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Saturday, May 18, 2019

Another Macca album bought when it came out and we poured over the cover and listened to every syllable and loved it!
RAM ON!
On this day in music history: May 17, 1971 - “RAM”, by Paul & Linda McCartney is released. Produced by Paul & Linda McCartney, it is recorded at Columbia Recording Studio in New York City from November - December 1970, A&R Recording Studios in New York City in January 1971, and Sound Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA from February - March 1971. His second album following the break up of The Beatles, McCartney records in the US during the Winter of 1970/71. It is successful in spite of taking a major drubbing from critics. It also raises the ire of his former Beatle band mates, particularly John Lennon, who feels that several songs are directed at him. Lennon’s suspicions about this are further heightened by a photo of two beetles copulating on the back of the album jacket, and that it is another thinly veiled message against them. Lennon responds with “How Do You Sleep?” and “Crippled Inside”, included on his album “Imagine”. The front cover photo of McCartney holding a male sheep by the horns is spoofed by Lennon on a postcard inserted into the “Imagine” album, with John holding a pig by the ears. In spite of the negative critical response, the album is well received, and in time opinions change and is regarded as one of McCartney’s best albums. In the US, it is initially released without a single. Radio stations begin playing “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” which is released as a single three months later, hitting #1 in September of 1971. During its original press run, some copies of the LP pressed by the Capitol Records Los Angeles plant, feature labels with a whole apple on both sides, rather than a cut half apple on side two. While not exceedingly rare, this pressing variation is sought after by collectors. In 2012, the album is remastered and reissued in various editions which include a four CD + DVD archival box set that also include the rare promo mono mix of the album as well as the long out of print album “Thrillington” (featuring instrumental versions of the songs played by an orchestra). The bonus disc also includes “Another Day” and it’s B-side “Oh Woman, Oh Why” (#5 Pop), as well as the later B-side “Little Woman Love” and other outtakes from the sessions. The mono version of “RAM”, originally issued as a promo only LP to radio stations in the US (issued in some foreign territories), is also released. The reissue faithfully replicates the promo release, coming in a plain white sleeve, with the title handwritten on the front and the credits on a typewritten insert. The album is remastered and reissued as a 180 gram vinyl LP in December of 2017, on standard black and limited edition yellow vinyl. “RAM” hits number one on the UK album chart, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA. 
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Silly boys, fighting . . . . . . still they made up later as 'brother's often will . . . . . . . 

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