Ram (album)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ram | ||
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| Studio album by Paul and Linda McCartney | ||
| Released | 28 May 1971 | |
| Recorded | November 1970- Early 1971 |
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| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 43:15 | |
| Label | Apple/EMI | |
| Producer(s) | Paul and Linda McCartney | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Paul and Linda McCartney chronology | ||
| McCartney (Paul McCartney) (1970) |
Ram (1971) |
Wild Life (Wings) (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.
After the release of the successful debut McCartney, Paul and Linda went on a lengthy holiday and spent much time on their farm in 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 Dave Spinozza and Hugh McCracken were tapped for guitar duties. Although it was a collaborative project, Linda's vocal duties were mostly resigned to backing Paul, who sang lead throughout. The sessions were very productive, even birthing future songs like "Dear Friend". They released the debut Wings album Wild Life later in 1971, as well as produced "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. 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.
"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.
With hopes riding high for the album, the McCartneys were devastated with critics' cold reactions to "Ram", but they were appeased by its commercial success. 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. But the harsh press reviews were still somewhat shocking to McCartney, and in addressing the criticism, he began contemplating the formation of a new band that summer.
However, Ram's critical standing has risen dramatically since its release and is generally considered to be one of McCartney's most satisfying pop albums.
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.
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Paul and Linda McCartney, except where noted.
- "Too Many People" (Paul McCartney) – 4:10
- One of three songs, alongside "Dear Boy" and "The Back Seat Of My Car", that John Lennon felt were directed at him
- "3 Legs" (Paul McCartney) – 2:48
- "Ram On" (Paul McCartney) – 2:28
- "Dear Boy" – 2:13
- "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" – 4:55
- One of McCartney's uncles was named Albert
- "Smile Away" (Paul McCartney) – 3:53
- "Heart Of The Country" – 2:22
- "Monkberry Moon Delight" – 5:22
- "Eat at Home" – 3:20
- "Long Haired Lady" – 6:05
- "Ram On" (Paul McCartney) – 0:55
- Features an impromptu early rendition of "Big Barn Bed" - later recorded for Red Rose Speedway - in its fadeout
- "Back Seat of My Car" (Paul McCartney) – 4:28
