We’re not entirely sure the reason for Ram being reconceived by not one — but two — respected independent media outlets. We understand it’s a great album, but did we miss the 27th anniversary party or something? Either way, both WFMU and Aquarium Drunkard have managed to recreate some of Paul McCartney’s best solo work with the help of some of today’s best independent musicians.
Enlisting the likes of Earlimart, The Parson Redheads, Los Baby Fools, Naptunes, Travel By Sea, and Le Switch, among others, Aquarium Drunkard has set the stage for a diverse lineup that not only showcase the genius of Paul and Linda McCartney’s album, but also displays the variety of talented musicians are artists harvesting themselves within the L.A. region.
Aquarium Drunkard used The Parson Redheads to record the title track for the cover album, “Ram On”, and Earlimart’s recording of “Too Many People” is another notable staple cover off of the recording, bringing together an interesting redition of what-would-be McCartney’s falsetto on the track, and Earlimart’s distinctive sound. The record is available as a digital download, and can be downloaded for free, but donations for McCartney’s No More Landmines are strongly encouraged.
Meanwhile, as Pitchfork reported this morning, WFMU has enlisted some loftier names to help raise money for — well, WFMU. As we all know, these are tough times for independently run radio stations, so as an incentive for this year’s WFMU pledge drive, which runs through March 15, they’re offering up their version of Ram. The WFMU version is called Tom, after “Best Show” host Tom Scharpling and features Death Cab for Cutie, Ted Leo, Portastatic, Danielson, Aimee Mann, James Pants, Black Hollies, and more covering the classic album. It can be yours — along with a warm fuzzy feeling for helping out a good cause — for a $75 pledge, which you can make here
