Paul McCartney's second solo album was released in 1971. The artwork for the album is predominantly vivid in colour, contrasted also with a black-and-white photograph. The coloured element of the artwork is clearly done in felt-tip pen. This suggests a hand-crafted and homemade element to the album. Felt-tip pens are most-often used by children, which also reflects the childlike, family side to the album. This is also personally fitting, as Paul had two children at the time of this album's recording, and the music was made in collaboration with his wife, Linda. The other element to the artwork is a black-and-white photograph of Paul, on a farm with a sheep, in direct reference to the album's title, RAM. The lack of colour in the photograph contrasts the bright patterns on the rest of the cover. This is perhaps a way to demonstrate the contrast between the family-oriented side of the album characterised by Linda (Long Haired Lady, Eat at Home), and the album's more personal, angry side (Too Many People, 3 Legs). Paul was in depression following the break up of the Beatles, which, as shown in the lyrics of Too Many People, he blamed on John Lennon. This could be the reason for the lack of colour in the photograph, suggesting that Paul's family are the 'colour' in his life, despite his personal struggles during that time. Additionally, on the far right side of the cover, the letters L.I.L.Y. are written, which stand for 'Linda I Love You'. This would suggest that Paul alone crafted the album's artwork, which supports the ideas I have about the artwork.
