Buttmunker

"Ramones," No. 111 (1976)
"Leave Home," No. 148 (1977)
"Rocket to Russia," No. 49 (1978)
"Road to Ruin," No. 103 (1978)
"Rock 'N' Roll High School" soundtrack, No. 118 (1979)
"End of the Century," No. 44 (1980)
"Pleasant Dreams," No. 58 (1981)
"Subterranean Jungle," No. 83 (1983)
"Too Tough To Die," No. 171 (1984)
"Animal Boy," No. 143 (1986)
"Halfway To Sanity," No. 172 (1987)
"Ramones Mania," No. 168 (1988)
"Brain Drain," No. 122 (1989)
"Mondo Bizarro," No. 190 (1992)
"Acid Eaters," No. 179 (1994)
"Adios Amigos," No. 148 (1995)

I find it hard to believe that The Ramones couldn't achieve a Top 40 album or single, despite their popularity.

Capo2002

The Ramones influence on music is undeniable because they, along with the Sex Pistols and the Clash, helped to get punk music noticed and they also redefined the genre. No other punk band sounds like The Ramones, and no punk band ever will sound like them. They were unique, they believed in their music and they played with an energy, enthusiasm and passion that many bands lacked. I think thats why they were and will remain so influencial. The Ramones were never meant to be a top 40 band.

Buttmunker

Top 40 is not strictly a popularity contest - it is based on album sales only. If millions of people like the Ramones, shouldn't that reflect on at least their first four releases of sales?

Capo2002

Maybe it also had something to do with they way they were marketed back then, who knows. They never really played large venues back then either, they usually just played at clubs. That probably kept them from becoming more popular.

Damfino

The reason why the Ramones were a cult band during the late 70s was because top 40 was reserved for disco and ballads while rock radio was confined to Led Zeppelin, Journey, Foreigner, Rush and Styx type stuff.

The only places that played the Ramones were college stations and KROQ in Los Angeles.

It's ironic that now the Ramones have a legacy that has endured more than most of what was on the radio back then.

atlantamoi

Some bands just become more popular years or decades after their heyday.... Ramones, Violent Femmes and obvious bands like the Velvet Underground. I never knew the Ramones had no top 40 hits and don't care either way.

Buford T Pusser

An excellent band. One of many bands that I love that were not in the top 40. Quality does not always equal mass sales.

Mutley Hyde

They don't need Top 40... they're The Ramones.

Hondo

Indeed. In fact, top 40 success almost always garantees poor quality music, since it has to try to appeal to everyone. I don't know how this idea of popular=good got started, but it needs to go away. I know it's been done to death, but by that rationale, McDonalds is the best food in the world.

Brian Eno once said this of the Velvet Underground, but I think it applies to the Ramones too. They never sold many records, but every single person who bought one formed a band.

caligulathegod

One of the greatest tragedies is that Joey didn't live long enough to see how much loved the Ramones really were.

Dubya

Yeah it was sad that he did not get to see The Ramones inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame because by all accounts he longed for that honor deeply.