Ramones – Subterranean Jungle (1983) Album Review, Tracklist, Credits and Facts
Introduction
Released on February 23, 1983, Subterranean Jungle is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones. The album arrived during a transitional period for the band and the punk scene as a whole.
While earlier Ramones albums helped define the sound of punk rock, this record reflects the changing musical landscape of the early 1980s. It blends the band’s traditional fast-paced punk style with elements of pop, garage rock, and early hard rock influences.
Subterranean Jungle is also notable for being the last Ramones studio album to feature drummer Marky Ramone during his first stint with the band.
Background and Recording
By the early 1980s, the Ramones had been touring relentlessly for nearly a decade. Despite their massive influence, mainstream commercial success remained limited.
The band recorded Subterranean Jungle at Kingdom Sound Studios in New York City.
The album was produced by Ritchie Cordell and Glen Kolotkin, who had previously worked with artists such as Joan Jett.
During this period, tensions within the band were increasing, and substance abuse problems were affecting some members. Shortly after the album’s release, Marky Ramone left the band due to alcohol issues.
Musical Style
Compared with earlier Ramones albums, Subterranean Jungle shows a wider range of musical influences.
The album features:
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classic Ramones fast punk songs
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garage rock influences
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heavier guitar tones
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1960s pop-style melodies
The record also includes two cover songs, showing the band’s continued admiration for classic rock and pop music.
Tracklist
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Little Bit O’ Soul – 2:43
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I Need Your Love – 3:04
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Outsider – 2:10
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What’d Ya Do? – 2:18
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Highest Trails Above – 2:09
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Somebody Like Me – 2:33
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Psycho Therapy – 2:35
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Time Has Come Today – 4:40
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My-My Kind of a Girl – 3:32
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In the Park – 2:41
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Time Bomb – 2:09
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Everytime I Eat Vegetables It Makes Me Think of You – 3:04
Total length: about 34 minutes
Album Credits
Band Members
Joey Ramone – lead vocals
Johnny Ramone – guitar
Dee Dee Ramone – bass guitar, backing vocals
Marky Ramone – drums
Production
Producers – Ritchie Cordell, Glen Kolotkin
Engineer – Ben Fowler
Studio – Kingdom Sound Studios, New York
Artwork
Art direction – Arturo Vega
Photography – George DuBose
The album cover shows the band sitting inside a New York subway train, emphasizing the gritty urban identity that had always been central to the Ramones’ image.
Standout Songs
Psycho Therapy
One of the album’s most aggressive tracks, Psycho Therapy captures the classic Ramones sound with fast guitars and dark humor.
The song became a regular part of the band’s live performances.
Outsider
Written by Dee Dee Ramone, Outsider reflects the alienation and frustration that were common themes in the band’s music.
The song’s raw energy fits perfectly with the Ramones’ punk style.
Time Has Come Today
This is a cover of the 1960s psychedelic rock song originally recorded by The Chambers Brothers.
The Ramones transformed the song into a heavier, faster rock version.
Little Bit O’ Soul
A cover of the 1967 garage rock song by The Music Explosion, which became one of the album’s most accessible tracks.
Reception and Impact
When Subterranean Jungle was released, critics had mixed reactions.
Some praised the band’s attempt to expand their sound, while others felt the album lacked the raw power of their early releases.
Commercially, the album reached No. 83 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Despite this, several songs became fan favorites, and the album remains an interesting chapter in the band’s history.
Fun Facts
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This was the last Ramones album featuring Marky Ramone before he temporarily left the band.
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The album includes two cover songs, continuing the band’s tradition of reinterpreting classic tracks.
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The cover photo was taken inside a New York City subway car.
Trivia
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The unusually long track Time Has Come Today runs over four minutes, much longer than typical Ramones songs.
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Dee Dee Ramone wrote several songs on the album, continuing his role as one of the band’s main songwriters.
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The Ramones continued performing Psycho Therapy live for many years.
Did You Know?
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After the album’s release, drummer Marky Ramone left the band and was replaced by Richie Ramone.
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The band’s sound during this period reflected the changing rock scene of the early MTV era.
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Despite mixed reviews at the time, the album later gained recognition among fans as an underrated Ramones record.
