Though it may seem like ordinary 1970s
hard rock, this album is interesting for a few reasons. The first is that it was produced by
Jerry Kasenetz and
Jeff Katz, the producers behind a string of classic bubblegum hits like
"Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" and
"Chewy, Chewy." The other reason is that the group leader
Bill Bartlett was formerly a member of
the Lemon Pipers, a
psychedelic bubblegum group who scored a hit with
"Green Tambourine" (which was produced by
Kasenetz and
Katz). All three men put behind their bubblegum past on this album of hard-driving
rock & roll.
Ram Jam is best known for its hit single,
"Black Betty"; this electrifying update of a
Huddie Ledbetter blues tune layers on plenty of searing electric guitar riffs and a steady 4/4 drum beat that turns the song into a strange but exhilarating blend of
heavy metal and
disco. None of the other tunes on
Ram Jam surpass the bracing standard set by
"Black Betty," but there are some other worthwhile moments for
hard rock fanatics;
"Keep Your Hands on the Wheel" is a stomping, driving-themed rocker in the vein of
Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and
"Overloaded" is a swinging rocker built on a taut bassline and a catchy, cowbell-driven chorus. The album also features
"Too Bad on Your Birthday," a mid-tempo rocker with a sing-along chorus that was later revived by
Joan Jett. The one real downside here is that it suffers from a samey production style that makes the songs run together on first listen. Despite this problem, all the songs on
Ram Jam presents a sturdy blend of guitar fireworks and
pop hooks that any hardcore fan of 1970s
hard rock will enjoy. ~ Donald A. Guarisco
![St. Anger [Explicit Version]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602498653708_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "St. Anger [Explicit Version]")
