John Lennon, Paul McCartney, & George Harrison's Greatest Post Beatles Solo Albums
The post Beatles solo work of Lennon, McCartney, & Harrison is often dismissed out of hand. The "conventional wisdom" that all of their post Beatles albums were garbage is often taken as truth by people who really haven't even given their solo work a proper listen. The truth is that they did record a number of excellent albums during their solo careers.
In this article I highlight five such albums that I recommend you give an honest listen to. Are any of these albums a match for Revolver, The White Album, or Abbey Road? No, not in my opinion. But not many albums are in that league! While these albums may not be true classics, they are (in some cases) very close to that status.
Paul McCartney - Ram (1971) - This album has a real "magic" to it. I think it may actually be Paul's best solo album because it unleashes his musical creativity in it's most unbridled way. Sadly, a lot of the music critics at the time just didn't get what Paul was doing and I think he backed away from this really quite "weird" (and I mean that in the best way) direction because of that.
John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band (1970) - John, Paul, & George all started off really strongly with their debut solo albums in my opinion. But it was probably this album by John that has had the most lasting impact. it's really revelatory in it's stripped down stark style. It's a very influential album.
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (1970) - This one was a huge revelation as showed what a prolific songwriter George was He had a lot of songs built up from his time with The Beatles that he wasn't able to get onto Beatles albums thus this triple album came into being (the 3rd LP being instrumental jams.) Unfortunately he never came close to matching this album the rest of his career, in my opinion.
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full (2007) - A lot of people were disappointed by this one in comparison with Chaos & Creation... and I can understand that, but it's really a completely different side of Paul. Chaos... was the disciplined Paul. This is the "do anything he damn well pleases" Paul. I find both Paul's charming and I think this is a pretty great album.
The Fireman - Rushes (1998) - This is Paul working with Youth under the name "The Fireman." It's an experimental electronic ambient album that you are either going to think is really interesting (like I do) or a complete snooze fest (this sort of cerebral music is definitely not for everyone.) But what it does show beyond a shadow of a doubt is that Paul McCartney is not the simple pop balladeer that so many uninformed people try to make him out to be.
This list is not meant to be the top five and it's definitely not meant to be all inclusive. These are just five albums to check out so that you can get a taste of the great music John, Paul, & George kept making after they left The Beatles. - 18762
In this article I highlight five such albums that I recommend you give an honest listen to. Are any of these albums a match for Revolver, The White Album, or Abbey Road? No, not in my opinion. But not many albums are in that league! While these albums may not be true classics, they are (in some cases) very close to that status.
Paul McCartney - Ram (1971) - This album has a real "magic" to it. I think it may actually be Paul's best solo album because it unleashes his musical creativity in it's most unbridled way. Sadly, a lot of the music critics at the time just didn't get what Paul was doing and I think he backed away from this really quite "weird" (and I mean that in the best way) direction because of that.
John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band (1970) - John, Paul, & George all started off really strongly with their debut solo albums in my opinion. But it was probably this album by John that has had the most lasting impact. it's really revelatory in it's stripped down stark style. It's a very influential album.
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (1970) - This one was a huge revelation as showed what a prolific songwriter George was He had a lot of songs built up from his time with The Beatles that he wasn't able to get onto Beatles albums thus this triple album came into being (the 3rd LP being instrumental jams.) Unfortunately he never came close to matching this album the rest of his career, in my opinion.
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full (2007) - A lot of people were disappointed by this one in comparison with Chaos & Creation... and I can understand that, but it's really a completely different side of Paul. Chaos... was the disciplined Paul. This is the "do anything he damn well pleases" Paul. I find both Paul's charming and I think this is a pretty great album.
The Fireman - Rushes (1998) - This is Paul working with Youth under the name "The Fireman." It's an experimental electronic ambient album that you are either going to think is really interesting (like I do) or a complete snooze fest (this sort of cerebral music is definitely not for everyone.) But what it does show beyond a shadow of a doubt is that Paul McCartney is not the simple pop balladeer that so many uninformed people try to make him out to be.
This list is not meant to be the top five and it's definitely not meant to be all inclusive. These are just five albums to check out so that you can get a taste of the great music John, Paul, & George kept making after they left The Beatles. - 18762
About the Author:
George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney are all great artists both individually and as a part of The Beatles.
posted by X - Men at
12:07 AM
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