Disco de Paul McCartney: “Ram [Bonus Tracks]”

Released in May of 1971, this is Paul McCartney's second 'solo' LP, preceding his formation of the band 'Wings' for the 'Wild Life' album. It's a one-hundred percent improvement on his mediocre self-titled 'debut' album. Although 'Ram' did yield a number one hit for McCartney, the lush 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey', that song is far from the best song in the 'Ram' collection. That simple fact is instructive about the high quality of the album, which is solid from start to finish. And while wife Linda receives co-billing with McCartney on the album cover and in the song credits, and despite some endearing background vocals from her, Linda's contributions are surely overstated here, most likely as another swipe at Paul's ex-collaborator John Lennon.

'Ram' is, if nothing else, a fun collection of witty pop and rock songs. It most likely was intended as nothing more than that. While its style would certainly encourage John to continue ravaging Paul's productions for their pop sensibilities and 'meaninglessness' relative to his own crusades for peace and justice in the world, Paul's work probably produced a lot more peace and joy than John ever Imagined (pun intended). The songs on 'Ram' are not simply bouncy dance music, but bouyant numbers that bring pleasant and comforting images to heart and mind. Songs such as '3 Legs', 'Smile Away', 'Monkberry Moon Delight' and 'Eat At Home' are just a joy to experience, while the lighter fare, such as 'Heart of the Country', 'Long Haired Lady', and 'The Back Seat of My Car' are poignant and touching. There is an incredible mix of sounds, an aural cornucopia, on the production that keeps the listener attentive and interested. While 'Band On the Run' is often heralded as McCartney's best post-Beatles work, this album gives away little ground to that widely acclaimed classic. The only thing lifting 'Band On the Run' over the top of 'Ram' is its unifying theme. The individual songs run a dead heat between the two discs.

Despite the quality of these performances, only 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' has received consistant exposure over the years, which actually contributes to the album aging well and remaining fresh and accessible. After taking hits for the quality of the musicianship on his debut LP, Paul pulled together a slick, professional collection of studio performers for this outing, the most notable of which are future Wing drummer Denny Seiwell, and guitarist Hugh McCracken, who has backed up everyone from Steely Dan to Paul Simon. Also featured is guitarist David Spinozza, who ironically would later contribute to John Lennon's 'Mind Games' LP.

'Ram' rose to number two on the album charts in mid-1971, and remained in the Top 100 for 37 weeks, a testament to its quality despite the widespread panning it received in critical reviews. It's really a shame that McCartney has had to endure so much undeserved criticism over the years for what his music isn't, rather than having his work appreciated for what it is. Being a Beatle certainly had a down-side. But be advised that 'Ram' is as much an unheralded masterpiece as any production associated with a Beatle could be, a disc sure not to collect much dust on whatever shelf it may grace. Paul once remarked that he couldn't understand how anyone could listen to this disc and not enjoy it, and I wholeheartedly agree. It's a five star effort.

After disappointment in some critical and public quarters over the sparseness of McCartney, Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, went into the studio with musicians David Spinoza (guitars), Hugh McCracken (guitars), and future Wings founding member Denny Seiwell (drums). Their aim was to mix the rawness of McCartney with the epic scale of Abbey Road. The resulting album, Ram, divided opinion; either it was a stunning amalgamation of both albums or `Macca' had lost his touch. I happen to think it's the former. Sure there are some thruways tracks present, but Ram is never boring and there are plenty of classics on offerer like Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, Too Many People, Home In The Country, and The Back Seat Of My Car. Thankfully, Ram has gotten a reappraisal during the last decade or so and deserves a high spot in the McCartney/Wings catalogue. This remaster also includes as extra tracks, the first ever Paul McCartney solo single Another Day/ Oh Woman, Oh Why.

Too Many People - One of the songs on this album that John Lennon thought were veiled attacks on him and Yoko Ono. Hearing lyrics like `too many people preaching practices" and "that was your first mistake;You took your lucky break and you broke it in two", it's easy to see Lennon's reasoning. Great guitar work and Linda's backup vocals fit the song snugly. B-Side of the chart topping Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey.

3 Legs - Another supposed anti - Lennon Statement with lyrics like: "When I thought you was my friend . . .but you laid me down, put my heart around the bend". An easy rolling blues tune about `a house on the hill' and `a dog with 3 legs'.

Ram On - A jaunty throwaway track with old time ukulele well present in the mix. McCartney loves to put a mix of past musical styles into his work. Just look at Beatle tracks like when I'm 64, Honey Pie or Your Mother Should Know.

Dear Boy - Supposed third `message to Lennon' Song with a dig at Yoko: "And when you fall in love, dear boy, it won't be half as good as this". Bouncy tune, with sparkling piano high in the mix. Good harmony arrangement.

Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey - Got the to top of the charts on September 4, 1971, and I for one am not surprised. This is a aural cornucopia of funny British military accents, tempo changes, Brian Wilson-like falsetto and that damn catchy "hands across the water" refrain. The horn arrangement blows me out of the water every time I listen to it!

Smile Away - A Chunky rocker with some more Macca humour for everyone: " I can smell your feet a mile away ". B-side to the first single lifted off Ram, Eat At Home.

Heart Of The Country - A bouncy, countrified number about (what else?) his property in the Scottish Wilds. B-side of the album's second single, Back Seat Of My Car. Cool acoustic guitar and bass work.

Monkberry Moon Delight - McCartney in `vocal chord shredder' mode for this nonsensical romp .One of my favourite's tracks off Ram. At times during this track, it sounds like he's gargling acid!

Eat At Home - Paul, you naughty boy, you! The McCartney's indulge in a little `down home cooking'. Notice the Buddy Holly touch in the backup vocals. First single lifted off Ram.

Long Haired Lady - Lengthy, upbeat ballad dedicated to Linda. Hate her vocals on this track, though. Diverse guitar prevalent all through this song.

Ram On (Reprise) - A short reprise of track 3, that collapses near the climax.

The Backseat of My Car - Second single lifted from Ram (released 13 August, 1971). Great ballad about sex in the backseat of the car, and driving for the fun of it. Speeds up near the end and then returns to the original pace at the climax. Great song; it should have gotten higher on the charts than it did.

Another Day - First Paul McCartney single ever released. Lennon derided it as `rehash', but I happen to think it's a unique and insightful portrait of humdrum suburbia. Great tempo change for the two codas.An extra track for this reissue. Got to the top ten of both the U.S.A. and the U.K.

Oh Woman, Oh Why - Another voice shredder from Paul and B-side of Another Day. This slight track reminds me strongly of The White Album's Why Don't We Do It in The Road?

First, the packaging is the polar opposite of the Deluxe Box Set edition; a plain white jacket (complete with some sort of coffee stain for that authentic "old album look", I suppose), no writing on the spine, a plain white inner sleeve and plain white labels with no song titles; only the RAM logo in black on side A and the number of the apparently very limited run of this edition. Only a little card inside with credits.

The understated package only emphasizes the incredible music on the disc. 180 grams of pure mono vinyl utopia! The sound is Fat (that's a good thing) throughout. As I was 14 when this came out, I can tell you I've heard this album many, many times over the years. There are many subtle mixing differences - not to be mistaken with different performances, as was often the case in the Beatles' mono recordings (such as Lennon's entirely different lead vocal on "Help"). There are places where the reverb and/or echo on the vocals and instruments are notably different. The bass is incredibly punchy (wait till you hear Smile Away)

In a nutshell, if you love this album, and enjoy the warm (I wish there was a less cliched expletive) sound of vinyl, you're gonna want this. I will definitely treasure this for the years to come.

Paul McCartney took a lot of hits when The Beatles disbanded. One of the albums that took the biggest from his solo career was "Ram" which John Lennon dismissed and Roy Carr from the New Musical Express called "music for rooms with ducks on the wall", i.e., designed for domestic bliss. That ain't the way it is at all. "Ram" is one of McCartney's earliest sonic masterpieces. The songwriting, arrangements and performances are universally strong. From "Too Many People" (allegedly a veiled attack along with "Three Legs" and a random line from "Monkberry Moon Delight" that sounds like Paul's saying "have some of this Lennon" on the other three Beatles)to the amazing country rock of "Heart of the Country" every song could have held their own compared to John's or George's.

"Ram On" is a veiled reference to McCartney himself. Paul Ramon was one of the many pseudonyms McCartney used for himself while a member of The Beatles in his youth. "Eat at Home" celebrates the domestic bliss that Lennon would be celebrated for on his last great album "Double Fantasy". Paul was just a bit ahead of the times here. "Smile Away", "Dear Boy" (another supposed veiled dig at Lennon) both are stand outs as well. The former has a nice funky beat, the latter is McCartney on piano with some stunning backing vocals and a sharp, tricky arrangement.

As to the merits of this remaster, (I'm referring to the 1993 remaster import from Holland), it's good. It's not a huge improvement on the American version but it does have two bonus tracks one of which isn't available anywhere else. "Oh Woman Oh Why" is a minor McCartney rock gem worth investigating for hardcore Beatles/McCartney fans. The other bonus track the A side of the same single "Another Day" is available elsehwere. The definitive version is still the Gold disc mastered by Steve Hoffmann for the DCC release.

This is the most "Beatlesque" of all of Paul's post-Fab Four output. This is also his most "English" album...kind of his "Waterloo Sunset"; songs that seem inspired by living the pastoral British rural life. I don't understand why many dismiss this album as a trifle..perhaps because it only yielded one "greatest hit"--"Uncle Albert"? At any rate, there isn't one weak cut one here, even the one or two-minute "filler" tunes that have an endearingly rough "home demo" sound (reminiscent of "McCartney"). There are cuts like "Back Seat Of My Car", with a melody line and vocal harmony arrangement that would make Brian Wilson weep; the great country-blues "Heart of the Country"; the dead-on Elvis vocal impression on the infectious rocker "Smile Away"...the list goes on and on. This British import reissue also wisely includes the A + B sides of the 45 that was released at the same time and didn't appear on the original album: "Another Day" and "Oh Woman Oh Why". Excellent remastering on this disc also--far superior to the domestic US version.