1971 Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram
Ram is the only album credited to the husband-and-wife music duo Paul and Linda McCartney, released on 17 May 1971 by Apple Records. It was recorded in New York with guitarists David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken, and future Wings drummer Denny Seiwell. Three singles were issued from the album: “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” (Paul’s first number 1 hit in America without the Beatles), “The Back Seat of My Car” and “Eat at Home”. The recording sessions also yielded the non-album single “Another Day”.
The album’s release coincided with a period of acrimony between McCartney and his former Beatles bandmates, and followed his legal action in the United Kingdom’s High Court to dissolve the Beatles partnership. John Lennon perceived slights in the lyrics to songs such as “Too Many People”. Although McCartney felt that he had addressed the criticisms he received with his 1970 solo debut, McCartney, Ram elicited a similarly unfavourable reaction from music journalists. It nonetheless topped the national albums charts in the UK, the Netherlands and Canada. Today, Ram is held in high regard by many music critics and is often ranked as one of McCartney’s best solo albums. It has also been recognised as an early indie pop album.
In 1971, McCartney produced Thrillington, an instrumental interpretation of Ram that was released in 1977 under the pseudonym “Percy ‘Thrills’ Thrillington”. In 2012, an expanded edition of Ram was reissued with over two dozen bonus tracks as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. In 2020, Ram was ranked number 450 on Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest albums of all time.
Tracks
1 Too Many People (Paul McCartney) 04:10
2 3 Legs (Paul McCartney) 02:47
3 Ram On (Paul McCartney) 02:29
4 Dear Boy (Paul McCartney; Linda McCartney) 02:13
5 Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (Paul McCartney; Linda McCartney) 04:55
6 Smile Away (Paul McCartney) 03:52
7 Heart Of The Country (Paul McCartney; Linda McCartney) 02:23
8 Monkberry Moon Delight (Paul McCartney; Linda McCartney) 05:24
9 Eat At Home (Paul McCartney; Linda McCartney) 03:22
10 Long Haired Lady (Paul McCartney; Linda McCartney) 06:05
11 Ram On (Paul McCartney) 00:55
12 The Back Seat Of My Car (Paul McCartney) 04:31
Musicians
Bass | Paul McCartney |
Drums | Denny Seiwell |
Guitar | Paul McCartney |
Guitar | Hugh McCracken |
Acoustic Guitar | Paul McCartney |
Keyboards | Paul McCartney |
Piano | Paul McCartney |
Background Vocals | Linda McCartney |
Vocals | Paul McCartney |
Other Musicians
2 3 Legs
Guitar | David Spinozza |
3 Ram On
Ukelele | Paul McCartney |
4 Dear Boy
Synthesizer | Paul Beaver |
Flugelhorn | Marvin Stamm |
Brass | Mel Davis |
Brass | Ray Crisara |
Brass | Snooky Young |
Violin | David Nadien |
Violin | Aaron Rosand |
Xylophone | Paul McCartney |
8 Monkberry Moon Delight
Background Vocals | Heather McCartney |
9 Eat At Home
Guitar | David Spinozza |
10 Long Haired Lady
Vocals | Linda McCartney |
12 The Back Seat Of My Car
Guitar | David Spinozza |
New York Philharmonic (Tracks 5, 6)
Liner Notes
Producer – Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Engineer (Mixing)- Eirik Wilhelm Wangberg
Engineer (Sound) – Armin Steiner, Dixon Van Winkle, James William Guercio, Phil Ramone, Ted Brosnan, Tim Geelan
Photography – Linda McCartney
Copyright McCartney Productions Inc