The top 10 Beatles Solo Albums (1968-1980) and more!

My Top 10 Beatles Solo Albums / 1968-1980

1. All Things Must Pass (George)

2. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

3. Band On The Run (Paul/Wings)

4. Ringo

5. Imagine (John)

6. Ram (Paul & Linda)

7. Thirty Three & 1/3 (George)

8. Venus and Mars (Paul/Wings)

9. Beaucoups of Blues (Ringo)

10. Double Fantasy (John & Yoko)

Honourable Mentions: Ringo's Rotogravure, George Harrison 1979

John Lennon

Best Album: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

Worst Album: Some Time in NYC

Favourite Song: "Mind Games" (from Mind Games)

Least Favourite Song: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (from Some Time in NYC)

Paul McCartney

Best Album: Band on the Run (w/ Wings)

Worst Album: Wild Life (w/ Wings)

Favourite Song: "Band on the Run" (from Band on the Run)

Least Favourite Song: "Mumbo" (from Wild Life)

George Harrison

Best Album: All Things Must Pass

Worst Album: Electronic Sound

Favourite Song: "What is Life" (from All Things Must Pass)

Least Favourite Song: "Bye Bye Love" (from Dark Horse)

Ringo Starr

Best Album: Ringo

Worst Album: Ringo the 4th

Favourite Song: "Photograph" (from Ringo)

Least Favourite Song: “Can She Do it Like She Dances" (from Ringo the 4th)

The Best Beatles Solo Album / 1968-1980

My choice for the best Beatles Solo Album released between 1968 and 1980 is... George Harrison's All Things Must Pass (1970).

Coming to this decision was a close one. It was between this album and John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band album (also from 1970). They are both equally strong albums both worthy of the top spot. I chose George's All Things Must Pass in the end because its more upbeat and less dark tone has a broader appeal.

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My 16th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 16th and final nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is Double Fantasy, the album from 1980 that John Lennon shared with Yoko Ono. It was the last John solo album released during his lifetime.

The concept behind Double Fantasy is a musical dialogue, or 'heart play,' between them as a married couple. Many of the songs he wrote for the album were written during his five years away from music. "(Just Like) Starting Over" is an excellent opener that (posthumously) went to #1. "Watching the Wheels" was his attempt to explain why he left the limelight for five years. "Beautiful Boy," written for his son Sean, showed how much he loved being a devoted dad to him. John demonstrated that he had grown and matured during his retirement, while maintaining a sharp wit (e.g. "Cleanup Time"). "Woman" is a love song to Yoko, and about his respect for all women. While he may have failed to achieve world peace, he managed to find peace within himself. Yoko herself declares at the end of the album, "Hard Times Are Over."

Double Fantasy holds deep meaning for me as it was the first John Lennon album I ever heard. It was released on November 17, 1980. I first heard it three weeks later, on December 9, the day after John was assassinated. My mom rushed out to the nearby record store and bought it as soon as she learned he had died. It got played a lot over the next few weeks. I had heard some Beatles songs prior to this album's release. I gradually got to know more of their music, both together and individually, partly due to Double Fantasy.

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My 15th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 15th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is George’s 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3, his first in the Dark Horse catalogue. I call this one a comeback album even though he had not stopped performing. George was not in the best of health when he recorded his two previous albums (Dark Horse and Extra Texture), and Thirty Three & 1/3 was a return to form. Released when he was 33 and a third years old, the album showed George to be in a happier and less sullen mood. The worst thing to happen to him was that he was sued for plagiarism over his hit, “My Sweet Lord,” because it sounded similar to The Chiffons’ hit, “He’s So Fine.” George's “This Song” is a cheeky response to the whole court case (featuring a cameo from Eric Idle). “Crackerbox Palace” is another highlight, written about the estate of eccentric American comedian Lord (Richard) Buckley. “Pure Smokey” is dedicated to Smokey Robinson, and “Dear One” is dedicated to Paramahansa Yogananda, author of The Art of Yogi. George wrote “Learning How to Love You” for Herb Alpert when Alpert sued him for not delivering the album on schedule. (When Alpert’s A&M label stopped distributing the Dark Horse catalogue, it was transferred over to Warner Bros.) A major reason why George sounded upbeat was because during this period he met Olivia Arias, the woman who would become his second wife.

My Beatles Solo Project - Week 7

The 7th and final week of my Beatles Solo Project begins today. I have enjoyed taking the time to listen to The Beatles' solo albums more deeply. This project only covers the 32 solo albums released between 1968 and 1980. Though things would profoundly change after the tragic death of John Lennon in 1980, the three (now two) remaining members would continue to make solo recordings with varying degrees of success. I may examine these albums in the future. Stay tuned.

The final four albums I'm listening to include Back to the Egg, Paul's swan song with Wings. The last album I'll listen to will be John's Double Fantasy with Yoko Ono. This one will be the hardest one for me to write about since this was the last album John released before his life and career ended abruptly. Since Double Fantasy is one of the 16 nominees for my top 10, I will write more about it soon.

My 14th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 14th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is Wings at the Speed of Sound. Paul's 5th album with Wings turned out to be the most commercially successful album of their time together when released in 1976. It is the home of "Let 'Em In" and "Silly Love Songs." Paul was accused by critics at the time of morphing into Engelbert Humperdinck, the romantic crooner. “Silly Love Songs” was written in response to these criticisms, and it became North America’s #1 song of 1976. “Let ‘Em In” is Paul’s ode to beloved friends and family members. (‘Suzy’ is his wife Linda, who once recorded as Suzy and the Red Stripes.) “Beware My Love” is another highlight, and the 2014 reissue includes a bonus version with Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham on drums. Wings at the Speed of Sound is the only time Paul gave equal time to each band member, by having them sing lead on at least one song. Denny Laine has his finest moment on a Wings album, with “Time to Hide.” (His performance of “The Note You Never Wrote” is also good.) This is the only Wings album to feature American drummer Joe English, who is heard singing “Must Do Something About It.” It is also the final Wings album with guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. Wings at the Speed of Sound was released to coincide with their successful tour of America, as documented on their live album, Wings Over America.

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My 13th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 13th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is Venus and Mars, Paul's 4th album with Wings. Released in 1975 as the follow-up to Band on the Run, V&M wastes no time in opening with a two-part barnstormer, the title track paired with "Rock Show." The “Rock Show” part features new recruits Jimmy McCulloch on guitar, and Geoff Britton on drums. (McCulloch takes the lead vocal on “Medicine Jar.”) The album's biggest hit is the fun and lively "Listen to What the Man Said." Another hit is "Letting Go," which Paul has recently made a staple of his live concerts. “Magneto and Titanium Man” (another personal favourite) draws on Paul’s love of comic books, including the Marvel superheroes created by Stan Lee. V&M was recorded entirely in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. Wings even recorded tracks related to New Orleans that are now bonus tracks of V&M reissues. My favourite bonus track on the 2014 reissue is the song Paul wrote for Peggy Lee, "Let's Love." Paul's demo was recorded in 1974, and Peggy Lee's version was released later that year. The strange instrumental that closes the original release, “Crossroads,” is the theme to an old British TV soap opera.

Trivia: this is the first Wings album issued by Paul’s MPL (McCartney Productions Limited) label and not by Apple Records.

My Beatles Solo Project - Week 6

Week 6 of my Beatles Solo Project has begun! There's a whole lotta Ringo this week, building up to his 80th birthday this Tuesday (July 7). He released three albums between 1976 and 1978 after leaving Apple Records. Ringo's Rotogravure is notable for being John Lennon's final guest appearance on a Beatles solo album. The obscure Bad Boy album includes songs that Ringo performed on a TV special that aired in 1978. It would be the last album Ringo would release in the 1970s.

My 12th nominee for Best Beatle Solo Album/1968-1980

My 12th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is Ringo's Goodnight Vienna album from 1974. The album's title is a Liverpool expression meaning, 'it's all over.' Many of his pals return for his 4th album, including Billy Preston, Harry Nilsson and Robbie Robertson. Elton John (co-writer of "Snookeroo") and Dr. John also perform. John Lennon is the only other ex-Beatle on the album, as backing singer and composer of the title track. Nilsson gave him a song (“Easy For Me”) and can also be heard singing backup, including on the hits “Only You” and “No-No Song.” Ringo doing the “No-No Song” is interesting because it is about a man swearing off vices like drugs and alcohol. Ringo’s addictions to these would hamper his career for much of the next decade. I believe he was still in peak form on Goodnight Vienna, and recommend it to anyone who may question Ringo’s talents as a performer and musician.

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