Ramones - Road To Ruin - Vinyl LP 1978

	£		16
	$		21

My albums are from a private collection collected over some 40 years. All have been played and loved and well looked after. All are in a good condition unless otherwise stated. 

My postage cost includes very stout plastic packaging to ensure that your record arrives in the condition sent.

 Sire Records SRK 6063 - Yellow Vinyl

Cover –Very good

Vinyl – Excellent

Road to Ruin is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band the Ramones, released on September 21, 1978, through Sire Records. It was the first Ramones album to feature new drummer Marky Ramone, who replaced founding member Tommy Ramone. Tommy left due to lack of album sales and stress while touring; however, he stayed with the band to produce the album with Ed Stasium. The artwork's concept was designed by Ramones fan Gus MacDonald, and later modified by John Holmstrom to include Marky instead of Tommy.

The songs on Road to Ruin were considered by both fans and critics as an attempt to get the band more airplay. The album incorporated musical elements which were unheard of in punk rock, such as guitar solos and ballads. The difference in style caused for mixed reviews by critics, with many pointing out that the band was trying to sell more records through a change in form. This attempt by the band failed, as Road to Ruin debuted at 103 on the Billboard 200, nearly 50 places behind its predecessor Rocket to Russia.

Conception

After the band's previous album Rocket to Russia saw poor album sales, drummer Tommy Ramone left his performing position to focus primarily on producing for the band. After Tommy suggested they search for a new drummer, they began looking in New York City based clubs. While at CBGB, Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone approached Marc Bell (Marky Ramone)—who had previously been the drummer in Richard Hell and the Voidoids—asking him if he was interested in joining the Ramones. A month after this confrontation, Bell was invited by Danny Fields and Monte Melnick to audition for the band. Around twenty others auditioned to be drummer, with Tommy overseeing the final choice. Bell played "I Don't Care" and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" and each member agreed to allow him into the band.[2]

Three weeks after Marky joined the band, the Ramones began recording Road to Ruin in Midtown Manhattan at Media Sound Studios, a premises of a former Episcopalian Church. Album engineer Ed Stasium explained the recording process: "After Tommy left the band, we went straight into working on the Road to Ruin album with Marky. We rehearsed a long time with Marky, just getting it down. Then we went into the studio, recorded, and mixed the record at Media Sound. We spent a lot of money, and the entire summer, on Road to Ruin." Music critic John Young of Rolling Stone called the album's production "clean and simple," but pointed out that the track "Bad Brain" contained "funny noises" in between drum beats, which prevents the song from having the humorous asperity that was intended.

The artwork's concept was originated by Ramones fan Gus MacDonald, who illustrated the members performing with a lobster claw coming out of an amplifier and a snake around their feet. Following the drawing's completion, MacDonald sent it to the band and they decided to make it their Road to Ruin album cover. This sketch did, however, include original drummer Tommy, so the drawing had to be modified to depict Marky instead. This alteration was undergone by artist John Holmstrom, a Punk magazine associate and designer.