“RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.
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“RAM”, the originally misunderstood album masterpiece that was way ahead of its time and set the highest bar for all other Beatles as individuals and for Paul himself. In fact, its mastery was never matched, as much as all four continued to produce fine work. Actually, “RAM” sits right up there with any Beatles album and is perhaps the ultimate foundation and origin of a genre, indie rock.
Sometimes it seems to me that Sir Paul McCartney himself doesn’t appreciate in full scope the level of musical genius he achieved with this album. It’s such a revolutionary piece that I would think Paul, given the energy he still seems to have, should consider a farewell last tour in which he should interpret the complete RAM album live (as hard as some of the tunes seem to be performed live), folliwong the proper original album sequence and with the help of a mid size Camerata’s or orquestra that could somehow favor reproducing the sounds that tunes like “Uncle Albee/Admiral Halsey” and “Back seat of my car” demand. Of course it’s impossible for Paul, given his age, to reproduce his out of this world vocals on “Monkberry Moon Delight”, but some session vocalists could help thereunder, just like in the unprecedented and shading harmonies which define “Dear Boy”.
Doing that would be the most fantastic tour farewell for Paul, similar to what the sublime “Now and Then” tune has meant for the Beatles as a recording band.
RAM is, in my humble opinion, the best post Beatle album Paul ever made and one of the finest music albums in history. Its finesse and innovative nature is so unique that such characteristics are most likely what made it so misunderstood when it came out in 1971.
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A) "Ram" is garbage except for 3 or 4 pretty good tracks, and
B) His voice is not remotely up to handling most of these songs anymore. -
@bruce-m said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
A) "Ram" is garbage except for 3 or 4 pretty good tracks, and
B) His voice is not remotely up to handling most of these songs anymore.Tell us how you REALLY feel Bruce! (Love ya man!)
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I well remember buying my vinyl copy way back in 1971 and then all the critics making me feel like an axe murderer or something since I owned it/liked it. With the passage of time, we have witnessed it age quite well, with some critics now admitting they butchered it as they blamed Paul for breaking up the Fabs.
To these ears, I wouldn’t quite call it a masterpiece but loved hearing Too Many People live back in 2005 and I was one of the lucky ones to hear him do Ram On while in Charlotte in 2010 in the concert, not the soundcheck, where it is far less common..
My vote for masterpiece—either Band on the Run or Chaos and Creation.
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While I have a higher opinion of Ram that I once did, I would never call it a "masterpiece." It's good in some places, but contains lots of nonsense and isn't close to being Paul's best post Beatles album. IMO
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@njr said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
@bruce-m said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
A) "Ram" is garbage except for 3 or 4 pretty good tracks, and
B) His voice is not remotely up to handling most of these songs anymore.Tell us how you REALLY feel Bruce! (Love ya man!)
I always do!!!!
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@john-mackintosh said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
I well remember buying my vinyl copy way back in 1971 and then all the critics making me feel like an axe murderer or something since I owned it/liked it. With the passage of time, we have witnessed it age quite well, with some critics now admitting they butchered it as they blamed Paul for breaking up the Fabs.
To these ears, I wouldn’t quite call it a masterpiece but loved hearing Too Many People live back in 2005 and I was one of the lucky ones to hear him do Ram On while in Charlotte in 2010 in the concert, not the soundcheck, where it is far less common..
My vote for masterpiece—either Band on the Run or Chaos and Creation.
For the record, "Too Many People" is one track I really like. Also "Eat at Home" and "Heart of the Country." "Dear Boy," to me, is an honorable near-miss. The rest of the album I never need to hear again.
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I agree with the OP that Ram is a masterpiece album for Paul, probably tied for his best solo album and as good as any Beatles solo album. I wasn’t around at the time, but it’s mind boggling to me that critics bashed it.
I don’t really like Back Seat of My Car, but love every other song on it. -
I don't think it's a masterpiece but I do like all the songs except for Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey.
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@mccall said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
I agree with the OP that Ram is a masterpiece album for Paul, probably tied for his best solo album and as good as any Beatles solo album. I wasn’t around at the time, but it’s mind boggling to me that critics bashed it.
I don’t really like Back Seat of My Car, but love every other song on it.Nothing personal, but it's mind-boggling to me that people actually like this album. I've been a huge Paul fan since age 11 (I'm 68), but Long Haired Lady, Monkberry Moon Delight, Smile Away and Back Seat of My Car are just torture. I'm pretty sure that, given a choice between listening to them and having my fingernails ripped out with pliers, I'd go for the pliers.
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@bruce-m As usual, you mince no words Bruce!
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@bruce-m said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
@mccall said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
I agree with the OP that Ram is a masterpiece album for Paul, probably tied for his best solo album and as good as any Beatles solo album. I wasn’t around at the time, but it’s mind boggling to me that critics bashed it.
I don’t really like Back Seat of My Car, but love every other song on it.Nothing personal, but it's mind-boggling to me that people actually like this album. I've been a huge Paul fan since age 11 (I'm 68), but Long Haired Lady, Monkberry Moon Delight, Smile Away and Back Seat of My Car are just torture. I'm pretty sure that, given a choice between listening to them and having my fingernails ripped out with pliers, I'd go for the pliers.
They're just fun songs to sing along with.
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@oobu24 said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
@bruce-m said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
@mccall said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
I agree with the OP that Ram is a masterpiece album for Paul, probably tied for his best solo album and as good as any Beatles solo album. I wasn’t around at the time, but it’s mind boggling to me that critics bashed it.
I don’t really like Back Seat of My Car, but love every other song on it.Nothing personal, but it's mind-boggling to me that people actually like this album. I've been a huge Paul fan since age 11 (I'm 68), but Long Haired Lady, Monkberry Moon Delight, Smile Away and Back Seat of My Car are just torture. I'm pretty sure that, given a choice between listening to them and having my fingernails ripped out with pliers, I'd go for the pliers.
They're just fun songs to sing along with.
I stand by my comment about the pliers.
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@bruce-m said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
@oobu24 said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
@bruce-m said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
@mccall said in “RAM”, Paul’s misunderstood masterpiece.:
I agree with the OP that Ram is a masterpiece album for Paul, probably tied for his best solo album and as good as any Beatles solo album. I wasn’t around at the time, but it’s mind boggling to me that critics bashed it.
I don’t really like Back Seat of My Car, but love every other song on it.Nothing personal, but it's mind-boggling to me that people actually like this album. I've been a huge Paul fan since age 11 (I'm 68), but Long Haired Lady, Monkberry Moon Delight, Smile Away and Back Seat of My Car are just torture. I'm pretty sure that, given a choice between listening to them and having my fingernails ripped out with pliers, I'd go for the pliers.
They're just fun songs to sing along with.
I stand by my comment about the pliers.