We're gonna keep this one short and sweet, dear boys and long-haired ladies. Yes, the oft-rumored Paul McCartney Archive Collection of Paul and Linda McCartney's 1971 album Ram is very close to becoming a reality. On March 22, it was officially announced that Ram will be reissued in multiple formats on May 22. But one of those formats will be a bit surprising to collectors of previous Archive Collection titles. It appears that Ram will not follow the hardcover book format of those past releases, but rather be housed in a newly-designed box. We've got a video unboxing for you and a photo of the new set, courtesy of Amazon.com, below.
As many of our favorite record labels revealed the goodies up for grabs this year on Record Store Day - Saturday, April 21 - one tidbit stood out from the rest for Beatlemaniacs and Maccafans. One of our favorite haunts, New Jersey's indispensable Vintage Vinyl Records, is among the retailers to have announced the release of a RSD-exclusive vinyl replica single of McCartney's "Another Day" b/w "Oh Woman, Oh Why."
"Another Day," the first single of Paul McCartney's solo career, was originally recorded in 1970 during the sessions for Ram. It was paired with "Oh Woman, Oh Why" as its B-side, and upon its February 19, 1971 release, the single reportedly sold over a million copies worldwide. It was an international Top 5 smash, hitting pole position in France and Australia, No. 2 in the U.K. and No. 5 in America. The official information for the single indicated that "this exclusive reissue single is taken from the forthcoming Paul McCartney Archive Collection edition of Ram coming this spring!" Neither track is actually on the Ram album, but we now know that both songs will be present in the supplemental material! The deluxe Ram will follow similar Archive editions of McCartney, McCartney II and Band on the Run.
Introducing the new Archive Editions, McCartney stated, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is an album from a long, long time ago, when the world was different. This is an album that is part of my history...it goes back to the wee hills of Scotland where it was formed. It's an album called Ram. It reminds me of my hippie days and the free attitude with which was created. I hope you're going to like it, because I do!" The centerpiece of the reissue campaign is, of course, the 4-CD/1-DVD edition, with all contents enclosed within a 112-page hardcover book. Ram will also be offered as a single-CD remaster, a 2-CD deluxe edition, 2-LP vinyl edition, 1-LP mono vinyl edition and digitally. Whew!
Hit the jump for the full specs involving Uncle Albert, Admiral Halsey and my personal favorite, Percy "Thrills" Thrillington, plus a link to the unboxing!
Ram, the only album jointly credited to Paul and Linda McCartney, was largely composed by the duo at their farm in Scotland. Recording began in New York in the fall of 1970 with a cast of musicians including future Wings drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarists David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken. The album made it all the way to No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 2 in the U.S. and remains one of McCartney's most beloved post-Beatles recordings. The single "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" even topped the success of "Another Day," and became Paul's first U.S. No. 1 single. It even snagged a Grammy Award!
As Ram was being readied, a promotional mono mix was distributed to radio stations, and over time this special edition of the album has become a sought-after collectible. It makes its CD debut as part of the 4-CD/1-DVD edition and returns to vinyl on a special stand-alone LP release. In addition to the mono CD and the stereo remaster, the Ram box set includes the 1977 album Thrillington, recorded in June 1971 at Abbey Road by one Percy "Thrills" Thrillington. Beneath the cover of a violin-playing ram, one would find an instrumental interpretation of the Ram album arranged by Richard Hewson and featuring among its personnel Herbie Flowers, Vic Flick and The Mike Sammes Singers. The fourth CD in the box set contains eight rarities and associated tracks including outtakes "A Love For You," "Hey Diddle" and "Sunshine Sometime," as well as "Another Day" and "Oh Woman, Oh Why." The DVD premieres featurettes "Ramming," "Heart of the Country," "3 Legs," "Hey Diddle," "Eat at Home on Tour" and various radio jingles first heard on a Ram promotional LP cheekily entitled Brung to Ewe By! The deluxe edition also includes access to the album in download form in 96/24 resolution plus 5 prints in a vintage style photographic wallet, replicas of handwritten lyric sheets and a mini photo book of outtakes from the album cover shoot. You can check out the new design of the box set here.
A single-CD remaster will offer the original album only, while a 2-CD edition includes the remastered original album plus the 8-track bonus disc. The 2-LP 180-gram gatefold vinyl includes the remastered album and bonus content with download card for all 20 tracks. A Limited Edition Mono Vinyl contains just the mono album only. Digital configurations will include "Mastered for iTunes" and high resolution versions.
We have the full track listings for all versions below, as well as pre-order links. May 22 is the date. Ram on!
Paul McCartney, The Paul McCartney Archive Collection: Ram (Hear Music, 2012) (4-CD/1-DVD Edition, 1-CD Edition, 2-CD Edition, 2-LP Vinyl, Mono Vinyl)
CD 1: Ram - Stereo (originally issued as Apple SMAS-3375, 1971 - available in all editions)
- Too Many People
- 3 Legs
- Ram On
- Dear Boy
- Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
- Smile Away
- Heart of the Country
- Monkberry Moon Delight
- Eat at Home
- Long Haired Lady
- Ram On
- The Back Seat of My Car
CD 2: Bonus Material (available in 2-CD edition, 4-CD/1-DVD box set and 2-LP vinyl edition)
- Another Day (from Apple single R 5889, 1971)
- Oh Woman, Oh Why (from Apple single R 5889, 1971)
- Little Woman Love
- A Love For You (Jon Kelly Remix)
- Hey Diddle (Dixon Van Winkle Mix)
- Great Cock And Seagull Race (Dixon Van Winkle Mix)
- Rode All Night
- Sunshine Sometime (Earliest Mix)
CD 3: Ram - Mono (promotional LP originally issued inside commercial stereo sleeve of Apple SMAS-3375, 1971) (available in 4-CD/1-DVD box set and Mono Vinyl Edition)
- Too Many People
- 3 Legs
- Ram On
- Dear Boy
- Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
- Smile Away
- Heart of the Country
- Monkberry Moon Delight
- Eat at Home
- Long Haired Lady
- Ram On
- The Back Seat of My Car
CD 4: Percy "Thrills" Thrillington, Thrillington (Regal Zonophone LP EMC-3175, 1977) (available only in 4-CD/1-DVD box set)
- Too Many People
- 3 Legs
- Ram On
- Dear Boy
- Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
- Smile Away
- Heart of the Country
- Monkberry Moon Delight
- Eat at Home
- Long Haired Lady
- The Back Seat of My Car
DVD: (available only in 4-CD/1-DVD edition)
- Ramming
- Heart Of The Country
- 3 Legs
- Hey Diddle
- Eat At Home On Tour
- Selected "Now Hear This" Jingles
Paul and Linda McCartney, Another Day/Oh Woman, Oh Why (Apple single R 5889, 1971 - reissued Hear Music, 2012)
Side A: Another Day
Side B: Oh Woman, Oh Why
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Actually, both are on Ram's 1993 reissue and the (short-lived) EMI iTunes offering because both were recorded during the same sessions as Ram.
Can't wait for this one, since it was recently revealed that Paul found a whole box of tapes long forgotten from these sessions — and there are already at least 2 CDs worth of additional material we know about!
Thanks for reading, Brian! Indeed, while "Another Day" and "Oh Woman" have been included on Ram reissues in the past, neither is part of the album proper. That said, it's altogether appropriate that they again be included on the forthcoming reissue alongside what I'm sure will be another treasure trove of unreleased material. We, too, can't wait!
I agree...can't wait for this one! Thanks for the good news to start my day!
I have been looking forward to this one too. Even more than Band On The Run. I think this is Paul's most underated album. I can't believe the song "Too Many People" hasn't shown up on any Greatest Hits compilations through the years although I was too young when it came out to remember whether it got played on the radio or not.
"Too Many People" is on Wingspan: Hits/History.
It's fared better than most of the Ram material: "Eat At Home" and "Smile Away" only got performed in 1972, and "Another Day" only in 1993; "Too Many People" debuted in 2005 and appeared in 2008 too!
Record Store Day exclusives are great. It's too bad the second market dealers (Ebay) have ruined the experience for a lot of us. My local stores are hit hard by those clowns. They line up in groups and act as a tag team once the doors open. Each person grabs a stack of one title and then distributes to the rest of the group members so they all get one each. The stores do their best by limiting to one title per customer but that doesn't help when these dealers show up in a mob like they do. I will still try just the same. I like to support my brick and mortar record stores.
Which area of the country is this??
In my area (Chicago), some stores get very little to begin with (Val's Halla, for example),
while a place like Reckless (they even have some RSD 2011 stuff left) gets more
because they have 3 stores.
I'm curious if any of the unique mono mixes will be included on one of the editions of this reissue. Some of them are noticeably different than the stereo.
it will include the remastered mono version 3rd disc i believe and 2 versions of oh woman oh why stereo and mono the mono is killer there are more mutiple gunshot sounds i have both on 45 singles. and this will be remastered from original studio tapes YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Yes - Ram
will it have the mono version of the LP, wasn't this rumoured to be 3cd and released the same time as Venus & Mars.....
Hope this is gonna be a great set...wonder if Prince is next.....
I am ridiculously excited about this and about the Ram reissue. Absolute masterpiece. I hope McCartney is generous with the extras. This one deserves it.
Monkberry Moon Delight! Ram On! Awesome album. I've been on the sidelines for the reissues so far because of the cost but this one has potential.
Hi Fans,
This is the Paul Mccartney Archive Collection Ram on Formats coming soon on 22 May 2012
Single Disc
2 Disc Special Edition
2 Disc Ram Vinyl
Limited Edition Ram Mono Vinyl
Und
RAM Deluxe 4CD/DVD
Ram Deluxe 4 CD /DVD
Tracklisting
CD1 Ram (remastered)
CD2 Bonus tracks (remastered):
1. Another Day
2. Oh Woman, Oh Why
3. Little Woman Love
4. A Love For You (Jon Kelly remix)
5. Hey Diddle (Dixon Van Winkle mix)
6. Great Cock And Seagull Race (Dixon Van Winkle mix)
7. Rode All Night
8. Sunshine Sometime (earliest mix)
CD3 Ram mono (remastered)
CD4 Thrillington (remastered)
DVD
Ramming; Heart Of The Country; 3 Legs; Hey Diddle; Eat At Home On Tour; a selection of Now Hear This jingles
I'm not thrilled. And who are Jon Kelly and Dixon Van Winkle?
Have to say I was looking for a bit more of the unreleased stuff on CD 2. I've got the album and Thrillington. Doesn't really say what is on the videos (live, etc). Might listen to the mono mix once.
I agree: disc 2 is underwhelming. I'm also surprised that the DVD doesn't offer the full album in hi-res. I wonder what that's about? :/
it will come with a high res download i have apple products so i can and will download it in apple lossless why waste a full cd on some that will come with the package free anyway.
they have several hi-res versions that will come in a download on a business type card it is shown on the paul mccartney homepage. and is avail with the deluxe set as band on the run and MACCA and MACCA 2
So the deluxe 4CD/1DVD edition is the only way the Thrills Thrillington CD is going to be available? That kinds sucks.
Mono version is also only available on the 4CD/1DVD box as well, along with the limited-edition mono vinyl. It stinks that the hi-res download is limited only to the first 2 CDs. Hope that they reconsider to include the other 2 CDs' tracks in the slot...
you can get the thrillington i did through amazon. but with the macca back catalog being deleted because of the new archive collection coming out it will be exspensive i paid $13 bucks for it sealed and new in 2008 but i bet it is well over $100 bucks as we speak. and i can't imagine it sounding any better my copy sounds awesome.
No, it is available apart. It's a zone regall issue. At least that's what it was in the early days. But about 5 years ago it was released as a separet cd. So you may have to dig a little deeper to find it... But it's there... somewhere.
I believe Martin means "Regal Zonophone."
I'm EXTREMELY disappointed.
1) The mono mixes of "Another Day" and "Oh Woman Oh Why" are missing, and the latter has notably different 'gunshots' than the stereo mix.
2) "Great Cock And Seagull" is actually from AFTER Wild Life, while "Bip Bop/Hey Diddle" (from Wingspan) comes before it.
3) No live recordings! I **REALLY** wanted Paul to release the 1993 performance of "Another Day," and/or the 1972 Hague show recordings of "Eat At Home" and "Smile Away."
and
4) NONE of the rumoured "just found" demos, including a song that wasn't known before on any bootleg.
Plus: the mono mix needs to make sure it has the "Now Hear This" jingles that were mixed in between tracks.
That said, ANY re-release of RAM, especially with the commercially-available mono mix of the album not available now, is a good thing. 🙂
I wish they'd release some full live shows from Macca, such as the Hague '72 show and Glasgow '79, instead of just offering up drips and drabs like the ones we got on the previous reissues.
But, yes, not offering up any live tracks at all this time is both puzzling and a bit infuriating.
I agree. I hope that when it comes time for the reissue of Wings Over America on CD that Hear Music will finally give us a DVD of Rock Show. A CD release with the replicated tri-fold album art and a separate companion DVD remastered and expanded to include the complete concert. ALL of the songs McCartney & Wings performed on that tour, unlike the edited version released on VHS. One of the greatest concerts I ever attended in my lifetime. In my opinion it was McCartney at his best.
they will be included in the singles box set neither song had anything to do with the original release only added as bonus tracks for the 93 releases they were only singles so they will go in the box set later.
I wonder if the stereo mix be issued correctly this time. The left channel has always been out of phase. I heard a bootleg CD that sorted this out, it is MUCH more clearer and powerful than any officially issued edition.
What people don't realize is that anyone that tries to correct the issue like the boot you mentioned are creating more issues. If they line up the left side to bring it into phase with the right then they are throwing all the center channel information out of phase which is the difference everyone is hearing on this and claims that is sounds better.
The only way to correct the phase issue would be a new mix. Just listen to the other Ram recorded songs without issues: "Little Lamb Dragonfly", "Get On The Right Thing", "I Lie Around", "A Love For You", "Little Woman Love", etc... Those phase issues have been sorted out so maybe the new Ram will be sorted out also.
The DCC version too? Must check...
I'll admit to being underwhelmed the more I think about this release. Are the Dixon Van Winkle and Jon Kelly remixes new or are they alternate mixes from the time of Ram's recording? The second disc is lacking, I already have the Thrillington CD, and have no interest in the DVD so it looks like I am going to be buying the box set just for the mono mix. Or maybe I should just buy the mono vinyl and finally learn how to do a needledrop. How are the vinyl releases in this series so far? Has anyone picked up Band on The Run or either of the McCartney LPs from Hear Music?
Sorry to be a cloud on a sunny day but I was hoping for the stereo and mono albums plus appropriate outtakes in the 2CD set, I will not be buying this as I consider it poor value for money.
I was not swayed by the SMILE hoopla either, I already had the Good Vibrations box, SMiLE reimagined didn't catch my interest, I bought the single CD SMiLE and it was OK but the pot and LSD could be heard throughout it, adults reverting to their childhood etc. There are much better Beach Boys albums to spend your hard earned cash on.
The video of the unboxing is extremely enticing. It's just a shame that we can't all squeeze it into our budgets.
I wish that, instead of a box with a bunch of toys, they'd just issue Ram Mono and Thrillington separately on disc. Also, the cover art for the Ram Mono LP is hideous.
Do you have a link for the mono LP cover? I can't find it. Thanks!
And now that I've seen the video unveiling once, I have no need to buy this as I would've only ever looked at the photo books and ephemera once in real life. I'm so weary of "deluxe" boxes, every one of which is a different shape and size.
This is just annoying, and I'm annoyed for feeling annoyed! I have the McC & McC2 deluxe editions on my selves and the book format is much preferable that a box of bits. I was hoping they'd all be in the book format to create a definitive Macca library. They had to ruin a good thing,
I thought the book concept used for the previous 3 deluxe editions was fantastic and was looking forward to lining them all up on the shelf. I am so over box sets!
i already have my deluxe ram edition on the shelf along with the previous three and they look fantastic together, cause the new box edition its the same size but a little wider
Jason Michael, here ya go: http://www.amazon.com/RAM-Limited-Edition-Mono-Vinyl/dp/B007L96VME
ironman88 i already have my deluxe ram edition on the shelf along with the previous three and they look fantastic together, cause the new box edition its the same size but a little wider