005 - 'Rocket to Russia' Side A Deep Dive

013 - 'Subterranean Jungle' Side A Deep Dive

Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast. This week, we explore the bizarre world of the Ramones' seventh studio album, Subterranean Jungle—a record that divides fans as much today as it did back in 1983. An unexpected pair of cover songs kick things off, and the production is notably more ‘experimental’ than anything the band had attempted to date, which begs the question: were the Ramones consciously evolving their sound... or simply fighting to survive as the musical landscape of the early '80s drifted further and further away from the proto-punk, glam, and bubblegum pop sounds that shaped them? Here, we pick apart the songs, the sound, the stories, and the circumstances that produced one of the most divisive records in the Ramones' back catalogue. From the undeniable punch of Psycho Therapy to the left-field cover songs, uneven songwriting, and alienating production decisions that continue to baffle and bemuse longtime fans, nothing escapes the microscope. Subterranean Jungle may never top anyone's list of favourite Ramones records—you'd be mad to call it their finest hour—but sometimes the most illuminating insights are found in the albums that refuse to fit neatly into the band’s wider discography. So grab your leather jacket, drop the needle on Side A, and join us as we venture down one of the Ramones' most intriguing and confusing musical rabbit holes. To stream our Side B Deep Dive and unlock the rest of our exclusive bonus content, head over to www.patreon.com/cjsays ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

012 - Nikki Corvette Interview

This week on CJ Says, we sit down with one of the true originals of American punk rock 'n' roll. Nikki Corvette is a singer, songwriter, and unapologetic rock and roller whose story begins—much like proto-punk pioneers The Stooges and MC5—in the Motor City of Detroit. Emerging from a scene that prized attitude and authenticity, Nikki quietly embodies both. Equal parts primitive punk rock and infectious girl-group pop, her music proves you don't need to scream and shout to be tough. Long before female voices were finally given the musical recognition they deserved during the '90s Riot Grrrl movement, Nikki was writing the kind of short, sharp, hooky songs the Ramones instinctively recognised as the beating heart of American rock 'n' roll, which is exactly why they embraced her as one of their own. In this conversation, we talk Detroit, the Ramones, songwriting, stepping away from music, and returning decades later with newfound purpose and perspective. More than a look back at Nikki's remarkable career, this is a celebration of persistence, individuality, and the artists who quietly shape musical history while everyone else is busy trying to define it. To stream the second half of this amazing interview and access the rest of our exclusive bonus content, head over to www.patreon.com/cjsays - Be sure to steam and support Nikki's music too, and follow her on social media for tour updates & more info! @nikkicorvette ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

011 - 'Pleasant Dreams' Side A Deep Dive

Hey kids! Welcome to Episode 011 of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast. This week, we drop the needle on the Ramones' sixth studio album, Pleasant Dreams, which might just be the most underrated record of their entire career. Before we begin, a huge thank you to everyone who’s already subscribed to the show over on Patreon. Your enthusiasm, support, and belief in this little corner of the Ramones universe continues to inspire us every single week. This podcast simply would not be gathering the momentum it has without you. So, thank you! As for Pleasant Dreams... it's an LP that’s spent decades living in the long shadow cast by the records that came before it. Too polished for some. Not punk enough for others. Yet hidden beneath surface of the album’s glossy production lies a collection of pop punk classics that still carry the unmistakable DNA of the Ramones. Come with us now as we dissect an album that deserves another listen, another conversation, and maybe—just maybe—a little reevaluation… What are your favourite moments from Pleasant Dreams? Which tracks hit the right marks for you? And for all those flipping the record with us over on www.patreon.com/cjsays, [https://www.patreon.com/cjsays,] does Side B continue the momentum set by Side A? More importantly, where does Pleasant Dreams sit alongside the Ramones albums we’ve explored so far? Let's drop the needle and find out!! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

010 - Bob Gruen Interview

There are photographers who take pictures, and there are those who capture culture itself in their images. Bob Gruen firmly falls into the latter group. In this week’s guest interview, we sit down with the legendary rock 'n’ roll documentarian whose images helped define the look and spirit of 1970s New York - and beyond. While other photographers exclusively chased stars, Bob Gruen was drawn to the raw energy of downtown Manhattan and the Lower East Side, where he documented all the artists busy reinventing rock 'n’ roll—including the Ramones!! What made Bob's work so special wasn't just the access that he gained to these punk rock pioneers; it was the moments that he captured. His relaxed, no-nonsense approach enabled him to portray these artists as they really were, in their natural habitat. In the process, he created images that feel less like portraits and more like moments forever suspended in time. So join us, Pinheads, as we explore Bob Gruen's remarkable story, his connection to the Ramones, and his lifelong belief that rock 'n' roll ain’t just about the music—it's about freedom, authenticity, and being truly present when something truly extraordinary happens… As always, thank you checking out the podcast. We really appreciate all the support. Head over to www.patreon.com/cjsays to unlock all of our exclusive bonus content. And visit here for more info on Bob Gruen, including photo prints & featured articles etc: https://www.bobgruen.com/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

009 - 'End of the Century' Side A Deep Dive

In Episode 009 of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast, we step into the strange and fascinating world of the Ramones’ fifth studio album, 'End of the Century' — an album forever suspended between the neon glow of pure pop ambition and the battered leather jacket of punk rock purity. It’s 1980. The Ramones have already helped redraw the map of modern music, and now they find themselves in the hands of eccentric production wizard Phil Spector, chasing a bigger sound, bigger audiences, and perhaps something even more elusive: mainstream success. What emerged was their most commercial sounding album to date — and also one of their most divisive. Was 'End of the Century' a betrayal of the stripped-back simplicity that made the Ramones legends and pioneers of punk? Or, was it the logical conclusion of a band who always hid their love of 1960s pop music beneath distortion and speed? From the opening nostalgic bombast of 'Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?' to the unlikely symphonic beauty of 'Baby, I Love You' and the eternal adolescent rallying cry of 'Rock and Roll High School', this is a record that continues to provoke arguments long after its last chord fades… In this Deep Dive episode, we’ll explore the illustrious 'End of the Century' recording sessions, whether or not Phil Spector's towering Wall of Sound was a good match for the sonic highways journeyed by the Ramones, the absence of Tommy Ramone from the studio and production dials, and the dissension that arose amongst the band's fanbase after punk's most obstinate outsiders initiated an all-out assault on mainstream music. It’s the end of the seventies…it’s the End of the Century… So plug in and turn it up! If you want to hear to the Side B Deep Dive and stream the rest of our bonus content, head over to www.patreon.com/cjsays ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.