Ramones is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band the
Ramones, released on April 23, 1976 by Sire Records. After Hit Parader
editor Lisa Robinson saw the band at a gig in New York City, she wrote
about them in an article and contacted Danny Fields, insisting he be
their manager. Fields agreed and convinced Craig Leon to produce
Ramones, and the band recorded a demo for prospective record labels.
Leon persuaded Sire president Seymour Stein to listen to the band
perform, and he later offered the band a recording contract. The Ramones
began recording in January 1976, needing only seven days and $6,400 to
record the album. They used similar sound-output techniques to those of
the Beatles, and used advanced production methods by Leon.
The album
cover, photographed by Punk magazine's Roberta Bayley, features the four
members leaning against a brick wall in New York City. The record
company paid only $125 for the front photo, which has since become one
of the most imitated album covers of all time. The back cover depicts an
eagle belt buckle along with the album's liner notes. After its
release, Ramones was promoted with two singles which failed to chart.
