...Ya Know? is the second and final solo album by Joey Ramone. It was released posthumously on May 22, 2012, by BMG. The album features producers Ed Stasium, Jean Beauvoir, Daniel Rey (all of whom worked with the Ramones), Joey's brother Mickey Leigh and Joe Blaney. Musicians include Joan Jett, Steven Van Zandt, Richie Ramone, Holly Beth Vincent, Genya Ravan, members of Cheap Trick and the Dictators and Mickey Leigh.
Background.
The songs from the album were originally recorded by Joey Ramone as demos with overdubs added later by his musician friends. The album was originally announced to contain 17 songs, but due to a last minute glitch, two songs had to be cut. The songs in question were co-written by Joey and Dee Dee Ramone, but despite the intent of an equal financial split between the two, the manager of Dee Dee Ramone's business interests blocked the songs' inclusion on the album. Two of the album's songs, "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" and "Life's a Gas", are re-recordings of songs originally recorded by the Ramones.
The ten-year gap between "Don't Worry About Me" and "...Ya Know?" was due to legal wranglings between Joey Ramone's estate and Daniel Rey, who had originally recorded the demos with Joey Ramone. The album's liner notes included the statement: "This is stated in fairness to the producers: Joey's vocal tracks were taken from demos owned by Joey, but held in possession of Rey prior to and following Joey's passing, thus forcing the Estate of Joey Ramone to re-acquire them from Rey for all further production and release. Co-production credit has been given Rey in fulfillment of contractual obligations."
Producer Ed Stasium, who worked on 11 of the album's 15 tracks, stated that he acquired the original demos in 2008. "Things were pretty basic," he said. "There was a drum machine, a guitar, a bass and Joey. The drum machine wasn't programmed or anything; it just made a beat. Some of the songs were fragmented, and some were arranged very well. That's what I had to work with ... I tried to add what I thought Joey was going for. I made solos where there weren't solos, intros where there weren't intros, endings where there weren't endings."
A 7" single of "Rock 'n Roll Is the Answer" was released on April 21, 2012 for Record Store Day. The song was premiered on Spinner.com on April 6, 2012
"New York City" music video.
On September 25, 2012, Vevo premiered a music video for "New York City" online. The video, which was directed by Greg Jardin, features appearances by 115 people. People featured include:
Deluxe edition.
On November 23, 2012, a deluxe edition of the album was released as part of Record Store Day. It was limited to 500 copies. It featured a DVD that includes interviews with Elvis Costello, Kirk Hammett, Debbie Harry, Anthony Kiedis, Joe Strummer and others, a 24 page booklet with pictures and lyrics, and a playable 5" vinyl "Merry Christmas(I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight) ornament.
Track listing.
All songs written by Joey Ramone (in a period between 1977 and 2000), except where noted.
References.
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