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Rating: Finally "Ram". The eagerly awaited fourth release of the "Paul McCartney Archive Collection" was released on May 22 with impeccable punctuality, unlike the previous publications. "Ram" has always been Paul’s favorite album and this new release fills the gap of the lackluster '93 version, which has long been out of catalog.
The material was made official a short time ago by McCartney's website; it was known that the process was taking a bit longer due to a richer deluxe version. Like the other releases (so far four), "Ram" is also republished in a single, double, and deluxe version. The latter is a large box set containing the original album, the bonus CD with unreleased tracks, the mono version, the chamber version by Percy Thrillington, a DVD containing documentary and video clips, plus a book, photos (including the entire sessions that spawned the cover), and reproductions of autographed lyrics from the era. The cost these days is considerable and not easily accessible. But one can settle for the double version, which proves to be, although simplified, very appealing. The cleaning of the recordings is perhaps less evident than in "McCartney"; "Ram" is in fact an album recorded in a traditional manner, although characterized by a "cut and paste" philosophy that Paul exhibits in many songs where fragments of various inspirations find a complete sense in a unique form, as in the case of the famous "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey". The album is a kaleidoscope of styles and forms often in stark contrast to each other, "Smile Away" and "Ram On", an almost hysterical work reflecting the troubled period of 1970-1971 the author experienced. The original vinyl version was already remarkable, but the work done today brings to light many somewhat overshadowed details, especially the very complex vocal parts, which prove to be the true added value of all compositions, in particular, "The Back Seat Of My Car" is phenomenal. Adding a very beautiful booklet with photos of McCartney's lesser-known period is definitely a valid point, it's curious to see how Paul started the recordings clean-shaven and ended them, directing part of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with a very full beard. Keeping the photos of little Mary with dad’s headphones in the recording studio. But this new version of "Ram" is a tribute to Linda, co-author and voice on all tracks, it is here that the first embryo of what would become the Wings in August '71 together with the drummer from "Ram," Denny Seiwell, was born. Seiwell is the first drummer Paul worked with after Ringo, an American with an innate sense of rhythm, helping Paul develop some ideas that ended up on the record, being the first to understand that the poignant "Another Day" is a touching portrait of an Eleanor Rigby in New York. Seiwell will always be enthusiastic about all the work done on the album. The bonus CD includes the single "Another Day"/"Oh Woman Oh Why" and a handful of songs officially unreleased until now, among which the nocturnal collaboration between Paul and Seiwell in the eight delirious minutes of "Rode All Night" stands out, along with the raw blues of "The Great Cock And Seagull Race", the calm and fluid bossa nova of "Sunshine Sometime", and the energetic and joyful "A Love For You" which here finally finds the much-coveted release on a Paul album.
In the end, yet another excellent addition to the new rendition of McCartney’s entire discography, definitely useful for newcomers and a pleasant rediscovery for the most ardent fans. Note that the "Ram" sessions were very prolific and it is not precisely known how many tracks were actually tried and recorded. The next eagerly anticipated releases will be the flagship Wings' works "Venus And Mars" and "Wings At The Speed Of Sound," expected after the summer to avoid saturating the market.
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