Ram (Optimal Source Series)
I'm issuing this album in response to a request (my first one). I was, actually, hesitant to step foot into the McCartney/Wings CD arena. There are LOTs of sources, and I was afraid I'd go too far with this. So, as expected, I'm now collecting sources for other McCartney disks. We'll see what happens.
In the case of Ram, the 1993 remaster is a good example of how NOT to remaster an album. There is excessive noise reduction used on every track. So, there isn't a single song off that here. Instead, I used the DCC version (which is widely accepted as the best source for the entire album) and Wingspan (where the songs were remastered correctly and are all superb!). I also threw in two songs at the end that are bonus tracks on the remaster, but neither here is from the remaster (both are better). The most intriguing is "Oh Woman, Oh Why". In this case, the original "FAME" release of Wings Wildlife is a clear flat transfer from the master, and, I'm guessing since this album didn't have any hits, the master was in very good shape.
Here is the lineup:
1. Too Many People (Wingspan)
2. 3 Legs (DCC)
3. Ram On (DCC)
4. Dear Boy (DCC)
5. Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey (Wingspan)
6. Smile Away (DCC)
7. Heart of the Country (Wingspan)
8. Monkberry Moon Delight (DCC)
9. Eat At Home (DCC)
10. Long Haired Lady (DCC)
11. Ram On - reprise (DCC)
12. Back Seat Of My Car (Wingspan)
13. BONUS: Another Day (Wingspan)
14. BONUS: Oh Woman Oh Why (Wings Wildlife - original "Fame" CD)
If someone has a specific OSS request for a solo Beatles album, let me know. I'm already planning to issue McCartney and Band On the Run (as well as a replacement torrent to All Things Must Pass that includes songs from the Ebbetts needle drop of the US album).