Pleasant Dreams
Encyclopedia
Pleasant Dreams is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock
band the Ramones
. It was released on July 20, 1981 through Sire Records
. Pleasant Dreams reached #58 on the US Billboard album charts. It was frowned upon by guitarist Johnny Ramone
because to him it sounded "too slick" and is generally viewed as part of the Ramones' pop experimentation. The album's lyrics also closely follow the fallout between Joey Ramone
and Johnny Ramone
due to Johnny "stealing" Joey's girl.
The cover art of Pleasant Dreams was the first Ramones album cover to not feature an image of the band. Pleasant Dreams is also Ramones' first album to not feature any cover song. Songwriting is credited entirely either to vocalist Joey Ramone or bassist Dee Dee Ramone, as such, this is the only album not to feature an "outside" songwriter.
The album was certified gold in Argentina in 1993 (sales over 30.000 copies). The album was re-released by Rhino Records on August 20, 2002. The re-issue CD booklet included original album cover concept art which incorporated a photograph of the band. The reason this concept was discarded in favor of the final cover art is unknown.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
. It was released on July 20, 1981 through Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
. Pleasant Dreams reached #58 on the US Billboard album charts. It was frowned upon by guitarist Johnny Ramone
Johnny Ramone
John William Cummings , better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones. He was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career...
because to him it sounded "too slick" and is generally viewed as part of the Ramones' pop experimentation. The album's lyrics also closely follow the fallout between Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
and Johnny Ramone
Johnny Ramone
John William Cummings , better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones. He was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career...
due to Johnny "stealing" Joey's girl.
The cover art of Pleasant Dreams was the first Ramones album cover to not feature an image of the band. Pleasant Dreams is also Ramones' first album to not feature any cover song. Songwriting is credited entirely either to vocalist Joey Ramone or bassist Dee Dee Ramone, as such, this is the only album not to feature an "outside" songwriter.
The album was certified gold in Argentina in 1993 (sales over 30.000 copies). The album was re-released by Rhino Records on August 20, 2002. The re-issue CD booklet included original album cover concept art which incorporated a photograph of the band. The reason this concept was discarded in favor of the final cover art is unknown.
Track listing
- "We Want the Airwaves" (Joey RamoneJoey RamoneJoey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
) – 3:22 - "All's Quiet on the Eastern Front" (Dee Dee RamoneDee Dee RamoneDee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
) – 2:14 - "The KKK Took My Baby AwayThe KKK Took My Baby Away"The KKK Took My Baby Away" is a song written by Joey Ramone. It appears on the Ramones' 1981 album Pleasant Dreams.It has been speculated that Joey wrote the song as a reference to Johnny Ramone "stealing" away his girlfriend Linda, though Joey's brother Mickey Leigh has said that the song was...
" (Joey Ramone) – 2:32 - "Don't Go" (Joey Ramone) – 2:48
- "You Sound Like You're Sick" (Dee Dee Ramone) – 2:42
- "It's Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World)" (Joey Ramone) – 3:24
- "She's a Sensation" (Joey Ramone) – 3:29
- "7-11" (Joey Ramone) – 3:38
- "You Didn't Mean Anything to Me" (Dee Dee Ramone) – 3:00
- "Come On Now" (Dee Dee Ramone) – 2:33
- "This Business Is Killing Me" (Joey Ramone) – 2:41
- "Sitting in My Room" (Dee Dee Ramone) – 2:30
2002 Expanded Edition CD (Warner Archives/Rhino) bonus tracks
- "Touring" (1981 version) (Joey Ramone) – 2:49
- "I Can't Get You Out of My Mind" (Ramones) – 3:24
- "Chop Suey" (Alternate Version) (Joey Ramone) – 3:32
- "Sleeping Troubles" (Demo) (Ramones) – 2:07
- "Kicks to Try" (Demo) (Ramones) – 2:09
- "I'm Not an Answer" (Demo) (Ramones) – 2:55
- "Stares in This Town" (Demo) (Ramones) – 2:26
Personnel
- Joey RamoneJoey RamoneJoey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
– lead vocals - Johnny RamoneJohnny RamoneJohn William Cummings , better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones. He was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career...
– guitar - Dee Dee RamoneDee Dee RamoneDee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
– bass, backing vocals - Marky RamoneMarky RamoneMarky Ramone is an American musician. He is best known for being the drummer for the Ramones, but has also played in other notable bands like Dust, Wayne County and the Backstreet Boys, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, and the Misfits.Although he is not the original drummer , Marky is the only living...
– drums
Additional musicians
- Dick Emerson – keyboards
- Dave Hassel – percussion
- Graham GouldmanGraham GouldmanGraham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
- backing vocals - Russell MaelRussell MaelRussell Mael is an American singer and songwriter who, with his older brother Ron, is in the band Sparks....
- backing vocals - Ian Wilson - backing vocals
- Deborah Harry - backing vocals
- Kate PiersonKate PiersonCatherine Elizabeth "Kate" Pierson is an American vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's. One of the multi-instrumentalists in the band, Pierson played guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments...
- backing vocals - Cindy WilsonCindy WilsonCynthia Leigh Wilson is a vocalist and a founding member of new wave rock band The B-52s.- Career :...
- backing vocals
Production
- Michael Somoroff – photos
- Sire Records – label
- Graham GouldmanGraham GouldmanGraham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
– producer - Guy JukeGuy JukeGuy Juke , aka De White, has been an Austin, Texas based graphic artist and musician since moving there in 1973 from nearby San Angelo, Texas. He started his career by writing and illustrating underground comics...
– uncredited cover art