 ""Ram On" With McCartney's Second Album" | 2008-08-27 |
| - Reviewed By srivers7 |
| After the mixed reception that greeted the charmingly homemade "McCartney" (1970), Sir Paul returned to the studio for this uneven album. Though "Ram" earned a bad rap from critics, it surpasses the appalling mediocrity of "Wild Life" and "Red Rose Speedway." There is one classic track (the elaborate "Back Seat of My Car") and tuneful ditties such as "Ram On," "Dear Boy" and "Heart of the Country." McCartney's first solo hit, "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," remains a catchy annoyance while "Long Haired Lady" is simply annoying. At least he still rocks on "Smile Away," "Monkberry Moon Delight" and "Too Many People" - a John & Yoko critique that sparked Lennon's vicious "How Do You Sleep?" The virtues and weaknesses of Early McCartney are on full display in this 1971 release. |
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 "Paul's and Linda's Best Fun Recording" | 2008-08-27 |
| - Reviewed By pkx |
| This is one of the Top 10 Albums of my Time ... Born in the 50's with Rock and Roll ... Blessed and Cursed in the 60's with Everything ... To the Stars in the 70's ... To Hell in the 80's ... Reality in the 90's and , oh well , Nostalgia and let's get a little more in the Zeros ... |
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| "McCartney's Masterpiece" | 2008-08-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1LZ4Q5FQ6IUM2 |
| A classic above and beyond,McCartney's second solo album,1971,with wife Linda co-writing a few songs,McCartney's best solo project that stands the test of time and sitting right next to it would obviously be none other than Band On The Run,Ram On,doesn't waste any time getting to the point with a melodie,kicking off with,Too Many People,and as you're listening to this,Eat At Home,3 Legs,and Smile Away,you can feel the presence of McCartney's Elvis influence with McCartney's own energy standing out in front leaving Elvis hidden in the background and yet as you hear,Dear Boy,it takes you back to the White Album remenisant of McCartney's ballads,I Will,and Martha My Dear,also there's,Heart Of The Country,a nice laid back tune revealing the country side of McCartney,and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,Long Haired Lady could've easily fit on any Beatles later albums,RAM,an essential Paul McCartney achievement. |
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| "Classic McCartney" | 2008-05-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: AS1BGQXQJNKNE |
| A must have for any Macca Collection. His second great solo album with Linda and lots of terrific songs. Get it! Love it! |
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 ""GIVE YOUR HEART TO SOMEBODY SOON, RIGHT AWAY..." (Paul and Linda McCartney ram on)" | 2008-04-20 |
| - Reviewed By howlinblindmojo |
RAM (1971) is a sort of postcard to the world from Paul and Linda McCartney. They're in love, married, and living on a secluded farm in Scotland. They refuse to take part in any fantasies that Beatles freaks or the media have about reunions, masterpieces, high profile appearances, prolific statements, or any other expectations that anybody may have of them.
The album is mostly a statement of sentimental and carefree simplicity. Think kids, cats, farm animals, and a happy marriage. Paul also helps himself to a few vicious shots at Linda's ex-husband, and he doesn't spare the venom when he digs into his former songwriting partner John Lennon, either. But mostly, this is romantic and lighthearted fun.
It all starts out with Too Many People, an acoustic/electric guitar rocker that takes a few jabs at John.
You took your lucky break and broke it into
Now what can be done for you
You broke it into
The same song takes a shot at Linda's ex-husband, too.
I find my love awake and waiting to be
Now what can be done for you
She's waiting for me
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey was the hit single from the album, and it's a three-part suite of frivolity and unassuming psychedelia. The happy-go-lucky jauntiness sets the tone for the album, and the song is quite an exercise in imaginitive music theory. Monkberry Moon Delight is an abstract rock screamer that's strangely irresistible. The melodic Dear Boy and Ram On are both pleasant and relaxing, while Heart Of The Country is a bouncy acoustic guitar celebration of living on the McCartney farm.
Want a horse, I got a sheep
I'm gonna get me a good night's sleep
Living in a home in the heart of the country
Long Haired Lady is an extended love song that's sweet, melodious, and agreeable. The Back Seat Of My Car is a favorite of mine on the album. It's an anthem of young love that others don't approve of or understand. The lovers take off in his car and "may end up in Mexico City". The song reaches an enthusiastic crescendo as Paul and Linda sing in a harmonious chant.
Oh, we believe that we can't be wrong!
Oh, we believe that we can't be wrong!
RAM is an essential part of the early post-Beatle McCartney years, and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey brought Paul his first #1 single after The Beatles split. Taken on it's own terms, it's quite an enjoyable piece of work. It's relaxing, romantic, fun, and has some excellant examples of Paul McCartney's astute songwriting abilities. It's also kind of frivolous, carefree, and a little bit exclusive, so if you're looking to kneel in front of your speakers and worship a sweeping and all consuming work of art, this might not be what you're looking for. For those who just want to hear good music mixed with carefree simplicity, relaxation, and love & marriage, RAM will do just fine.
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| "An age-old favorite" | 2008-04-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: ABA3ONDEAXZ87 |
| This was one of my favorite albums when I was a senior in high school some 30 years ago. In fact I even listened to Ram on 8-track tape in my first car, a '57 Chevrolet Bel-aire. I love having it on CD and reliving those great memories from the past. |
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| "Whew, What a Killer Album!" | 2008-03-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3FE9H5V9RMTQG |
| Alas, I now refer to this masterpiece as a CD or MP3, but in its heyday, this was THE 'album' to be reckoned with! It was all the rage...I mean, c'mon - Paul McCartney?!!! Forget about it. Everyone on my block, in town and on planet earth owned it and knew it was great. If you didn't value this album then you didn't understand the Beatles catalog or anything they influenced, which was EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE. It's shameful how time erodes that fact. Yeah, it may not have been a 'Beatles' album, per se, but it sure was a nice extension for all of us who admired and welcomed what they had given us in previous years. This album still holds up today. What's really cool for me is that decades after the album's release, our small little 30th Street apartment in New York City was only a mere foot steps across the street where Macca had earlier recorded endless vocal tracks to Monkberry Moon Delight. Columbia Studio C, The Church, has sadly been replaced by a high rise apartment building. Like this beautiful studio that has now long been demolished, why don't we just leave things alone and enjoy them for what they epitomize? This album is a cornerstone in pop history in its own right and should be treasured as such. From the incredible process it took to complete such excellent songwriting craftsmanship and Paul's acquiring some of NYC's best session players of the day, straight through to the metaphor in the album's concept artwork, this should be in everyone's library. It was Paul who recorded in NYC long before John ever did, God rest his soul. Paul never gets credit for this...hmm?! |
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| "Ram On...." | 2008-03-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: AKR4WZTYM4OOA |
| This really stood out in the crowd when it came out, and to my mind has weathered the decades since admirably; such an interesting change of direction for Paul McCartney as it was at the time, and so refreshing, endearing. The novelty in this album just never fades and winding down with Sitting in the Back Seat of My Car is just perfect. |
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| "pop perfection once again" | 2008-02-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2582KMXLK2P06 |
A lot of people can't figure out which Paul McCartney album is their favorite. Some people prefer the diversity and popularity of Band on the Run, while other people like the shorter, softer side of Paul (Ram).
I think Ram comes very close to being a masterpiece. The only thing preventing that from happening are a couple songs that feel like throwaways. Songs just tacked on to fill up space. Of course, they are still melodic as heck, and great to listen to despite that.
"Too Many People" is amazing to me for having an angry and forceful verse melody before breaking into a more mellow and sad vocal melody. Sort of the same thing the Sabbath classic "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" does (but Black Sabbath did that a few years later).
"3 Legs" is one of those filler-sounding songs. It's pleasant, but in a campfire kind of way. It's pleasant. "Ram On" and "Dear Boy" feature BEAUTIFUL vocal melodies from Paul. Very heartfelt and honest feelings. He was extremely good at that.
"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" is the big hit, and it's a very interesting track the way it jumps around from different feelings and vocal melodies. It's unlike anything he's ever done before, and no doubt Paul was interested in the progressive rock scene going on at the time. "Smile Away" has a driving riff in the beginning that's totally sweet, and reminds me of the Beach Boys when the vocals come in.
"Heart of the Country" is honest and melodic brilliance, "Monkberry Moon Delight" is a very aggressive and appealingly sloppy-sounding (and happy) pop song, and "Eat at Home" is another melodic treat. "Long Haired Lady" features a SERIES of brilliant vocal melodies, all of them quite exceptionally memorable, and "The Back Seat of my Car", while not a favorite of mine, is certainly melodic and a pretty solid tune regardless.
Overall, I love it, and highly recommend it. |
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| "A rare winner in Mac's solo career" | 2008-02-13 |
| - Reviewed By the_q_is_slient |
Paul shares album credit with Linda on "Ram," but let's face it, Paul's a nice guy, and we all know who actually IS responsible. Wings would exist as a way to include Linda in a way that didn't seem quite so obvious. Lucky for him, Ringo was a goof, George was quiet and John was polarizing, so Paul was most people's favorite Beatle, so we can forgive his ambition of love.
But Linda aside, "Ram" is the typical McCartney solo album: some nice, catchy little songs interspersed among the standard stuff, and at least two or three filler tracks that should be forgotten entirely. But even the lesser tracks have a simple and inexplicable charm to them, so only a couple truly deserved the axe. Even if "Ram" has only one or two of his all-time best solo tracks, he's more consistent here than on almost anything he's done before or since (excepting the Fab Four, of course).
The wry, innocent and often whimsical nature makes it fodder for elitists (some turned their nose to his homespun efforts), but when heard from today, "Ram" has a nice spare sound that benefits Paul over some of his messier and over-produced creations in the coming years with Wings. Witness "Ram On," which should be an immediate throwaway with its simple melody and repeated lyrical couple, but in a modern view, has a quiet beauty that's difficult to ignore. For the next thirty years until "Chaos and Creation," this would remain arguably Paul's best solo album, and even though the man never did create a masterpiece single-handedly, that honor shouldn't be ignored.
Best cuts: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," "Monkberry Moon Delight," "Too Many People," "Ram On," "Back Seat of My Car," "Smile Away," "Heart of the Country," "Long Haired Lady" |
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