Paul and Linda McCartney
Ram

Either you hate it or you love it to madness, that's the most common judgment on the sweetest, most easygoing album Paul McCartney has ever produced in his long solo career. At the time, Rolling Stones critics called it "the lowest point in rock music", a gratuitous and somewhat irritating definition, as the album was compared to Lennon's "Imagine", something decidedly inappropriate and ridiculous given that they are two products at the antipodes, both in terms of music and themes.

At the beginning of his career, McCartney had to struggle to be appreciated, choosing the most difficult path by recording alone or with supporting musicians, talented but lacking a personality that could challenge Paul. The first turning point in the career that shocked critics was to credit [n.d.E: perhaps credit?] his wife as co-author of the album as well as singer. The result is far from bad: Linda's voice, even if not perfectly pitched ("Long Haired Lady"), is nevertheless more pleasant than Mrs. Lennon's honking; as a musician, however, she doesn't yet have a precise role, something that will happen soon with the birth of the Wings.

"Ram" is a beautiful, catchy work, a true melodic masterpiece of Sir Paul. Songs like "Dear Boy", with its intertwining of voices, are little gems. The serenity that emanates from "Ram On" clarifies the domestic dimension ("Family Man" disparagingly defined by the critics) conquered by McCartney, light years away from Lennon's anxieties. The album offers splendid acoustic arpeggios, "Heart Of The Country", a successful mini-suite, "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", and plenty of excellent pop. There are also more lively moments, like the decent "Smile Away" or the proto-punk of "Monkberry Moon Delight".

"Ram" in the end does nothing but provide Paul with the opportunity to exercise melody, orchestrations, and experimentation, music first and foremost as in the best solo tradition, with Paul always attentive to sound quality, less so in terms of lyrics. The CD reissue adds the 45-rpm single of "Another Day", a beautiful song where Paul offers a splendid portrait of an everyday girl putting on makeup in the mirror, and the b-side, the excellent "Oh Woman, Oh Why", a gritty song into which Paul even inserts gunshots.

Soon after the release, the twist no one expected, starting from scratch, because "Wild Life" is a sort of blank slate, with the Wings, a gamble that Paul will hugely win with the critics, demonstrating a decidedly enviable courage in decision-making.