B-side "Babysitter" Genre Punk rock Label Sire | Released 1977 Length 2:06 Writer(s) Dee Dee Ramone | |
"Rockaway Beach" is a song by the American punk rock band the Ramones from their 1977 album Rocket to Russia. The song was written by bassist Dee Dee Ramone in the style of the Beach Boys and early surf rock bands. The song is about Rockaway Beach, Queens, where Dee Dee liked to spend time. Guitarist Johnny Ramone claimed that Dee Dee was "the only real beachgoer" in the group. Released in 1977, it was the Ramones' highest-charting single in their career, peaking at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. In June, 2013, the song was used in a radio ad campaign sponsored by Queens Economic Development Corporation to promote recovery from Hurricane Sandy by drawing New Yorkers back to Rockaway Beach.
Cover versions
"Rockaway Beach" has been covered by:
In 1994 Joey Ramone, in a duet with R&B artist General Johnson, released a Carolina beach music version of the song as part of the album "Godchildren of Soul." And also German punk band Zeltinger Band on its Müngersdorfer Stadion single.