Ram (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Ram
Type = studio
Artist = Paul and Linda McCartney


Released = 28 May 1971
Recorded = New York: A&R Studios, January – March 1971
Genre = Rock
Length = 43:15 (original)
51:44 (1993 reissue)
Label = Apple, EMI
Producer = Paul and Linda McCartney
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lwamqj1bojsa link]
*"Musichound" (3.5/5 Bones) [http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/ link]
*Review-Christgau|C+|album=7379
*"Rolling Stone" (Mixed) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulmccartney/albums/album/231248/review/6067777/ram link]
Chronology = Paul McCartney
Last album = "McCartney"
(1970)
This album = "Ram"
(1971)
Next album = "Wild Life"
(1971)

"Ram" is Paul McCartney's second solo album, officially credited to Paul and Linda McCartney, and was released in 1971. The only time one of McCartney's efforts received a co-credit with his wife, it was seen by many as a response to John Lennon's many collaborative projects with wife Yoko Ono.

Recording and structure

After the release of the successful debut "McCartney", Paul and Linda went on a lengthy holiday and spent much time on their farm on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. It was during this period that Paul, often with Linda's input, composed the songs that would feature on "Ram". Deciding to make a change in recording venue, the couple flew to New York City in the fall of 1970 to record their new songs. Denny Seiwell was recruited for drums and David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken were tapped for guitar duties. Although it was a collaborative project, Linda's vocal duties were mostly limited to backing Paul, who sang lead throughout. The sessions were very productive, even birthing future songs like "Dear Friend" they released on the debut Wings album "Wild Life" later in 1971, as well as recording "Get On The Right Thing" and "Little Lamb Dragonfly", both of which would be finished for 1973's "Red Rose Speedway".

By early 1971, the project was completed with the non-album "Another Day"/"Oh Woman, Oh Why" single—McCartney's first after The Beatles—which was released that February and became a worldwide Top 5 hit. In May, "Ram" was unveiled. The album's tone is one of confidence and high spirits, with McCartney clearly in an assured state.

Still smarting from the demise of The Beatles, he included a few subtle jibes directed at his former collaborator, specifically in "Too Many People". The back cover art includes a picture of one beetle riding the back of another beetle and apparently copulating. This was interpreted as a commentary on the state of affairs between the ex-Beatles at that time. "Three Legs" was also seen as being a jibe at the other Beatles. John Lennon also felt that the character who misses what he's lost in "Dear Boy" and the protagonists who sing "we believe that we can't be wrong" in "The Back Seat of My Car" were directed at himself and Ono. The former song was, in fact, intended as a message to Linda McCartney's ex-husband. Nevertheless, Lennon would respond in kind later in 1971 with the searing "How Do You Sleep?" on his "Imagine" album.

Release and reception

"The Back Seat of My Car" was excerpted as a UK single from "Ram" that August, only reaching #39, but the US release of the ambitious "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" would prove much more successful, giving McCartney his first #1 single after The Beatles.

The album reached #1 in the UK and #2 in the US, where it spent over five months in the Top 10 and went platinum.

In 1977, McCartney supervised the release of an instrumental interpretation of "Ram" (recorded in June 1971 and arranged by Richard Hewson) with the release of "Thrillington" under the pseudonym of Percy "Thrills" Thrillington.

In 1993, "Ram" was remastered and reissued on CD as part of "The Paul McCartney Collection" series with "Another Day" and "Oh Woman, Oh Why" as bonus tracks.

Track listing

All songs by Paul and Linda McCartney, except where noted.

#"Too Many People" (P. McCartney) – 4:08
#"3 Legs" (P. McCartney) – 2:44
#"Ram On" (P. McCartney) – 2:26
#"Dear Boy" – 2:12
#"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" – 4:53
#"Smile Away" (P. McCartney) – 3:51
#"Heart of the Country" – 2:21
#"Monkberry Moon Delight" – 5:21
#"Eat at Home" – 3:18
#"Long Haired Lady" – 5:54
#"Ram On" (P. McCartney) – 0:52
#* Features an impromptu early rendition of "Big Barn Bed"—later recorded for "Red Rose Speedway"—in its fadeout
#* This version is a continuation of the first version, which share the same audio during the fades.
#"The Back Seat of My Car" (P. McCartney) – 4:26

Bonus tracks on 1993 reissue

#"Another Day" (P. McCartney) – 3:41
#"Oh Woman, Oh Why" – 4:36

Chart positions

Album

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pas10003.html JPGR's Beatles site: Paul McCartney's "Ram"]