Tribute albums can be a hit or miss affair, with vocalists matched up with songs based on their popularity rather than their ability to appropriately pay homage to the original tracks. Happily, Ram On: The 50th Anniversary Tribute to Paul & Linda McCartney’s ‘Ram’ avoids that trap, instead relying on seasoned musicians who clearly hold great affection for the original album. That love is evident in every note, which makes this tribute a must-listen for any McCartney fan.
Headed by co-producers Fernando Perdomo and Denny Seiwell (also Ram’s original drummer), Ram On preserves the spirit of the classic 1971 LP, yet gives it a modern feel with full arrangements. More than 100 musicians were recruited for the project, including legendary bassist Will Lee, Ram guitarist David Spinozza, and Marvin Stamm, who again plays flugelhorn on “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.” Denny Seiwell plays drums on virtually every track, sounding just as strong 50 years after the source material’s release.
Seiwell and Perdomo carefully paired the vocalists with each song, particularly considering how Paul McCartney’s voice retained its full range during the Ram period. Dan Rothchild (Heart, Sheryl Crow) effortlessly handles the scatting on “Heart of the Country,” while hitting the difficult high notes on “Too Many People.” For “Ram On,” Wilco’s Pat Sansone’s voice glides smoothly over the words. The raucous “Monkberry Moon Delight” also impressively harkens back to the original, with lead singer Timmy Sean recalling McCartney’s original raspiness and half-shouting vocal. The backing singers even emulate the early Wings period (Ram, Wild Life); Linda McCartney’s spirit can be felt in this new version.
Two of Ram’s epic tracks, “Back Seat of My Car” and “Long Haired Lady,” are treated to full-on horn and string arrangements. The former’s score emphasizes the beauty of the George Martin-esque original work, while the latter spins a tale through not only music but the back and forth between Carnie Wilson and husband Rob Bonfiglio. Wilson impressively channels Linda’s vocal style, while Bonfiglio replicates Paul’s fluctuations between crooning and almost yelling.
Singles recorded during this time are also part of Ram On: The 50th Anniversary Tribute to Paul & Linda McCartney’s ‘Ram,’ including “Another Day,” expertly sung by Gordon Michaels. David Spinozza returns to perform his original guitar parts, while Seiwell even plays his original snare. Another interesting choice is turning “Oh Woman Oh Why” into a duet, with Eric Dover of Jellyfish and Lauren Leigh providing both sides to the story of a woman shooting her lover. Added backing singers emphasize and echo the woman assassin’s responses, and Joe Walsh-like guitars add a sinister edge to the story.
The care that obviously went into creating this album reflects the originality of the McCartneys’ 1971 release, a uniqueness that took multiple musicians to recreate. While it initially met with negative critical response, Ram has since been heralded as an early indie masterpiece, and the indie musicians featured on Fernando Perdomo and Denny Seiwell’s new project demonstrate why.
While a tribute album, Ram On also functions as an invitation. Indeed, the biggest compliment one can give is that this LP will inspire you to pull out your original copy of Ram and listen to it again with fresh ears – and renewed appreciation.
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