No bum harmonies here

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It was not just about the 'oohs',  the 'aahs' and the 'la-la-las'.

I bought "Ram" by Paul & Linda McCartney from Harveys Record Shop in Upton Park the day the album came out. There is an effusiveness in the playing and arrangements I rarely hear in records these days. The melodies are very fine indeed. Lightweight or not, I think the lyrics work and compliment the rhythms and cadences in the songs. Do you really care what Paul is singing when it sounds this good?  And then you of course you get to the backing vocals and harmonies. 


No bum harmonies here

They are sung just by Mr. & Mrs. McCartney. Paul admitted "..it is all very well having Linda on harmonies but I'm not having her do bum harmonies.. [S]o I worked her like mad.". You hear the endeavour and effort in the grooves. Friends of mine who earn a living as professional backing singers say great b/vs don't happen by accident. There is much more involved than simply belting out 'ooh', 'aah' or 'la-la-la' in the right places.

 The b/vs demand your attention, but never ever at the expense of the song. In many instances they sit so well with the track they become another instrument or part of the orchestration. To hear what I mean, take a listen to "Long Haired Lady" (w. Paul & Linda McCartney), "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" (w. Paul & Linda McCartney) and "The Back Seat Of My Car" (w. Paul McCartney).

The background vocals have their own little thing going on. They pull you in so you concentrate that little bit harder either to figure out what the pair of them are singing or simply to enjoy the sound they are making. "Dear Boy" (w. Paul & Linda McCartney) rattles along at a fair lick with very sophisticated parts that must have taken many hours to perfect. The quirky vocal arrangement on “Monkberry Moon Delight" (w. Paul & Linda McCartney) was surely a total hoot to record. For 47 years I was positive the couple sang "come and have a dinner, come and have a dinner" on "Smile Away" (w. Paul McCartney); in fact they are singing "don't know how to do that, learning how to do that".

McCartney personally supervised the release of a deluxe edition box set as part of his archive collection. I count myself amongst fans of the LP who would relish an opportunity to listen to a bonus CD of isolated vocals and b/vs showcasing Paul and Linda's achievements. I can't help thinking Sir Paul and his team missed a trick. It's not too late you know.

If you are a devotee you are in good company. I understand Sir Elton John and Trevor Horn both expressed their admiration for what the McCartneys created on this record. What do I think? I think "Ram" is the 'cat's pyjamas', the 'bee's knees' and the veritable 'dog's bollocks'!



















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