CJ RAMONE'S ALBUM LAST CHANCE TO DANCE (2014)
THIS SITE INCLUDE:
1) Background details of Last Chance To Dance album. Click here.
2) Tracklisting and details of musicians and producers. Click here.
3) Producers + small interview with executive producer Jiro Okabe. Click here.
4) Details of Understand Me? 7' single + small interview with John Evicci. Click here.
1) CJ RAMONE'S ALBUM LAST CHANCE TO DANCE (2014)
Ramones' bassist (1989-1996) CJ Ramone got finished with working new album and in mid-August, 2014. And we got great news, famous and much-respected Fat Wreck Chords signed CJ Ramone. Last Dance To Dance album is follower to Reconquista album (2012/2013).
Release dates of Last Chance To Dance album.
- USA: November 24, 2014.
- Europe: December 8, 2014.
Buy Last Chance To Dance from Amazon.com or from Amazon.co.uk
CJ Ramone told me (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) he was 15 days in a studio in March, 2014. CJ said in October, 2013, how he is hoping to go to studio with Ed Stasium who produced some Ramones records and also worked with Joey Ramone's 2nd posthumous solo album ...Ya Know?.
But that didn't happen. Executive producer of Last Chance To Dance is Jiro Okabe and other producers are Jim Monroe, Steve Soto and CJ Ramone.
CJ wrote to me in March 13, 2014, how he hope to release new album in June or July, 2014. But as you read before, album got published by famous Fat Wreck Chords in November-December, 2014. Single Understand Me? got released in September 30, 2014. Read more of single here.
Here are some information what Fat Wreck Records Chords sent when deal was confirmed and before single was out:
"The rumors are true. CJ Ramone is joining the Fat fold and we are thrilled! September, 2014, marks the 25th anniversary of CJ Ramone's initiation into punk rock's royal "family," and to celebrate, on September 30th, we'll release the single Understand Me?, a head-bopping melodic garage-punk screed addressed to an unnamed listener who really doesn't seem to understand him."
2) TRACKLISTING OF LAST CHANCE TO DANCE
1) Understand Me? (written by CJ Ramone)
2) Won't Stop Swinging (CJ Ramone/ Steve Soto)
3) One More Chance (CJ Ramone)
4) Carry Me Away (CJ Ramone
5) 'Til The End (CJ Ramone)
6) Long Way To Go (Michael Bruce)
7) Mr. Kalashnikov (CJ Ramone)
8) Pit Stop (CJ Ramone)
9) Grunt (CJ Ramone)
10) You Own Me (CJ Ramone)
11) Last Chance To Dance (CJ Ramone)
12) Clusterfuck (CJ Ramone/ Dan Root)
THE BAND:
- CJ Ramone: Singer-bassist.
- Steve Soto (The Adolescents, Agent Orange, 22 Jacks etc.): Guitar and back vocals.
- Dan Root (The Adolescents): Guitar and back vocals.
- David Hidalgo Jr. (Social Distortion): Drums.
- Tony Cadena (The Adolescents, White Flag etc.): vocals on Long Way To Go.
Pete Sosa (Street Dogs) does play some percussion and Martin Beal does play baritone guitar on Won't Stop Swinging.
Video of Won't Stop Swinging got published on November 14, 2014. See video here. Video is composed by Johnny Tomasello of HiFiDeSigN. Line-up on live parts on video is: CJ Ramone (singer-bassist), Steve Soto (guitar and back vocals), Dan Root (guitar and back vocals) and Michael Wildwood (drums).
3) PRODUCERS + SMALL INTERVIEW WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JIRO OKABE:
PRODUCERS:
- Executive producer: Jiro Okabe.
- Producer: Jim Monroe, Steve Soto and CJ Ramone.
I wanted to ask few questions of this album Last Chance To Dance and its
background from executive producer Jiro Okabe. He was executive producer
also on CJ's Reconquista
album (2012/2013).Jiro is also working for Mosrite Guitars and he published solo album Return Of The Kamikazi in July, 2014, and CJ Ramone, Clem Burke etc. plays on it.
1) Jari-Pekka: What were main lines when you discussed with CJ of viewpoints of new album?
Jiro Okabe: We didn't discuss much other than when CJ contacted that he would like to record a new album. He came to Los Angeles to put his guitar and back-up vocals down on my solo album, Return Of The Kamikazi, in January 2014. This is when he had presented me his demo for his new album.
Before I had listened to his demo, CJ had stated that all the Ramones fans would love this one. Once I had heard it, I smiled and looked over to see CJ smiling right back at me. There were no words needed. We both know this album will be great!!!
2) Can you tell some opinions of CJ as a strong songwriter?
Jiro Okabe: CJ is absolutely a great songwriter that has his own style with great lyrics and a very catchy melody that everybody cannot resist to sing along to. My favorite song on the new album is Carry Me Away.
I'm proud to be the executive producer for 2 of CJ's albums (Reconquista and Last Chance To Dance) and to be a part of it. I would also like to thank all the Ramones fans from all over the world for their support for CJ Ramone. Special thanks to Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone, Yuki Kuroyanagi and Gaston Sanchez.
4) 7' SINGLE RELEASE: UNDERSTAND ME? + SMALL INTERVIEW WITH JOHN EVICCI:
Understand Me? was published as a single from CJ Ramone's Last Chance to Dance.
A-side: Understand Me?
B-side: Rise Above
Release date of Understand Me? was September 30, 2014. Here are some information what Fat Wreck Chords sent when deal was confirmed and before single was out:
"The rumors are true. CJ Ramone is joining the Fat fold and we are thrilled! September, 2014, marks the 25th anniversary of CJ Ramone's initiation into punk rock's royal "family," and to celebrate, on September 30th, we'll release the single Understand Me?, a head-bopping melodic garage-punk screed addressed to an unnamed listener who really doesn't seem to understand him."
Backing CJ on the single's A-side and full-length (Last Chance To Dance) are: Dan Root and Steve Soto from The Adolescents and David Hidalgo Jr. of Social Distortion.
The single's non-album b-side is a cover of Black Flag's Rise Above, featuring guitar and back vocals by Dez Cadena of Black Flag and the Misfits. Drummer in Rise Above is John Evicci, whom you can remember from Bad Chopper etc. and as a Acme Records owner. Acme Records has published for example debut album of Bad Chopper (2007) and 7' single of Warm Jets (more details here).
First pressing of CJ Ramone: Understand Me? single was 415 copies on dark green color vinyl. Catalog number is FAT285.
1) Jari-Pekka: What was the session You and CJ recorded Rise Above featuring Dez Cadena?
John Evicci: CJ contacted me about playing drums on what was supposed to be his first solo album in late 2010. Naturally, I was very happy to do so and boned up on the demo recordings he sent me. In January 2011 we convened at Daniel Rey's recording studio in New Jersey and layed down the 12 original tracks in fairly short order, including three songs that didn't end up getting re-recorded for the actual album (Reconquista).
Jari-Pekka: So CJ recorded Reconquista album twice with his friends. These songs were not re-recorded: title song (Reconquista), Shoot 'Em Up and The Walking Dead.
2) Jari-Pekka: I would love to hear how you got Dez Cadena to play with you?
John Evicci: I don't remember when or how the idea to do a version of Rise Above with Dez Cadena came about, but I just remember CJ Ramone learning to play it the night before off of my MP3 player. Therefore, I'm inclined to think it was some kind of spontaneous, last-minute idea/ arrangement. I know at least I hadn't been given much advance notice.
Dez (along with his wife Perla (RIP)) came down literally just as we were doing the last couple takes of the last of the originals (songs to original version of Reconquista album). Dez plugged in where Daniel was and we played like a quick verse/chorus of the song just to feel out the settings, then did a take of the full song. Fucking NAILED IT on the very first run through! Absolutely perfect from start to finish. It was unreal. We were all taken aback! We did a second take just for the hell of it, but it wasn't quite as good as the first so we didn't use it.
3) Jari-Pekka: I know you are huge fan of the Black Flag and respect Dez Cadena a lot.
John Evicci: I hung out in the room with Dez while he was doing his overdubs and vocals and I must say it was one of the greatest moments in my life. He laid down an entire vocal track even though only the choruses were used in the final mix. It was fucking amazing to hear him singing that song right in front of me like that. The unmistakable Dez singing one of my favorite songs that I grew up listening to, combined with the fact that it was a song that I knew he was instrumental in creating back then, but which I never heard his treatment of.
I can't really describe the magnitude of the moment. Again, one of the greatest moments of my life. The fact that it all fell into place so effortlessly just made it all the more sweet. No struggling to get the right tempo or fills or arrangements or anything like that. Just bam, right off the bat perfect. Unbelievable.
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