Ram (album)

***Ram*** is the only album credited to the husband-and-wife music duo Paul and Linda McCartney, released on 22 November 2002 by Apple Records. Following the death of Linda, and the subsequent release and success of 'Winedark Open Sea', Paul realized there was still a large portion of sessions left unused. Not wanting to let any piece of his wife's legacy go unrealized, Paul quickly began work on revitalizing what he and Linda had originally set out to do: record and release a full album created by the two of them collaboratively, as a duo.

## Background and recording

With multiple tapes-worth of sessions material leftover from the Ram project after being used throughout 'Winedark Open Sea', Paul soon began trying to revive the album from what was left, in his words: *“attempting to stay true to what me and [Linda] saw the album becoming. It was a bit difficult, as we didn’t get everything done, and I had to go back and record new bits, but other than that, this is as close to what "Ram" would have looked like as we can really get”*.

One notable track, ‘Right On Time’, is perhaps the one track that grew the most during these sessions. Linda began writing lyrics for this song *“over 5 years ago, but we could never find the right sound or production for it. It was, quite ironically, after she passed away, that it just all came to my mind so clearly. I think of it as a sign that she’s still here with us, still writing music with me”.*

‘Right On Time’ is only one of three compositions that have been released with Linda McCartney as the sole credit, as well as the only known recording to feature Stella McCartney singing lead vocals (with Paul on backing vocals, bass, drums, and trumpet, and his son, James, on backing vocals and guitar). Paul felt he “*couldn’t deliver the feeling [Linda] would have when she used sing it around the house. Stella captured it perfectly, and I think she did an amazing job... almost like Linda was singing through her… I’m very proud of all of them”.*

## Interview with Paul McCartney

One notable inclusion on 'Ram' is the closing track, 'Right On Time', which features Paul and Linda's daughter, Stella McCartney, in her only vocal recording. Paul explained the backstory in a interview in 2018:

"Linda had actually written some words to a song she'd made about... this must've been around 1988? And... I'd always tell her 'this is beautiful! C'mon, we should record this sometime!', and she'd go 'ah, maybe someday'... cause she was never satisfied with it. She'd always be changing bits of it. But, after she died, she only still had the words. And I would just stay up for hours reading them and trying to hear it in my head, on how we could bring it to life... and eventually, one day, I was spending time with my daughter, Stella, at her place, cause she liked showing me dresses and clothing she'd designed... because she was working on going into fashion. And so, there we were, she was cooking us lunch... and in the kitchen I hear her humming a melody, and I thought to myself 'ah that's pretty'. And so I said 'Stella, what's that you're humming?', and she goes 'mum's song'. And I'm sitting there thinking 'mum's...? Ah, Linda... but she...', and so I ask her, I go 'mum's song? What song?', and she explained to me that it was a song Linda would sing to her to get her to sleep... And I'd known nothing about it! So I asked her if there were words, and she started singing the exact words I'd been looking at on the paper. And I said 'oh my god, this is mum's song!' \*chuckles\*. So that's how the song came about."

When asked about why Stella sang the final version, Paul said:

"Well, it was two things really. Firstly... it was their song, really. Linda sang it to Stella... I also didn't think I could deliver it like how I heard Stella singing it. And I'd been telling Stella for years that she could be a musician if she wanted, but she never pursued it really... she loved to sing around the house, she could play a few instruments, and she was surrounded by music, but she didn't see it as her... her path, since James was already doing music. So I asked her to play on 'Right On Time', since she knew how the song went, but she was worrying she wouldn't be any good... and so I said 'hey, its just me and you and mum in here, don't be nervous'. And it took a bit, but she got comfortable... and she did wonderfully I think. Later on, James and Mary came over, and we all got to sing the chorus together... it was magical seeing all your kids grown up and singing together, y'know. And I just love them... and I'm so proud of her... and I'm so proud of James... and Mary, and just... I've got some amazing kids, y'know?"

## Release

Released shortly after 'Winedark Open Sea' slipped away from the charts, 'Ram' was received by fans and critics alike with unanimous acclaim. Praise was given for the production given Linda's limited material, Paul's lyrics, and Stella's vocal spotlight, calling her a 'welcome addition to the ever-growing talent of the McCartney family'. The album would go on to win Electronic Album of The Year at the 2002 Grammys, with Linda McCartney being posthumously nominated for Best Song of The Year for 'Right On Time'.

## Track listing

All tracks written by P. McCartney and L. McCartney except where noted otherwise):

**Side one**

1. *"Ambitions" -* 2:56
2. *"Ice & Fire Suite"* - 5:34
3. *"Traveling Light" -* 7:37

**Side two**

1. *"Lifelong Passion"* - 4:49
2. *"Home To Me"* - 5:53
3. *"Storm Song"* - 4:49
4. *"Lovers In A Dream"* - 7:00

**Side three**

1. *"Ram"* - 22:59

**Side four**

1. *"Queen Of My Heart"* - 3:50
2. *"The Sun"* - 6:37
3. *"Earth & Air Suite"* - 3:12
4. *"Paul’s Piano Piece"* (P. McCartney) - 3:15
5. *"Right On Time"* (L. McCartney) - 7:44
6. *"Pneuma"* - 3:52 (hidden track)