Album This song officially appears on the Ram LP.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1971
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1971, when Paul McCartney was 29 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Officially appears on Red Rose Speedway
Officially appears on Ram
Spring 1992 • From Club Sandwich
Jan 01, 2005
David Kahne talks about Memory Almost Full
Jun 01, 2007
Paul and Linda McCartney go and live in Scotland for a few months
April 10 to August 1970
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
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.
Official album • Released in 1971
2:32 • Studio version • B • 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
LP • Released in 1971
2:32 • Studio version • A • 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
LP • Released in 1977
2:52 • Studio version • C • 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
Official album • Released in 1993
2:32 • Studio version • A1993.1 • 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
Official album • Released in 1993
2:32 • Studio version • A1993 • 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
CD • Released in 1995
2:52 • Studio version • C1995 • 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
Official album • Released in 2012
2:30 • Studio version • A2012 • 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
Official album • Released in 2012
2:30 • Studio version • B2012 • 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
Official album • Released in 2012
2:52 • Studio version • C2012 • 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 version • C2012 • 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
Unofficial live
2:26 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 12, 2013
Unofficial live
3:13 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Fukuoka, Japan on Nov 15, 2013
Unofficial live
2:16 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 18, 2013
Unofficial live
2:18 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 19, 2013
Concert Jul 13, 2010 in Salt Lake City
Concert Jul 28, 2010 in Charlotte
“Ram On” has been played in 21 concerts and 171 soundchecks.
Jun 12, 2016 • Part of Summer Festivals 2016
London • The O2 Arena • United Kingdom
May 24, 2015 • Part of Out There Tour
Quebec City • Plains of Abraham • Canada
Jul 23, 2013 • Part of Out There Tour
Vienna • Happel Stadium • Austria
Jun 27, 2013 • Part of Out There Tour
Florianopolis • Estádio da Ressacada • Brazil
Apr 25, 2012 • Part of On The Run Tour
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.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
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)?