Don't Worry About Me

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Don't Worry About Me
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2002
Recorded2000–2001
Studio
GenrePunk rock
Length34:49
LabelSanctuary
ProducerDaniel Rey
Joey Ramone chronology
Don't Worry About Me
(2002)
...Ya Know?
(2012)
Singles from Don't Worry About Me
  1. "What a Wonderful World"
    Released: 2002
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB+[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[3]
Punknews.org[4]
Rolling Stone[5]
Spin8/10[6]

Don't Worry About Me is the debut album released by Joey Ramone as a solo artist.[7][8] It was released posthumously on February 19, 2002, by Sanctuary Records,[9] less than a year after his death. The album was produced by Daniel Rey, who also did most of the guitar work.[5] Rey had previously produced three of the Ramones' albums, between 1987 and 1995.

The album includes two covers: "What a Wonderful World," originally performed by Louis Armstrong, and "1969," originally performed by the Stooges.[10] "What a Wonderful World" was used for the ending credits of Michael Moore's film Bowling for Columbine.[citation needed] It also appeared on the soundtrack to Freaky Friday.

A DualDisc version of the album was released on November 19, 2002. It included the album in the DVD-Audio format, which is in 5.1 surround sound, as well as the music video for "What a Wonderful World" (directed by Debbie Harry) and other material.

Don't Worry About Me peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200.[11]

Critical reception

The Austin Chronicle wrote that "though Ramones neophytes would be best served by starting at the beginning, Don't Worry About Me is a must for card-carrying superfans."[12] Entertainment Weekly called the album "a testament to the uplifting power of rock."[3] Now wrote that it "boasts better songwriting and playing than the last few Ramones albums, with Joey singing strong, free of any ironic or goofy pose."[13] Wired wrote that "pointless guitar solos are evident on several tracks, but Joey's goofy teenage romanticism still manages to carry the day."[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joey Ramone; except where indicated

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What a Wonderful World"Bob Thiele, George David Weiss2:23
2."Stop Thinking About It"Ramone, Andy Shernoff2:57
3."Mr. Punchy" 2:35
4."Maria Bartiromo" 3:58
5."Spirit in My House" 2:02
6."Venting (It's a Different World Today)" 3:17
7."Like a Drug I Never Did Before" 2:04
8."Searching for Something"Ramone, Al Maddy4:12
9."I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)" 3:42
10."1969"Dave Alexander, James "Iggy Pop" Osterberg, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton3:40
11."Don't Worry About Me" 3:55

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[15]

"What a Wonderful World"
"Stop Thinking About It"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Frank Funaro – drums
"Mr. Punchy"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Marky Ramone – drums
  • Veronica Kofman – backing vocals
  • Helen Love – backing vocals
  • Captain Sensible – backing vocals
"Maria Bartiromo"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Marky Ramone – drums
"Spirit in My House"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe McGinty – keyboards
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Frank Funaro – drums
"Venting (It's a Different World Today)"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Marky Ramone – drums
"Like a Drug I Never Did Before"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Marky Ramone – drums
"Searching for Something"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Al Maddy – guitar, bass, backing vocals
  • Marky Ramone – drums
"I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe McGinty – keyboards
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Frank Funaro – drums
"1969"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Daniel Rey – guitar, backing vocals
  • Jerry Only – bass
  • Dr. Chud – drums
"Don't Worry About Me"
  • Joey Ramone – lead vocals
  • Mickey Leigh – guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe McGinty – keyboards
  • Andy Shernoff – bass, backing vocals
  • Frank Funaro – drums
Technical
  • Daniel Rey – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Jon Marshall Smith – engineer, mixing
  • Joe Blaney – mixing ("Don't Worry About Me")
  • Noah Simon – assistant mixing engineer ("Don't Worry About Me")
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • George Seminara – front cover photography
  • George DuBose – package design
  • Charlotte Lesher – executive producer
  • Mickey Leigh – executive producer

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] 25
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[17] 19
US Billboard 200[18] 109

References

  1. ^ "Don't Worry About Me - Joey Ramone | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ "Robert Christgau: Album: Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me". robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ a b "Don't Worry About Me". EW.com.
  4. ^ "Joey Ramone - Don't Worry About Me". www.punknews.org.
  5. ^ a b "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. January 6, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-01-06.
  6. ^ "Reviews". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. March 27, 2002 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Joey Ramone | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  8. ^ Maerz, Jennifer (February 24, 2002). "Joey Ramone's 'Worry': Rest Assured" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  9. ^ "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me". PopMatters. March 27, 2002.
  10. ^ "Punk Rock Revolutionary: The Legacy of Joey Ramone". Los Angeles Times. February 13, 2002.
  11. ^ "Joey Ramone". Billboard.[dead link]
  12. ^ "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
  13. ^ Perlich, Tim (February 28, 2002). "JOEY RAMONE".
  14. ^ Poet, j. "Music". Wired – via www.wired.com.
  15. ^ "Joey Ramone - Don't Worry About Me". Discogs. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "Joey Ramone: Don't Worry About Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Joey Ramone Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2023.