OMMA Catalogue Number

OMMA-0060

Artist

Ramones

Title

The Blitzkrieg Bop!! / Havana Affair

Release Details

Issued in 1976 as a 7-inch single on Sire (catalogue number 6078 601), pressed in the United Kingdom and distributed as a commercial retail release.

Edition & Variant Identification

First international pressing, issued for the UK market. The present copy corresponds to the solid-centre variant housed in the illustrated “comic book” picture sleeve associated with this edition.

Matrix & Pressing Data

Matrix (Side A, stamped): 6078601 1F//1▽420

Matrix (Side B, stamped): 6078601 2F//1▽420

Physical Description

7-inch vinyl single on black vinyl. The present copy is housed in the original picture sleeve printed on thin paper stock, featuring the comic book–style artwork associated with the UK issue. No inserts are present.

Factory-Origin Characteristics

No factory-origin anomalies are observed on the present copy.

Condition Report

The picture sleeve is graded a strong VG+/E- and remains clean and visually intact, showing light signs of storage wear, including faint ring wear centered around the spindle area and minor handling wear at the edges. The vinyl is graded Near Mint, retaining full original gloss with no visible marks or obvious signs of play. Labels are likewise graded Near Mint, with no writing, stickers, or alterations.

Provenance

Provenance: purchased from French Ramones enthusiast Marc Meyer (2MStore), 29 December 2025; subsequently acquired by the Origins of Modern Music Archive.

Photomatching & Verification

Photographic documentation of the sleeve, labels, and runout inscriptions corresponds precisely to the supplied matrix data and visual identifiers for the UK first international pressing with solid centre. High-resolution images held in OMMA records (label and sleeve photographs) confirm consistency of typography, layout, and deadwax inscriptions with verified reference examples.

Market Context & Historical Notes

As the Ramones’ debut single, “The Blitzkrieg Bop!! / Havana Affair” represents the band’s first introduction on physical media, preceding the release of their debut album later in 1976. While the U.S. issue introduced the group domestically, the UK pressing occupies a distinct position in the international reach of punk, arriving at a moment when British local scenes were already hungry for more of the punk mood. The Cold War imagery of “The Blitzkrieg Bop!!” and the B-Side, “Havana Affair,” juxtaposed with the Ramones’ driving, almost joyous, punk tunes further speaks to the countercultural ethic the band represented. The illustrated “comic book” sleeve recalls the fanzines and youth press of the 1960s and 1970s, and this UK issue is frequently cited as the moment when the Ramones’ stripped-down formalism and visual identity entered British punk discourse. Although the record sold modestly, its influence was disproportionate in both the UK and the States.

Canonical Status in OMMA

This release is recognized by the Origins of Modern Music Archive as the first international edition of the artist’s canonical debut.

References and Source Documentation

Discogs, “Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop / Havana Affair,” Sire 6078 601 (UK, 1976), release entry and version history.
https://www.discogs.com/release/753427-Ramones-The-Blitzkrieg-Bop

Photographic documentation of label, sleeve, and runout details held in the Origins of Modern Music Archive image records (Google Drive links supplied in accession file).