Mondo Bizarro

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Mondo Bizarro
Mondo Bizarro cover
Studio album by Ramones
Released September 1, 1992
Recorded February 1992
Genre Punk rock
Length 37:25
Label Radioactive
Producer Ed Stasium
Professional reviews
Ramones chronology
Loco Live
(1991)
Mondo Bizarro
(1992)
Acid Eaters
(1993)

Mondo Bizarro is an album by the punk rock group The Ramones, released in 1992 (see 1992 in music). It featured their new bassist, Christopher Joseph Ward (C.J. Ramone), who replaced departed member Dee Dee Ramone. Mondo Bizarro was the group’s first studio album in three years. The album was re-released under the label Captain Oi! on August 10, 2004, with a bonus track, "Spider-Man".

"Censorshit" was written by Joey Ramone about how rock and rap albums were being censored by the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center), a group of Washington wives out to put warning labels on records, a practice which has become standard. It has a reference to Ozzy Osbourne and Frank Zappa. Quote: "Ask Ozzy, Zappa, or Me. We'll show you what it's like to be free." The song is addressed to Tipper Gore, former Tennessee senator, and Vice President Al Gore's wife.

"Take It as It Comes" is a cover song, originally recorded by The Doors in 1967. "Spider-Man," While having never appeared on the original release but later as a bonus track on the CD version, is a cover of the theme song from the original Spider-Man animated series. It was originally released as an unlisted Bonus track on the original release of "¡Adios Amigos!" (later editions omitted it) and then a completely different version was available on the Saturday Morning compilation in 1995.

Although Dee Dee Ramone had left the band, he provided the songs "Poison Heart", "Main Man", and "Strength To Endure". When Johnny Ramone was interviewed about the album for the End of the Century documentary, he states, "I don't like it. I don't like it at all.". This contradicts a statement from a 1992 interview in an Argentinean newspaper, quote: "Generally I always find two or three songs that I hate. From Mondo Bizarro, I really like almost all the songs and I am very satisfied with the result."[1]

Two singles from the album were released; Poison Heart was released in June of 1992, and Strength to Endure was released that October.

It should be noted that the original "Mondo Bizarro" was the title of a 1966 film sequel to "Mondo Cane". The symbolic value of the Ramones selecting this title would not be lost on anyone familiar with the "Mondo ...." series of shockumentaries.

The album was certified gold in Brazil in 1995.[2]


Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Censorshit" (Joey Ramone) – 3:13
  2. "The Job That Ate My Brain" (Marky Ramone, Skinny Bones) – 2:17
  3. "Poison Heart" (Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey) – 4:04
  4. "Anxiety" (Marky Ramone, Skinny Bones) – 2:04
  5. "Strength to Endure" (Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey) – 2:59
  6. "It's Gonna Be Alright" (Joey Ramone, Andy Shernoff) – 3:20
  7. "Take It as It Comes" (Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek) – 2:07
  8. "Main Man" (Dee Dee Ramone, Daniel Rey) – 3:29
  9. "Tomorrow She Goes Away" (Joey Ramone, Daniel Rey) – 2:41
  10. "I Won't Let It Happen" (Joey Ramone, Andy Shernoff) – 2:22
  11. "Cabbies on Crack" (Joey Ramone) – 3:01
  12. "Heidi Is a Headcase" (Joey Ramone, Daniel Rey) – 2:57
  13. "Touring" (Joey Ramone) – 2:51
  14. "Spider-Man" (CD Re-Issue Bonus Track)

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Ramones

[edit] Additional musicians

[edit] Additional personnel

  • Bryce Goggin – assistant engineer
  • Joe Warda – assistant engineer
  • Gary Kurfirst – executive producer
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Ed Stasium – mixing, producer
  • Paul Hamingson – engineer
  • Eugene Nastasi – assistant engineer
  • Garris Shipon – assistant engineer
  • George DuBose – art direction, photography, design

[edit] Charts

[edit] Album

Year Chart Position
1992 The Billboard 200 190

[edit] Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1992 "Poison Heart" Modern Rock Tracks 6

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Ramone, Johnny.Interview. In Spanish.
  2. ^ Dynamite Magazine.Article. In Portuguese.