Paul McCartney’s homespun classic album, Ram, is my favourite Symphony.

It has all the grandeur, playfulness and adventure of the Beatles at their best but, unlike any Beatles album, is a total embodiment of love, celebrating his life with his wife Linda partially replacing his former partner John Lennon in his music..

Notes on the songs:

Side One.

Too Many People: soaring lead guitars back the primary message: John, pull your head in.

3 Legs: “We can fly. We can fly.”

Ram.On: the right of men to love. Ride away. Right away.

Dear Boy: chattering rhythms reflect the imprecisions of love. It did not really deserve the massive retaliation of John Lennon’s song “How do you sleep?” (with George Harrison’s biting slide guitar solo in support).

Uncle Albert: the sweet beguiling and confusing refuge of family: down home charm both pontificating and serving cups of tea.

Admiral Halsey: Linda makes her entrance as a part replacement of what had been John Lennon in Pauls music. “Hands across the water. Hands across the sky.”

Smile Away: rock’n’roll where the backing vocals carry the lead thought: “I don’t know how to do.that. I’m learning how to do that.”

Side Two.

Heart Of The Country: Home !!!!! Like Hank? Or better?

Monkberry Moon Delight: “When a rattle of rats had awoken/The sinews, the nerves and the veins/My piano was boldly outspoken/In attempts to repeat his refrain.” Poetically, but not prosaicly or politically, this is better than The First Amendment on free speech and it’s realities.

Eat At Home: Adult playfulness. “Don’t do that.” as “DO THAT.” Sex matters ……. at home.

Long Haired Lady: A duet defined by Paul’s love for his wife.

Ram On (reprise): Galavanting as a countrified Beatle. 58 seconds tilting at the universe with a banjo of love.

Back Seat Of My Car: “WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN’T BE WRONG”

Ram.

McCartney’s best.

My favourite Symphony.

Geoff Fox, December 14, Australia