Genre Rock (sort of)
Evaluation Paul McCartney always marched to the tune of his own drums, especially since Ringo was no longer in the picture. When the Beatles broke up everyone was expecting Paul McCartney to come up with some really great music. Then he released RAM. Jaws dropped and tongues wagged. What kind of crap was McCartney giving us? Well, I have the answer to that. He gave us some of the most unusual, quirky crap that we’d seen in popular music up to that time. This album was genius in it’s own right, as weird as some of the tunes were and silly the rest were. Before I go any further let me give you my top 5.
1) Too Many People - Vocals on this song alternate between downright screaming and a silly high falsetto. Aside from that, this song flat out rocks, at times being just plain nose. I have never heard so many moods in one song in my life. The number of colors in this tune just boggles the mind. One of his most unusual pieces.
2) Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - This song was so unusual that it debuted on the charts here at number 10 and 2 weeks later hit number 1. If you have never heard this song then you owe it to yourself to listen to one of the most unusual songs of the last 40 years. This song also has more moods than Carter has liver pills and is sillier than a drunk in a bar at closing time. This is one song you will never be able to forget.
3) Back Seat Of My Car - This song is one of Paul McCartney’s all time best. The melody is gorgeous and the ending has all the energy OF a car. I never tired of hearing this tune, and while it wasn’t released as a single here (it was available in the U.K.) it still got significant airplay. Just an amazing song.
4) Long Haired Lady - Another very nice song that alternated between pretty and cute all in one tune, topped off with an ending that was definitely borrowed from the Beatles ’’Hey Jude’’. This song is over 6 minutes but really plays much shorter. There is something very haunting about this song. McCartney had a way of doing that to you. This was not released as a single anywhere, probably because of it’s length, but it was one of the best songs on the album.
5) RAM On A really pretty song and very short too. This song like most of the others has a melody that is very easy to remember and very infectious.
Bottom Line This album has been torn apart by some and praised by others. I don’t really know how you’ll react to this collection. Like I said, some of the songs are silly, some are weird, some almost appear to have split personalities with ’’Uncle Albert’’ having about 5 of them. Whatever your reaction to this album I can promise you one thing, you WILL have a reaction. There are no generic tunes here. This is a compilation of some of the strangest, quirkiest songs you will have ever heard. You may love ’em, you may hate ’em. One thing you won’t be is indifferent. So if you want to experience one of the most unusual albums of the past 40 years then do yourself a favor and get a copy of RAM. You may be glad you did.