The record boasted several songs
that, in time, became FM-radio staples, including "Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey"
and "Too Many People." Critically reviled at the time, Ram has since grown
exponentially in stature and is frequently cited alongside Plastic Ono Band and All
Things Must Pass one of the finest solo records by a former Fab.
Nearly 40 years later, in the spring of 2010, Portland, Oregon multi-instrumentalist
Dave Depper faced his own difficult task. He'd recorded and toured the world
with internationally-renowned artists (Jolie Holland, Mirah, the Decemberists) as
well as beloved Portland institutions (Loch Lomond, Norfolk & Western, Musee
Mecanique, Blue Giant), but to date had yet to record any music of his own. Ready
for a challenge, he decided to take on the craziest project he could think of: rerecording
Ram, part by part, at home, all by himself, in 30 days.
Over the course of one month, in his spare bedroom, Depper began obsessively
hacking away at the record, often working marathon 12-hour sessions at a time.
He had a couple of guitars, a keyboard, a Rickenbacker bass, and a laptop.
Lacking drums, he borrowed a kit from a friend and, having only one microphone,
recorded each drum individually. One song at a time, bit by bit, the record began
to come together. Adding to the fun, fellow Portlander Joan Hiller charmingly
performed Linda McCartney's prominent harmony vocals.
To keep himself on task, and to ensure that his peers would give him grief if he
slacked, he started a blog and began posting each song as it was finished. To his
great surprise, the project almost immediately began to attract attention in the
Portland press and soon, offers to officially release the record began to pop up.
And 31 days after recording began, The Ram Project was finished.