YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR-- Leave Home 14

Interestingly, the RAMONES opted to wrap up LEAVE HOME with this track instead of PINHEAD-- a song bursting with obvious climactic potential-- which was left to conclude side 1 of the LP. They would execute a similar misstep on the upcoming ROCKET TO RUSSIA, closing the first side with WE'RE A HAPPY FAMILY, clearly a ready made closer. The eventual utilization of these two tracks at key payoff points in the band's live sets makes their misuse in the placement of these records' running order even more apparent. For the remainder of their studio career, the RAMONES would conspicuously strive to have albums end dramatically and powerfully, leaving (surprisingly) two of their early classic releases some of the only instances where this effective tactic was ignored.

One of the numbers sampled with the group's first batch of demos (see RAMONES' OTHER DEBUT ALBUM), YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR represents one of their lesser efforts in the horror-themed realm. Despite some amusing genre imagery-- unfortunately primarily confined to the rather drab verse melody changes-- the song fails to completely achieve total liftoff. Notably, the new version features a slightly modified chord progression after the chorus, which makes this and SWALLOW MY PRIDE (see SWALLOW MY PRIDE Leave Home 9) two of the only early compositions displaying detectable, significant alteration in their arrangement before official recording. (A catchy background vocal refrain has also been helpfully added to the song's distinctive chorus melody-- perhaps the tune's most memorable hook.) The band has also mastered the oddly timed intro, which amusingly takes them more than one try to nail on the initial recording.

Although outwardly lacking only next to the RAMONES very best early material, the resultant closer still feels a tad under-realized, despite all around energetic performances. The flavor of the recurrent production maladies lingers as YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR fades into the grooves. Still, as the 'open that door' chant closes the door on the LEAVE HOME LP, it's easy to look forward to the the next station the Rocket would be stopping at: No less than the RAMONES finest studio moment-- where every single track would indubitably bear the mark of 100%, full blooded construction, consideration and culmination.






RAMONES YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR

YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR (demo)--Ramones 21

Perhaps someday a CD will appear which compiles all of the RAMONES' early demos in one place, maybe even beefed up with audio from the early videotaped footage of their embryonic appearances at CBGB and Arturo Vega's loft (the only other existent pre-debut LP impressions of the band's music.) Until such day arrives, that over half of these demos are available as bonus tracks for the expanded edition of the first LP is cause for considerable acclaim.

That said, the inclusion of this track at this point in the running order is a bit puzzling. This was certainly one of the least impressive of the early studio attempts, and its appearance in lieu of the stunning stabs captured of I DON'T WANNA WALK AROUND WITH YOU or TODAY YOUR LOVE, TOMORROW THE WORLD is questionable, if not borderline tragic. (See RAMONES: THE EARLY DEMOS.) Regardless of quality, like the demo of I DON'T CARE, it would have much more sense to have included this as extra material on the CD of the album it actually appeared on.

Amusingly prefaced by a failed take at the quirkily timed intro, this horror themed creation features mostly minor variances from the later release. JOHNNY handles the dynamic drop before the chorus a bit more purposefully, DEEDEE favors his higher strings a bit more determinedly, and the catchy background vocal hook has not yet been actualized. This version does feature one significant difference: the assertive riff following the chorus is a different chord change than what shall be finally used on LEAVE HOME. Surprisingly, this represents the most conspicuous compositional alteration any of the demos suffered on their journey to official studio rendition.

Predictably pitched a step lower than the key eventually utilized, YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR not only compares favorably with the debut's clamour, the solid instrument balance also doesn't sound too shabby next to the mix of the second album's closer-- which is a bit vocal heavy and a bit drum light (as we shall soon see, not uncommon problems on the followup.) Still, with plenty of digital space left on the disc the absence of the excess of predominantly superior demos remains a gnawing programming misstep, and the rabid faithful can only lament what could have been until some wise (or simply logical) industry sort intercedes and takes steps to rectify.






 RAMONES YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE OPENED THAT DOOR (demo)







Photo by Roberta Bayley