Ramones’ “Leave Home” Turns 40

by Raul

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Leave Home, the Ramones’ follow up to their classic debut album.

On January 10, 1977 the Ramones avoided the sophomore jinx with the release of the album that had a higher production value, but with the same upbeat three chord magic that made their eponymous debut a groundbreaking classic. The title of Leave Home is a reference to the band leaving New York to tour the world.

The front cover was designed by the same artist who worked with the Rolling Stones on Black and Blue and the back art was the first appearance of the now iconic Ramones logo.

There were three singles from Leave Home: “I Remember You,” “Swallow My Pride,” and “Carbona Not Glue.” The last was pulled from the album after it was released due to a trademark on Carbona, a popular stain removal product at the time. It was replaced in the UK with “Babysitter” and in the U.S. with “Sheena is a Punk Rocker,” which is also on Rocket To Russia. The 2001 expanded edition contains all three songs.

Leave Home sounds just as good now as it did 40 years ago. If that’s not proof that you can’t kill rock n roll, I don’t know what is!!