In 1989, about the same time that he was leaving the Ramones, Dee Dee put out his first solo album. Released under the moniker of Dee Dee King, it was a poorly conceived and poorly received old school hip-hop record called Standing in the Spotlight. The album was a huge commercial and critical flop, and luckily Dee Dee would eventually find his way back to his punk roots. The first release from Ramones Museum Berlin is a tribute of sorts on the 25th anniversary of that less than classic record. Two bands cover two songs each from the LP in a more traditional punk rock style.

DeeCRACKS from Austria are up first with "Brooklyn Bab.e. It's got a catchy doo-wop chorus and awkward, rapid-fire, rapped verses. The lyrics are embarrassing at best and misogynistic at worst. It's hard to believe that this is the guy who gave the world "Blitzkrieg Bop." DeeCRACKS second song, "Poor Little Rich Girl," is the stronger of the two. Great Ramones-style pop-punk. Some of you might know this song, as it was previously covered by pop-punk legends Sloppy Seconds on their Garbage Days Regurgitated EP. Fun stuff.

Zatopeks from England are up next with "Mashed Potato Time." This is another song with a catchy doo-wop style chorus, but the lyrics are really terrible. Check out this gem, "It's time to rock, it's time to rap/It's time for a mashed potato attack." You will cringe. You will also probably find yourself singing along. Zatopeks wrap things up with "Baby Doll." This is probably the best song on the EP. It's a classic punk ballad in the style of The Dictators or Johnny Thunders. It's memorable, heartfelt and reminds us of what a great songwriter Dee Dee could be.

Dee Dee Ramone was arguably one of the most important songwriters in punk history. The early stuff he did with the Ramones became the foundation on which the genre was built, but Standing in the Spotlight was certainly not a career highlight. Behind the Spotlight however, is a really enjoyable listen. It makes lemons into lemon-aid, so to speak. It's a nice little record for those who need a regular Ramones fix. It is limited to 500 hand-numbered copies on vinyl, so don't delay if you want this. It's great for the Ramones fan with everything, and a good first release from Ramones Museum Berlin.