#450 Paul and Linda McCartney, 'Ram' (1971)

New Entry

Amazingly, a new entry. This album is arguably McCartney at his most bitter. It was 1971, the break-up of The Beatles was still a raw wound and a bitter legal battle was ensuing. McCartney released this, his second solo album following the end of The Beatles and opening the ablum is ‘Too Many People,’ an acerbic swipe at former band member and best friend, John Lennon. Featuring one of my favourite lyrics of all time, “You took your lucky break and broke it in two,” an obvious (and confirmed) reference to Lennon’s lucky break being The Beatles and how he allegedly broke it in two. The lyrics originally were “Yoko took your lucky break and broke it in two,” but McCartney changed that before recording the song. The song (and album) also opens with the lyrics “piss off.” Raw emotions on record, wrapped in a pop song.

The song ‘3 Legs’ was perceived by George Harrison and Ringo Starr to be a dig at them and Lennon. A pretty standard 12-bar blues song that totally changes 2 minutes and 13 seconds in. Flips you on your head. One of my favourite changes in a song. There was also an image on the back cover of two beetles copulating, which has been interpreted to mean how McCartney felt he was being treated by the others.

This album was poorly received on release, which I don’t understand, as I personally feel that the songs on this album are as good as anything he did with The Beatles. Big call! In retrospect, critics have been more kind.

Lennon would respond to this album with ‘How Do You Sleep’ and ‘Crippled Inside’ off of his landmark solo album, ‘Imagine.’ But more on that later, as I’m sure we’ll be discussing it at some point.

#rs500albums