Ramones: Adios Amigos. 1995

The fourteenth studio album from the Ramones, and their farewell album. It was released in June, 1995, less than a year and a half before they would play their final show on August 6, 1996.



Adios Amigos is a fitting farewell to the Ramones' twenty-two years. Generally a slower album, it was recorded with the final line-up consisting of Joey, Johnny, C.J., and Marky. Although it had been over six years since Dee Dee left the band, contributed to writing almost half the album and appears as a guest vocalist for the final track, "Born To Die In Berlin".
After the obligatory "1,2,3,4!" the album kicks off with a Tom Waits cover, one of two proper covers on the album. C.J.'s first of four lead vocals on the album comes as track two, the Dee Dee penned "Makin Monsters For My Friends". "It's Not For Me To Know" sounds like typical later Ramones. A little slower and maybe a little less fun than the early material, the song is still solid. C.J. comes back for a track off Dee Dee's first solo album, "The Crusher".
Joey get's two writing credits on this album, the first being "Life's a Gas". Classic Joey through and through, the song is simple and direct. The second cover on this album, not counting previously recorded Dee Dee solo material, is Johnny Thunders' "I Love You". "Cretin Family" with C.J. on vocals and "Got A Lot To Say", written by C.J. are throwbacks to classic Ramones tracks.
The album officially ends with Dee Dee's guest vocal on "Born To Die In Berlin", although different versions have either "R.A.M.O.N.E.S." or "Spider-Man" as a bonus track. Adios Amigos is a fitting finale to their twenty-two year career. Although we would see new material as bonus tracks on album reissues, this would be the last recorded new material the Ramones put out as a full band.