain Drain album and its follow-up, Mondo Bizarro, a "C" letter grade.[9]

For the first time on a Ramones album, drummer Marky Ramone participated in the songwriting, contributing lyrics to "All Screwed Up" and "Learn to Listen".[10]

Songs[edit]

"Palisades Park" is a cover song, originally recorded by Freddy Cannon in 1962.

"Pet Sematary" was written for the Stephen King movie adaptation of the same name and was issued as a single, becoming one of the Ramones' biggest radio hits and a staple of their concerts during the 1990s.[11] Two versions exist of the song: the original recording produced by Jean Beuvoir and Daniel Ray, which ended up on the album (and on most pressings of the single), and the 'Bill Laswell version', a completely different take. The Laswell version was released as a UK single in September 1989.[12]

"Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" was originally released in November 1987 as the B-side of the single "I Wanna Live".[13][14] It was later included in the 2004 film Christmas with the Kranks.[15]

"Can't Get You Outta My Mind" dates back to the early 1980s, where it was first recorded during sessions for the Ramones' 1981 album Pleasant Dreams. That version remained unreleased until it featured as a bonus track on the 2002 reissue of Pleasant Dreams.[16]

Reception[edit]

Brain Drain was originally intended to be a "comeback" album for the Ramones, following the belated success of "I Wanna Be Sedated";[17][18] however, despite some good reviews, the album failed to live up to commercial expectations, peaking at number 122 on the Billboard 200 chart.[19] Nonetheless, the album's first single, "Pet Sematary", became the band's highest-charting hit in the US, peaking at number four on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[20] Dee Dee appears as the bassist in both of the music videos for "Pet Sematary", while the videos for "I Believe In Miracles" and "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" feature his replacement, C.J. Ramone.

Robert Christgau stated: "Laswellization neither saves their souls for rock and roll nor turns them into a metal band. First side's basically Dee Dee, period-hopping from the pleasantly dreamy 'I Believe in Miracles' to the East Coast surf cover 'Palisades Park.' Second side's basically Joey, pushing the envelope on 'Ignorance Is Bliss,' going flat on 'Come Back, Baby.' For professionalism, not bad."[4]

Cover versions[edit]

"I Believe in Miracles" was covered by Eddie Vedder and Zeke for the 2003 album We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones and is frequently covered by Pearl Jam at their shows.

"Pet Sematary" was performed live by German industrial metal band Rammstein (in conjunction with Clawfinger) and was released as a B-side to their single "Ich will" in 2001. Rammstein was joined onstage by Marky Ramone, C.J. Ramone and Jerry Only of the Misfits when performing the song in New York as a tribute to Joey Ramone, who had died three months prior. The song was later covered by psychobilly band the Creepshow as a bonus track for their second album, Run For Your Life, in 2008. It was also performed by the Plain White T's for the 2012 film Frankenweenie (Unleashed). The end credits of the 2019 version of the film Pet Sematary include a cover version of the title track by the American punk rock band Starcrawler. English rock band Creeper made an acoustic version of the song for their 2021 EP "Sounds from the Void".

"Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" was covered by Joey Ramone on his second posthumous album, ...Ya Know?, and by artists such as Smash Mouth (2005), the Smithereens (2007), Cheap Trick (2017), Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul (2017),[21] Mattiel (2019), L.A. Guns (2019), and Lucinda Williams (2020).[22]

Track listing[edit]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Believe in Miracles"Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey3:19
2."Zero Zero UFO"D. Ramone, Rey2:25
3."Don't Bust My Chops"D. Ramone, Joey Ramone, Rey2:28
4."Punishment Fits the Crime"D. Ramone, Richie Stotts3:05
5."All Screwed Up"Joey Ramone, Andy Shernoff, Marky Ramone, Rey3:59
6."Palisades Park"Charles Barris2:22
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Pet Sematary"D. Ramone, Rey3:30
8."Learn to Listen"D. Ramone, Johnny Ramone, M. Ramone, Rey1:50
9."Can't Get You Outta My Mind"Joey Ramone3:21
10."Ignorance Is Bliss"Joey Ramone, Shernoff2:38
11."Come Back, Baby"Joey Ramone4:01
12."Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)"Joey Ramone2:04
Captain Oi! reissue CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Pet Sematary" (Bill Laswell version)D. Ramone, Rey3:35

Personnel[edit]

Adapted from the album liner notes, except where noted.[23]

Ramones

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Bill Laswell – producer (except tracks 7, 12)
  • Jean Beauvoir – producer (tracks 7, 12)
  • Daniel Rey – producer (tracks 7, 12), musical coordinator
  • Robert Musso – engineer, mixing
  • Martin Bisi – engineer
  • Fernando Kral – engineer (track 7)[1]
  • Don Peterkofsky – engineer (track 12)[27]
  • Judy Kirschner – assistant engineer
  • Robbie Norris – assistant engineer
  • Tony Maserati – assistant engineer (track 12)[27]
  • Jason Corsaro – mixing
  • Oz Fritz – assistant mixing engineer
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Gary "Mudbone" Cooper – production assistant
  • Nicky Skopelitis – production assistant
  • Rachel McBeth – production assistant
  • Kim White – production assistant
  • Mark Sidgwick – production assistant
  • Matt Mahurin – front cover painting
  • Bill Fishman – inside photography
  • Rick Springer – Brain Drain logo
  • George DuBose – cover design and coordination

Charts[edit]

Audio

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Credited, but did likely not record bass. Daniel Rey has stated that "Dee Dee was kinda zonked during the record because I think it took a lot out of him to write it and do the rehearsals. Maybe he played on one or two (songs)."[17]
  2. ^ Andy Shernoff performed bass on at least "All Screwed Up" and "Ignorance Is Bliss". In Monte Melnick's book On the Road with the Ramones, Shernoff was quoted saying, "I played bass on the songs I wrote with Joey."[24]
  3. ^ Jean Beauvoir performed additional guitar on at least "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)".[25]
  4. ^ Jean Beauvoir performed bass on at least "Pet Sematary".[1]
  5. ^ Jean Beauvoir performed keyboards on at least "Pet Sematary".[26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Buskin, Richard (March 2008). "The Ramones 'Pet Sematary' - Classic Tracks". Sound on Sound. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Porter, Dick Dee (2004). Ramones - The Complete Twisted History. Plexus Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 0-85965-326-9.
  3. ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Brain Drain - Ramones". AllMusic.
  4. ^ a b "Robert Christgau review".
  5. ^ Sheffield, Rob (1995). "Ramones". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 320–22. ISBN 978-0-679-75574-6.
  6. ^ "Happy Anniversary: Ramones, Brain Drain". Rhino. May 23, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Sullivan, Jim (September 18, 2020). "Dee Dee Ramone's Rap 'N' Roll". Rock and Roll Globe. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. ^ Ramone, Dee Dee (2009). Poison Heart: Surviving the Ramones. Helter Skelter Publishing. pp. 156–157. ISBN 978-1-905139-18-7.
  9. ^ Ramone, Johnny (2012). Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone. Abrams Image. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-8109-9660-1.
  10. ^ Ramone, Marky; Herschlag, Rich (2015). Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone. Touchstone. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-4516-8775-0.
  11. ^ "MattFini's Halloween Top 10 Lists: Most Memorable End Credit Songs". June 2012.
  12. ^ "Pet Sematary – without Dee Dee..." Ramones On Vinyl!. March 16, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Hann, Michael (December 20, 2011). "Old music: Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)". The Guardian. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "Single Stories: Ramones, MERRY CHRISTMAS (I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT TONIGHT)". Rhino. December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  15. ^ Christmas with the Kranks: Music from the Motion Picture - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-01-27
  16. ^ True, Everett (2005). Hey Ho Let's Go: The Story of the Ramones. Omnibus Press. p. 100. ISBN 9781844494132.
  17. ^ a b c d "The Ramones' Brain Drain: The Untold Story". joelgausten.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  18. ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Ramones Albums". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  19. ^ "The Ramones". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  20. ^ "Ramones Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  21. ^ "Little Steven and Disciples of Soul release holiday single, 'Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)'". 15 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  23. ^ Brain Drain (Booklet). Ramones. Captain Oi!. 2004. AHOY CD 244.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ Melnick, Monte A.; Meyer, Frank (2003). On the Road with the Ramones. Sanctuary Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 1-86074-514-8.
  25. ^ "'80s Christmas Tunes: Ramones, "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)"". Totally 80s. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  26. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (March 29, 2019). "The Ramones' "Pet Sematary": An Oral History". Tidal. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  27. ^ a b I Wanna Live (Liner notes). Ramones. Beggars Banquet. 1987. BEG 201.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ramones – Brain Drain" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  30. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Ramones – Brain Drain". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  32. ^ "Ramones Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  33. ^ "The Ramones - Chart history: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
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