Ram On

Written by Paul McCartney

Album This song officially appears on the Ram LP.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1971
Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1971 (Paul McCartney was 29 years old)

Master release


Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions



Recording "Ram On"

Feb 22, 1971






Related songs


Big Barn Bed

Officially appears on Red Rose Speedway


Ram On (Reprise)

Officially appears on Ram

Related interviews


The Other Me

Spring 1992 • From Club Sandwich



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Song facts

From Beatles Bible:

Although Ram On’s song’s introduction contains a flourish of piano and electric piano, at the heart of Ram On is a simply strummed ukulele. It was the first time McCartney had played the instrument on a recording.

Ram On is a cute little thing on a ukulele, ’cause I used to carry one around with me in the back of New York taxis just to always have music with me. They thought I was freak, those taxi drivers.

Paul McCartney, Mojo, 2001

From mixing engineering Eirik Wangberg:

By the way, this other song inserted on Ram On happened to be Big Barn Bed (released later on Red Rose Speedway, in 1973). Did Paul originally intend to include a full version of the track on Ram?

I don’t think so. I was supposed to stop the mix before this song starts – but I found the transition going down so cool I wanted it before the fade!

Engineer Eirik Wangberg, interviewed by Claudio Dirani, 2005

Last updated on June 5, 2020

Lyrics

Ram on, give your heart to somebody soon,
Right away, right away.

Ram on, give your heart to somebody soon,
Right away, right away.

Ram on, give your heart to somebody soon,
Right away, right away.

Officially appears on


Ram (Mono - promotional)

Official album • Released in 1971

2:32 • Studio versionB • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Producer
Eirik Wangberg :
Mix engineer
Phil Ramone :
Recording engineer
Jim Guercio :
Recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Assistant recording engineer
Armin Steiner :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 22, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Ram

LP • Released in 1971

2:32 • Studio versionA • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Producer
Eirik Wangberg :
Mix engineer
Phil Ramone :
Recording engineer
Jim Guercio :
Recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Assistant recording engineer
Armin Steiner :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 22, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Thrillington

LP • Released in 1977

2:52 • Studio versionC • Stereo • Instrumental version

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
Producer
Richard Hewson :
Arrangements, Orchestration
Tony Clark :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Vic Flick :
Spanish guitar
Clem Cattini :
Drums
Herbie Flowers :
Bass
Steve Gray :
Piano
Jim Lawless :
Percussion
Alan Parsons :
Second engineer
Unknown musician(s) :
Boys choir, Clarinets, Flutes, Harp, Piccollo, Saxes

Session Recording:
Jun 15, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 16, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 17, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Jun 18, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


RAM (by DCC Compact Classics)

Official album • Released in 1993

2:32 • Studio versionA1993.1 • 1993 remaster by Steve Hoffman

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Producer
Eirik Wangberg :
Mix engineer
Phil Ramone :
Recording engineer
Jim Guercio :
Recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Assistant recording engineer
Armin Steiner :
Recording engineer
Steve Hoffman :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Feb 22, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Ram (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

2:32 • Studio versionA1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Producer
Eirik Wangberg :
Mix engineer
Phil Ramone :
Recording engineer
Jim Guercio :
Recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Assistant recording engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering
Armin Steiner :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 22, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Thrillington

CD • Released in 1995

2:52 • Studio versionC1995 • Stereo • Instrumental version. 1995 remaster

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
Producer
Richard Hewson :
Arrangements, Orchestration
Tony Clark :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Vic Flick :
Spanish guitar
Clem Cattini :
Drums
Herbie Flowers :
Bass
Steve Gray :
Piano
Jim Lawless :
Percussion
Alan Parsons :
Second engineer
Unknown musician(s) :
Boys choir, Clarinets, Flutes, Harp, Piccollo, Saxes

Session Recording:
Jun 15, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 16, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 17, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Jun 18, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


Ram - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2012

2:30 • Studio versionA2012 • Stereo • 2012 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Producer
Eirik Wangberg :
Mix engineer
Phil Ramone :
Recording engineer
Jim Guercio :
Recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Assistant recording engineer
Armin Steiner :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 22, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Ram - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2012

2:30 • Studio versionB2012 • Mono • 2012 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Producer
Eirik Wangberg :
Mix engineer
Phil Ramone :
Recording engineer
Jim Guercio :
Recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Assistant recording engineer
Armin Steiner :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 22, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:
March-April 1971
Studio :
Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Ram - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2012

2:52 • Studio versionC2012 • Thrillington: 2012 remaster

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
Producer
Richard Hewson :
Arrangements, Orchestration
Tony Clark :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Vic Flick :
Spanish guitar
Clem Cattini :
Drums
Herbie Flowers :
Bass
Steve Gray :
Piano
Jim Lawless :
Percussion
Alan Parsons :
Second engineer
Unknown musician(s) :
Boys choir, Clarinets, Flutes, Harp, Piccollo, Saxes

Session Recording:
Jun 15, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 16, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 17, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Jun 18, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


Thrillington (Limited Edition - Marbled Black & Red LP)

Official album • Released in 2018

2:52 • Studio versionC2012 • Thrillington: 2012 remaster

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
Producer
Richard Hewson :
Arrangements, Orchestration
Tony Clark :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Vic Flick :
Spanish guitar
Clem Cattini :
Drums
Herbie Flowers :
Bass
Steve Gray :
Piano
Jim Lawless :
Percussion
Alan Parsons :
Second engineer
Unknown musician(s) :
Boys choir, Clarinets, Flutes, Harp, Piccollo, Saxes

Session Recording:
Jun 15, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 16, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
Jun 17, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Jun 18, 1971
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road


Bootlegs


Wonderful Christmas Tracks

Unofficial live

1:46 • Live


Out There Japan Tour 2013

Unofficial live

2:26 • Soundcheck

Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 12, 2013


Out There Japan Tour 2013

Unofficial live

3:13 • Soundcheck

Concert From the concert in Fukuoka, Japan on Nov 15, 2013


Out There Japan Tour 2013

Unofficial live

2:16 • Soundcheck

Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 18, 2013


Out There Japan Tour 2013

Unofficial live

2:18 • Soundcheck

Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 19, 2013


Live performances

“Ram On” has been played in 21 concerts and 168 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where Ram On has been played


Pinkpop Festival

Jun 12, 2016 • Part of Summer Festivals 2016






Going further


Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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Contribute!

Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!

P R O'Brien 2 years ago

Based on the comments of mixing engineering Eirik Wangberg above, is that Eirick's voice saying "Take 1" at the beginning of "Ram On"? Or is it either of the Recording Engineers Phil Ramone or Jim Guercio (both of whom became famous pop music producers in their own right)?


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