Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah

Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah
Live album by
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
ReleasedOctober 19, 2004
RecordedOctober 25, 2003
GenrePunk rock
Length46:36
LabelFat Wreck Chords
ProducerRyan Greene
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes chronology
Take a Break
(2003) 		Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah
(2004) 		Love Their Country
(2006)

Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah is a live album by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, released on October 19, 2004, on Fat Wreck Chords.

It was recorded live at an actual bar mitzvah party,[1] and its runtime lasts their entire performance, including a break in which little can be heard other than the sounds of party guests wandering around and chatting amongst themselves. Jonny Wixen, the Bar Mitzvah boy, plays drums on one of the hidden tracks that are on the final track. The CD comes with footage of the bar mitzvah.

The album is almost entirely made up of songs that have not appeared on previous albums. The only exceptions are two hidden tracks: "Seasons in the Sun" from Have a Ball (1997) and "Sloop John B" from Blow in the Wind (2001).

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Original performerLength
1."Jonny's Blessing"  1:04
2."Stairway to Heaven"Jimmy Page, Robert PlantLed Zeppelin2:33
3."Heart of Glass"Debbie Harry, Chris SteinBlondie2:43
4."Delta Dawn"Larry CollinsTanya Tucker2:41
5."Come Sail Away"Dennis DeYoungStyx2:48
6."'O Sole Mio"traditional 2:19
7."Strawberry Fields Forever"John Lennon, Paul McCartneyThe Beatles2:57
8."Auld Lang Syne"traditional 1:49
9."The Longest Time" (contains an interpolation of "Suspect Device" by Stiff Little Fingers, written by Jake Burns and Gordon Ogilvie)Billy JoelBilly Joel2:30
10."On My Mind"Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson ThompsonBrenda Lee, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Pet Shop Boys2:36
11."Take It on the Run"Gary RichrathREO Speedwagon2:44
12."Superstar" (contains an interpolation of "Kids of the Black Hole" by The Adolescents[2])Bonnie Bramlett, Leon RussellDelaney and Bonnie3:21
13."Hava Nagila" (contains an interpolation of "Come Out and Play" by The Offspring,[3] written by Dexter Holland)traditional 3:41
14."Hava Nagila (Christmas Arrangement)" (contains an interpolation of "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano)traditional 12:53
15."Seasons in the Sun" (featuring Uncle Roger)Jacques Brel, Rod McKuenThe Kingston Trio2:27
16."Sloop John B" (featuring Jonny Wixen; contains an interpolation of "Teenage Lobotomy" by the Ramones, written by Dee Dee Ramone)Traditional, arranged by Brian WilsonThe Beach Boys2:09

Personnel

Additional musicians

  • Jonny Wixen (the Bar Mitzvah boy) - drums on hidden track #16 ("Sloop John B") and spoken word vocals (Hebrew blessing) on opening track #1 “Jonny’s Blessing”
  • Uncle Roger (a party guest) - French vocals on hidden track #15 ("Seasons In The Sun")

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
Des Moines Register[5]
Punknews.org[6]
Reno Gazette-Journal[7]
Rolling Stone[8]

Giving the album three stars, David Swanson with Rolling Stone magazine said the band members "revel in kitsch and irony", adding "What's not to like?"[8]

References

  1. ^ "Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah".
  2. ^ "Me First and the Gimme Gimmes's 'Superstar' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.
  3. ^ "Me First and the Gimme Gimmes's 'Hava Nagila' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.
  4. ^ Allmusic review
  5. ^ Munson, Kyle (2004-11-04). "Stick It In Your Ear". Des Moines Register. Des Moines. Retrieved 2024-03-02 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ Punknews.org review
  7. ^ Robison, Mark (2004-12-03). "Talent doubtful on Stefani's solo". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno. Retrieved 2024-03-02 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ a b Swanson, David (2005-02-10). "Tweaked!". Rolling Stone. No. 967. New York. p. 84. Retrieved 2024-03-02 – via ProQuest.