Paul McCartney-Ram (1971)

Paul McCartney's second album sparked some controversy among his most devoted fans, mainly because it was officially credited to Paul & Linda McCartney. This led many to initially wonder why a photographer with no musical background (Linda's profession, in addition to being the heiress to the Kodak fortune) was involved in recording an album with Paul. Many were immediately reminded of the disastrous recordings of his former bandmate John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono. But nothing could be further from the truth. On this album, the former Beatle demonstrated why he was the driving force behind the Liverpool group, creating a record that is a clear influence on many subsequent musical styles. For the recording, McCartney enlisted the help of prestigious session musicians such as guitarists Hugh McCracken and David Spinozza, and drummer Denny Seiwell, while Paul himself handled bass, vocals, keyboards, and rhythm guitars. For many, this release is clearly related to the sound of the album "Abbey Road", as is evident in the epic "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", while the reminiscences of 1950s rock and roll are present in tracks like "Legs" and "Smile Away". On the other hand, the folk-infused "Ram On", the energetic "Monkberry Moon Delight", and the exquisite "The Back Seat of My Car" evoke the spirit of his main band's "White Album". Ultimately, with "Ram", Paul McCartney created a work that was both groundbreaking and influential, achieving multiple platinum records and considerable sales worldwide.