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An AKOM Toast to RAM at 50 episode

Paul and Linda McCartney’s RAM, now often referred to by many as the “first indie pop album” had its 50th birthday on May 17, 2021!  To commemorate this important milestone anniversary, join Thalia as she gives “An AKOM Toast!” to RAM at 50!  Happy #RAMiversary!

Available now on most podcast platforms!

SHOW NOTES under the cut

Playlist: 
Part 1:
RAM by Paul and Linda McCartney
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

Part 2: “Indie Pop Medley”

“Prairie Fire the Wanders About” by Sufjan Stevens
“Home Again” by Michael Kiwanuka
“Will Do” by TV on the Radio
“Where Gravity is Dead,” by Laura Veirs
“The Infanta” by the Decemberists
“Soul Meets Body by Death Cab for Cutie”
“Eugene” by Arlo Parks
“Suddenly Everything Has Changed” by the Flaming Lips
“Stella Brown” by Jelani Aryeh
“The Breeze” by Dr. Dog
“Golden Days” by Whitney
“Sunrise” by Kenny Elrod
”Let’s Get Lost” by Elliot Smith
“Pass the Hours” by MorMor
“Lord Only Knows” by Beck

Part 3: Covers of RAM by various artists

“Dear Boy” cover by Death Cab for Cutie
“Too Many People” cover by Dave Depper
“The Back Seat of My Car” cover by the Damn Crystals
“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” cover by Novelty Island
“Ram On” cover by Found Wandering
“Zpívám si jen tak” (Heart of the Country) cover by Martha & Tena
“Ram On” instrumental cover by They Might Be Giants
“Monkberry Moon Delight” cover by Robbers on High Street
“Ram On” cover by R. Stevie Moore

Links for RAM covers (not found on Spotify):

“Dear Boy” cover by Death Cab for Cutie: https://youtu.be/kP3z785ebdY
“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” cover by Novelty Island: https://youtu.be/mtG9j1T3KcI and https://noveltyisland.bandcamp.com/track/uncle-albert-admiral-halsey-paul-linda-mccartney-cover 
“Ram On” instrumental cover by They Might Be Giants https://youtu.be/ouk7p_ambx8 
“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” cover by Holly Henderson: https://youtu.be/9fKg5m5j7M4
“Monkberry Moon Delight” cover by Club Helmbreker https://youtu.be/0m7ydfWqzgk

Spotify Playlist: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5zX162a3FLBpmEtcIhp6sA?si=d80ac33fd1484698

Instrumental covers:

Ryohei Kanayama on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5nrctquJucCKcYLrfB4euxU4RMjeGuu8 
Marcel Lichter on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L3vQrh1Xbeg
joehlers on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mmccz9WzHZk

Recommendations and mentions:

Understanding McCartney Documentary Series by Breathless345 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kjjqUCvHNIs 
Why Paul McCartney’s RAM is the first Indie Pop Album by Elliot Roberts on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CRZHvvYsc5w
Interview with RAM & Wings drummer Denny Seiwell celebrating Ram On! by Elliot Roberts: https://youtu.be/nx4Lgf-nmKA 
Paul McCartney – Ram (full album) REACTION by Welp Here We Are On YouTube: https://youtu.be/7XU_VpeIUl8
Mentioned: 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything by Apple TV+

Other Sources:

Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine by Joe Hagan, pg 169, and “Book Review: Sticky Fingers” by Dr. Erin Torkelson Weber,  www.beatlebioreview.wordpress.com  

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie: May 7, 2020 quarantine livestream: https://youtu.be/hfLEvRY1kcA

Dave Depper of Death Cab for Cutie, The Ram Project: https://www.davedepper.com/the-ram-projec

The Damn Crystals on their Pure McCartney project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Gk4KUn-vs

“The Eternal Sunshine of Harry Styles.” Rolling Stone Magazine.  Rob Sheffield.  August 26, 2019. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/harry-styles-cover-interview-album-871568/

“My Favorite Album: Fred Armisen on Paul and Linda McCartney’s ‘RAM.’”  Under the Radar Magazine. Joshua M. Miller. Jun 22, 2020.  http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/my_favorite_album_fred_armisen_on_paul_and_linda_mccartneys_ram

“Another Day: Paul McCartney’s Once-Maligned, Now-Adored ‘Ram’ at 50.”  The Ringer.  Ben Lindbergh.  May 14, 2021. https://www.theringer.com/music/2021/5/14/22435675/paul-mccartney-ram-50th-anniversary-legacy

The All McCartney Podcast.  Interview with Eirik Wangberg. http://www.allmccartneypodcast.com/episodes/2017/5/25/episode-14-pauls-norwegian-connections-fredrik-skavlan-and-eirik-the-norwegian 

Paul McCartney quotes on working with Linda McCartney as a vocalist. RAM Deluxe reissue liner notes.  Released May 2012. https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/paul-and-linda-mccartneys-legendary-album-ram-set-for-deluxe-reissue 

 

Female Protagonists in McCartney Songs

What can we learn about Paul McCartney from the female protagonists in his songbook? Phoebe and Thalia discuss several McCartney compositions featuring prominent female characters and identify their central themes.

Sources:

Sources:
“Many Years From Now” by Barry Miles (1997)
Interview w/ Allison Anders, Bomb Magazine (1997)
Paul McCartney interview w/ Jonathan Wingate Record Collector (2008)
“Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road” (2006)
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou (1978)
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” (1984)
Interview w/ Paul McCartney for Billboard Magazine (2001)
Paul McCartney Interview w/ Susan Goldberg for National Geographic (2017)

PLAYLIST:
She’s Leaving Home (1967)
Jet (1973)
Blackbird (1968)
Jenny Wren (2005)
Working Women at the Top (1991)
It’s Not On (1982)
Temporary Secretary (1980)
Another Day (1971)
Penny Lane (1967)
Eleanor Rigby (1966)
Eleanor’s Dream (1984)
Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People (1975)
English Tea (2005)
Let it Be (1970)
Imprisonment, Ocean’s Kingdom (2011)
Daytime Nighttime Suffering (1979)
Mama’s Little Girl (1973)
The World You’re Coming Into (1991)
Lady Madonna (1968)
For No One (1966)

Extended Spotify Playlist: Click Here

On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean, and most other podcast platforms.

New AKOM is HERE!

Thru the AKOM Lens – Going Underground: Paul McCartney, The Beatles, and the UK Counter-Culture

Where to Listen

In this episode of our series Thru the AKOM Lens, Phoebe and Thalia discuss and unpack the documentary Going Underground: Paul McCartney, The Beatles, and the UK Counter-Culture. This fascinating and thought-provoking film covers an extremely important yet often uncelebrated period of not only McCartney and the Beatles, but also pop culture history!

When you’re done listening, be sure to listen to the Spotify playlist we’ve curated as a companion to this episode:  Check it out here!

New AKOM Episode! Thru the AKOM Lens: Lester & Maysles!

In this episode of our new series examining the Beatles on film, Phoebe and Kristen discuss fantasy, reality and the creation of the Beatles myth with two landmark films from the start of Beatlemania: A Hard Day’s Night and The Beatles First US Visit

Where to Listen

The Break-up Series by Phoebe Lorde and Diana Erickson can now be found at Diana’s podcast: One Sweet Dream.

 

Check and subscribe to One Sweet Dream for more great podcasts!