Customer Reviews

Don't Worry About Me

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In a sunny day , here in Argentina, i was in my work and a friend tell is me: Hey, man, you read the notice? I said: no, what happened? He said: Joey Ramone is dead. My mind is turn black and I can't stop to think about all the moment's. Moment's magyc's with ramones music. That day I think: It's over, dream it's over. From that day to now, I'll be lost, that's was a lobotomy for me.
Now, I wake up and can feel that's magyc again. Why? Because Joey is back!!!!
Here I can't get the cd, but I download all songs and hear it.
It's the most wonderfull cd that I hear in a lot of time!!! a lot!!! Imagine this: 11 songs like life is gas, I Love you, all screew up and much more!!

Joey is not back...but he will be in my heart for ever!!!

Salvador Ramone

PD: Sorry about my English!!!

"Don't Worry About Me"; a fitting title for Joey Ramone's last recording shows the Ramones frontman never forgot his roots. Beginning with a rocking cover of "What a Wonderful World" to a cover of Iggy & The Stooges' "1969" which would make Iggy stand up and salute. Other standout tracks include the vitrolic "Like a Drug I Never Did Before" to the almost anthemic and fitting "I Get Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)", and the album closer "Don't Worry About Me" will bring a tear or two to the eye of any long time Ramones fan while no doubt making them smile as well. Joey died of lymphoma in 2001 before Sanctuary released "Don't Worry About Me", and the true highlight of the album is that even when Joey knew his time was coming, he faced it with his unadulturated punk rocker attitude that he was so reknowned for. All in all, this is a must have for any and every Ramones fan; and it is a fitting and touching final chapter in the life and career of one of punk rock's most gifted and beloved performers.

It's no secret to anybody that knows me that I have been a die-hard Ramones fan ever since I can remember. However, I have always tried to assimilate and review records with as much objectivity as possible, regardless of my own personal bias. In the interest of fairness, I was just as ready to lament Joey Ramones's posthumous solo disc as I was to praise it. Luckily, that won't be necessary, because "Don't Worry About Me" is a great collection of songs that simultaneously makes you want to rock out while touching a deeper nerve. The tunes here range from humorous ("Mr. Punchy") to bittersweet ("I Get Knocked Down"), all the while maintaining all of the elements that defined the music of the Ramones. My favorite cuts here are the inspired (and inspiring) take on "What A Wonderful World", the gorgeous "Searching For Something" and stellar title tune that closes the album. There's no doubt that for many of us Ramones fans this disc can be a tough listen, but once you're done getting misty-eyed you'll be ready to crank this one up and rock out to it over and over again. After all, that's what Joey would have done.

It's worth it for the cover of "What a Wonderful World" alone. A completely raw, completely punk-influenced -- yet sincere -- version of the standard. Who else but Joey Ramone could have pulled it off? The harmonies are great, the percussion (Marky Ramone) is driving and original ... it's everything a cover should be. I played this track for weeks before I could even make it to the rest of the CD. When I finally made it to track 2, I was glad I did ... "Stop Thinking About It," a witty ballad about obsessing (again, who else ...?), features guitar and backups reminiscent of the early Ramones. "I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)" is powerful ... simple, straightforwardlyrics that pull no punches and a nice musical progression within the song. My other favorite was "Don't Worry About Me" -- one of Joey's best vocal performances ever, in my opinion. If you're the least bit of a fan of Joey, or the Ramones, or "What a Wonderful World" ... you should hear this album.

I really like this CD. I gotta say upfront that 'Mr. Punchy' is an amazing tribute to The Who. The guitar, drums and vocal phrasing all scream Daltry! Townshend! Entwhistle! and even MOON! at you. 'Mr. Punchy' Rocks.
Not a bad track here. I like them all. Joey's 'Wonderful World' is sweet. 'Maria Bartilomo' is cute...he's like a boy with a schoolyard crush on the teacher (Joey was a heavy stock market guy hence his obsession with the MSNBC babe).
This is not a mean spirited disc. This CD sounds like the Ramones (vocally), but this isn't a Ramones disc.

It's Joey Ramone's gift to us before he left our world.
Come visit his (wonderful) world while listening to this CD.
RIP Joey.

this is a wonderful release.. full of fun and surprisingly longish (compared to his ramone stuff) songs.. great harmonies.. and that wonderful sense of humor.. and.. oh.. did i mention.. this thing rocks? it is a shame he will never get to tour on this.. i bet some of these would have sounded awesome live..
if you are even a slight fan of the ramones.. or.. just a fan of rock.. not the stuff they are calling rock today.. i'm talking old 70s rock.. where the riffs were great.. and the singer actually enjoyed what he was doing.. because he knew what he was doing.. and.. he was GOOD at it.. you owe it to yourself.. trust me.. to get this cd.. you will love it

great cd.. great songs.. only wish it was longer.. then..

When you think of Joey Ramone what do you remember best? His tall lanky frame? His rose colored sunglasses? Torn jeans? How about twenty-five years worth of great records and brilliant perfomrances executed by a man who always strived for humor and excellence and who succeeded a large part of the time. We lost Joey Ramone last April 15 to lymphoma. Nearly ten months later his last work, a solo album that was several years in the making has finally been released, and although I was terrified to hear him sing this last time, knowing that there would never be another album from this gentle, bright star I am happy to report that "Don't Worry About Me" is an exhilarating cd, finished with love by Joey's friends, produced to perfection by Daniel Rey and packaged with the tender loving care that only his mother Charlotte and brother Mickey could give.
From Joey's remake of the Louis Armstrong classic "What A Wonderful World" to his incredibly amusing love song to CNN's "Maria Bartiromo" and finishing with the uplifting "Don't Worry About Me" one can only remember the happy times at CBGB's, the man's infectious laughter and warming smile. IF you loved the Ramones there is no doubt that you have already ordered this album. If you have spent the last year reading the outpouring of love and press for Joey Ramone, you may want to check out this very special offering. Next month Joey and the rest of the Ramones will be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. A huge part of their success in their long and energetic career was galvanized by the wit and genius of Joey Ramone...Loved you honey...miss you like crazy. You were a jewel that continues to shine brightly.

Joey Ramone-Don't Worry About Me ****


Dont come looking for Loud, Fast, and Toughness of The Ramones here because you wont get it. This is Joey Ramones solo album. The rest of the band is gone except for a guest apperance from Marky Ramone. The lyrics are more thought full then that of the Ramones. The music is a little more complex (not much) then that of The Ramones. Joey experiments with more rangest and keys with his vocals as well as studio tricks and the musicanship is very good. In Most places the bass isnt very audible but where it is it shines. The drumming is more then just altered blast beats and the guitar while still basic is in some places impressive.

Joeys cover of The Stooges classic '1969' is outstanding and fits in very well on the album, but the real stand out is Joeys phenonomal cover of Louis Armstrongs 'What A Wonderful World.' It is incredible how well the obscure song made its transfermation into crooning ballad to harder rock milestone. Joey shows is talents by being able to transfer a classic through genres that seem to be the atni-thesos of one another.

Joeys own compositions like 'Stop Thinking About It' 'Maria Bartiromo' and 'Searching For Something' are all stand out tracks as well. Great melody lines and some of Joeys more impressive lyrics of his life appear on these songs. Other songs such as 'Mr. Punchy' and 'I Got Knocked Down (But Ill Get Up)' are also great songs adding to the album but dont stand out as much. The albums closer 'Dont Worry About Me' which is also the albums title track may just be the albums best track, which explains why Joey decided to name the album after it.

This is a great album if you are willing to give it a chance, but as previously stated dont buy this expecting Rocket To Russia or Road To Ruin by The Ramones because this si nothing like that and you will be dissapointed but if you approch this with an open mind you should be satisfied.

Joey Ramone's last recording shows a man who hadn't forgotten his roots, but was willing to build on them. With only one song over 4 minutes long, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME stays true to the spirit of the Ramones sound; however, Joey stretches the concept with some new ideas. While songs like the moronic (I mean that in a good way) "Mr. Punchy" with its genial mindlessness and the relentless "I Got Knocked Down" could have fit on a Ramones recording, songs like "Maria Bartiromo" with its comic focus on the business reporter's ability to make stock reports better by using "Those eyes that make everything OK," and the wild cover of "What a Wonderful World," make this really Joey's show; not just an attempt to keep the Ramones alive. While it's a shame Joey didn't have the opportunity to follow this up; the anthem "Don't Worry about Me," is a fitting end to this CD and Joey's career. While the subject matter is a typical tale of unrequited love, the chorus just makes me smile.

The name punk rock has been around since the sixties, with bands like the Barbarians and the Stooges drawing that label (They and other bands also have been given a "pre-punk" label). The genre, however, didn't really take off until well into the seventies, with bands like The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and The Ramones. While The Clash and Sex Pistols had their heyday during that time, The Ramones continued making albums until 1996, when they issued "Adios Amigos." Lead singer Joey Ramone (born Jeffrey Hyman in 1951), though, wasn't about to give up the persona that he had established with his band. He began work on his first (and sadly, last) solo album in 1999. Even though Ramone didn't complete the work he'd intended for his solo album, his guitarist and producer, Daniel Rey, released eleven tracks from those sessions in 2002. The title, ironically, is "Don't Worry About Me." The title track, though, has nothing to do with the lymphoma that killed him in 2001. It's a song about a relationship that had more drama than he could take.

The one song that does reflect on illness is the optimistic "I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)." The message that's repeated in its chorus is "I want my life." The messages in the songs from this album, are simple and direct, and filled with the three-chord guitar melodies that were a staple of the Ramones' work. "Don't Worry About Me," in fact, sounds a great deal like a Ramones album, with hard-driving guitars and furious drumming. In addition, Mark Bell (aka Marky Ramone), plays drums on about half of the tracks here. Joey's brother, Mickey Leigh, plays guitar and sings backing vocals on the album's title track (The brothers did release an EP under the name Sibling Rivalry in 1994). Although the album has a running time of just under 35 minutes, it's about the same length as most of the single albums The Ramones released in more than two decades together.

Some of the songs are reflective on how times have changed. "Reality today is much stranger than fiction," he reflects on "Venting (It's A Different World Today)." His eye is cynical, but his voice is sad as he watches accounts about youth crime and politicians who accomplish nothing but talk. "Searching For Something" is the song's "softest" track, with acoustic guitar work reminiscent of The Ramones' "I Want You Around." It's about a person who gave up drugs and has been on a quest for a better direction in life. Ramome voices the opinion of everyone who knows this person who is impressed by the change this person has taken for the better when he sings "Everybody needs you." They're reflections of mixed emotions, and gratefulness that he somehow survived, in spite of himself.

No album with Joey Ramone would be complete, though, without him showing off his fun side. On the opening track, he turns "What A Wonderful World," which was made famous by Louis Armstrong, from a ballad to a rocking number in a way only Ramone could. He had the sound and the look of a punk, but he had the passion to deliver any song with conviction. He even wrote the song "Maria Bartiromo" about the TV reporter who has gained note by her delivery of financial news. Ramone is so taken by her coverage of the Stock Exchange, he proclaims, "I watch her every day/ I watch her every night/ She's really outta sight." It's not just Ramone having fun with these songs that make them work. The musical delivery has the sense of daring that defines punk music. Some might be outraged by the hard edge of the tunes, but I enjoy that Ramone had a distinctive voice in punk and knew how to use it. He may have, on the surface, sung with a voice that conveyed dispassion, but the truth is that his voice and his style was his instrument of passion.

In a musical sense, Joey Ramone refused to die quietly. He was a rebel with causes, both serious and not so serious. "Don't Worry About Me" aptly delivers the goods that he had made a career of delivering. Time may have changed Joey Ramone's messages, but his musical persona remained consistent from start to finish. "Don't Worry About Me" shows one final time the talent of one of the men who gave a face to punk. Ramone may have considered this album an incomplete work, but his final release shows that he was a singer who remained true to himself and his unique musical vision.

Tracks:
1. What A Wonderful World
2. Stop Thinking About It
3. Mr. Punchy
4. Maria Bartiromo
5. Spirit In My House
6. Venting (It's A Different World Today)
7. Like A Drug I Never Did Before
8. Searching For Something
9. I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)
10. 1969
11. Don't Worry About Me

Originally published on Epinions.com.