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Ramones Debut Record FINALLY Goes Gold in the US

If you’re making a list of the most influential bands of all time, the Ramones have to be somewhere in the Top 5.  Incredibly, though, they never sold a lot of records during their 22 years together.  The band was kept alive by touring, merch sales and the occasional licensing deal.  Their best-selling record? Ramones Mania, a greatest hit collection which managed to break the the 500,000 mark in the US.  That’s their only gold record.

Well, it was their only gold record.The Recording Industry Association of America, the lawsuit-happy organization that’s also in charge of giving out sales awards, has finally declared that the Ramones’ 1976 self-titled debut album has gone gold–38 years after its release on April 23, 1976   According to Uncut, that certification came on April 30–but no one seemed to notice.

Either way, about bloody time.

Thanks to Tom for the link.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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2 thoughts on “Ramones Debut Record FINALLY Goes Gold in the US

  • Gabba Hey,
    , in South America Ramones has also got gold records, and when everyone was still alive.

    Jari-Pekka
    http://ramones.kauhajoki.fi

    Reply
  • There’s the myth of punk rock and then there’s reality. Having lived through that era, I’m always amazed by the degree to which my generation “re-imagines” their relationship with punk. At the time, punk was pretty fringe. Lot’s of people experimented, but few really WERE punks. I was a complete dabbler, between 1976 and 1979 I discovered albums by the Clash, Elvis Costello, The Police, Talking Heads, The Sex Pistols and the Cars but I also bought albums by Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Van Halen, Kiss, Fleetwood Mac and Boston… I didn’t buy my first Ramones album until End of the Century. People tend to exaggerate their punk credibility because it makes them look cool, it’s just like wearing a Harley Davidson t-shirt. My view is that Ramones have always been far more far more important for what they represent, than their actual music. If you say you like the Ramones (or the Clash) it will get you respect from virtually everyone. A lot of this is just faux projections of how much people view themselves as rebels.

    Reply

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