McCartney

say you want about this album being half baked but fuck you it’s Paul McCartney you dumb fuck. these songs are perfect just the way they are. they don’t need anything else. AND this is the first indie rock album…show some respect!!!!

This album isn't epic or earth shattering, but it does feel very intimate and casual, like you're just hanging out with Paul instead of The Legendary Beatle. It made me feel very happy listening to it.

This dude loved his wife I love this era of McCartney there’s just no fat on any song, in and out, all hooks

After 7 or 8 years of (mainly) polished gems with the Beatles, the low key nature of the record initially baffled fans and critics. But the half finished snippets of songs/instrumentals are part of the appeal - it's got the same feel as some of the quietly charming tracks (Blackbird, I Will etc) on The White Album. Also, given his reputation for being outwardly extrovert, it's interesting that this is the first truly solo album (aside from some harmonies from his wife) from an ex-Beatle. Although he was apparently quite depressed at the time, it's a wholesome, homespun record full of analogue warmth, and a testament to McCartney's character.

More like a sketchbook than an album

A personal favorite. Such an easy album to listen to. A perfect album to play on a Sunday. I like how loose it is. It feels unpretentious. It’s got that feeling of a friend playing you half a song on guitar or tinkering with some little melody that’s stuck in their head. I also think it’s romantic in a quiet, simple way. That’s how I think of romance anyway — small gestures and little moments. I don’t usually think of romance and love in terms of grand gestures and big moments. For me, it’s the daily domestic life and the inside jokes no one else would understand. Something about “The Lovely Linda” and “That Would Be Something” capture that feeling for me. But if you’re looking for the big grand gesture, the album does have “Maybe I’m Amazed,” which is a classic. A number of years back Dree and I got on a kick with this album and played it a ton. So I’ll always associate this music with us. I love this album cover too.

mi amigo PAULO

I had a revelation about the Beatles when I read the top rated review for this record here. Well, not a revelation, exactly. I’ve had this thought before, but I was reminded of it again today: Beatles fans have made it so I can’t stand the Beatles in almost any capacity. This is what some of you sound like: “I love the Beatles. Everything they did was important, they’re beyond reproach. In fact, on this record, Paul McCartney invented indie rock” I’m so tired of the bloviating about this band and their members that I have begun to dislike almost everything about them. Congratulations, Beatles fans: You did it! Here’s a good piece of advice we can all live by: NO GOLDEN CALVES No one is beyond criticism, people are fallible. ..including the Beatles.

As one of the components that make up The Beatles you’d expect a lot from a solo album from Paul McCartney, especially considering the time this was released was just after their critically acclaimed record ‘Abbey Road’. However, you find this album to be nothing like that, as Paul takes on his own approach to an album which ends up feeling pretty muddled. This album is a weird mix of instrumental tracks along with some lyrical tracks. Considering this is a self titled album, it’s strange that it’s confused on what it wants to be. For the first half it seems like McCartney is trying to do his best Elvis impression and it just feels so out of character, this is especially seen in ‘That Would Be Something’ which resembles Elvia’ ‘Kentucky Rain’ with McCartney’s strange vocal inflections added in, which end up being a running theme in this album with him singing along to the instrumentals multiple times which makes this feel like a live recording. The best song here is ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ by a country mile as you can actually hear Paul put in some soul into this track, plus the guitar is fantastic. It’s then just a shame that the album ends on this unique drum solo and McCartney breathing which I don’t think he has a right to do considering he barely put any effort into the vocals throughout this album. I did just find this album a bit boring, the first couple of tracks put me off so much that the none of the rest of the album really made me feel like I would thoroughly enjoy this album. I’d come back to 1 or 2 songs but for the rest of the album I’d just listen to some Elvis instead. 2/5

Exceptional

Loved it. Sir Paul is amazing. Album is 54 years old and still great

Fabulous! McCartney was/is a legend, like Gershwin and Cole Porter, etc.

McCartney This is very hard to work out how to score. In the context of all his solo work? In the context of the end of the Beatles? In the context of what he was intending it to be at the time? As a stand alone album? How influential it turned out to be? The fact he did it all himself? And, as we know, I’m also quite blinkered when it comes to Macca. The thing is I do love love this album, even though it is a bit inconsistent and loose - but it’s those inconsistencies and that looseness that gives it so much charm and so much appeal. The sum of its parts give it a vibe that carries the whole thing past any imperfections. Macca being Macca even the inconsistent throwaway tracks like Valentine Day, Hot as Sun/Glasses, Oo You, Kreen Akore have enough melodic inventiveness and musicality to be at the very least interesting and diverting. Also it has some of his best solo songs That Would Be Something Every Night Junk (one of my absolute favourite melodies of his) Maybe I’m Amazed (he did play an early idea of this at, I think, the Get Back or Abbey Road sessions - imagine if this had had the full Beatles treatment) Just those 4 songs would be enough peaks for most people in their whole careers and he just tossed them off on a farm in Scotland while the biggest musical act of all time that he was part of was disintegrating. That’s why it’s hard to rate it as a stand-alone album, devoid of context and personal bias. I enjoy it thoroughly each time I listen to it, and despite the slightly disjointed nature of it, I think it works brilliantly as a entire listening experience - it’s one of those albums that is best listened to in one sitting. It’s easily in my top 5 Macca solo albums. Although it has its flaws, it’s really appeals to me and always love and enjoy it when I put it on, so I think I can’t not give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this album a lot! It's impressive how this album really shows how much ahead of his time McCartney was in 1970. His first songs with more experimentalism mixed with some songs that still sounded Beatles-esque but included much more texture, which was really impressive. I hope to see more McCartney in the 1001 list because this is someone that deserves to be listened to.

Lately I've been thinking about how hard it is to figure out how to say goodbye and end cycles in a healthy way. Paul McCartney was really struggling emotionally after the Beatles break up, he ended up isolating himself living in "the heart of the country" and removing himself from public life. This album was born out of that situation, on him figuring out how to carve his post-Beatle path. Rather than get the greatest musicians possible to release a polished album with a huge budget, he instead recorded everything himself in his house. This gives it an early low-fi vibe, which was at once sounds wonderfully intimate but which veers sometimes into sounding unfinished. The critics hated the album when it came out, a feeling I differ with greatly but understand. After all it would be weird in real time to hear leader of the most popular band ever releasing something which sounds so raw and under-produced. I can imagine listening to on Valentine Day and being like "what is this half-assed shit. Some moments so demo-y it's almost amazing he put it to record. But it's also the rawness and lack of production which gives the album it's strength. You feel like you are there with him, songs like Junk are so warm/personal and understated in such a powerful way . It feels like someone singing to his friends, to the world around him. He also attempts some experimental stuff on this album, in a way that is very interesting but doesn't feel done to it's full potential. For example Hot as sun/glasses starts as a peaceful song that makes you feel like you are on vacation with people you love , and then segway's very strangely into "glasses" an experimental track that is played with actual glasses that is very dissonant and eeary. Then Paul abruptly begins playing and singing and up-beat song on the piano for like 20 seconds before moving on the very melancholic song "junk" Each individual section of these songs are really good and the contrasts make them even more interesting but it all happens so fast. It's like a snapshot rather than a cohesive thought-out idea. Which is what I think is what this album is. A snapshot of Paul McCartney in this moment, brilliant sometimes a bit indulgent. Beautiful pop melodies co-existing with rockers and odd tidbits. He no longer needs to edit anything out due to being a band, and he takes you with him as he throws ideas at the wall and figures out his path after a traumatic experience in his life (the beatles break-up)

The whole lo-fi chill vibe is awesome. Paul is the only Beatle I've seen live. McCartney is a musical genius. This is my 500th album on this list. Perfect.

This album is so good. Didn't except much as I only knew “maybe I'm amazed” and loved that song, but, all the songs in this album are easily 5/5.

Another reviewer said it best - this album is very much like hanging out with Paul. It's stripped of pomp and is unfinished, making for a very interesting listen. It also feels as though it doesn't care TOO much about making tons of money. Maybe I'm Amazed implies that it does care a little, but, maybe not a lot.

Paul McCartney...perfection

Quite good actually.

Not quite The Beatles, not quite Wings, but all Paul. Good good good.

McCartneys first home-made album and it shows. Production is patchy and the drums in particular are plodding. But there are some wonderful highlights - Every night, Maybe I'm amazed, Junk, That would be something. Four-and-a-half stars.

This was an interesting album - lo-fi, homemade, pretty much just a jam session of an album from the early days of lo-fi music. It's an intimate peer into McCartney's musical life, fully produced by just him, and performed by just him with the addition of some harmony vocals from his wife, overdubbed onto four-track tape. Originally viewed very negatively and vilified for seemingly killing The Beatles, this record was eventually credited for its influence on DIY and Lo-Fi music. The story of this one is just as interesting as the album itself, and honestly I thought the album was great too. It's a nice and pleasant rock jam - It may seem rough and unfinished, like a collection of demos, but a lot of charm comes from that. It doesn't try to be anything more - at this point he didn't need to prove anything to anyone, besides proving to himself that he would survive in his post-Beatles future, and I think that's beautiful. Favourite: That Would Be Something

I'll never pass up an opportunity for some Paul McCartney.

This was known since before but Paul is not the reason why the Beatles suck. Anyways, I misheard the lyrics to the end of Oo You and thought he said "Look like a woman, ooh Dress like a lady, ooh Talk like a baby, cunny, cunny, cunny, cunny, uuoohh Love you like a woman, ooh" and it shocked me greatly

I liked this a lot. Felt like I was hanging out with friends (albeit some very talented one) while they were just jamming to some music. Very chill vibes

Really zoned out with this one listening to the guitar solos Love the sound, great stuff 5 ⭐️

Claramente é marcado pela transição suave do universo dos Beatles para um novo capítulo de criatividade e liberdade artística. Sendo que tem "Maybe I'm Amazed", absolutamente fantástica.

Being a casual but appreciative fan of the Beatles for years, this feels like a classic "lost tapes" album that you see pop up every so often these days, but it was released years ago and unfortunately panned into obscurity. Despite the context in which it was released, I'm glad it's appeared on this list as I'm sure I would never have heard it otherwise. On display here is McCartney's deft but gentle touch on a number of simple songs or musical sketches, harking back to the early Beatles days. What's different and miraculous is that this album feels close and intimate, like he's performing for you in the room. For a figure as mercurial as Paul McCartney this is a huge triumph and I think it elevates this album, I can't think of many albums from musical megastars that give such a feeling. It also helps that I was listening to this album when I needed cheering up, which it certainly did.

wow - you can hear how some of these songs would surely be Beatles classics "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Every Morning" "Junk". Gems, Love this album.

A masterpiece in its own right. Paul is king. It’s not up for debate.

Love the rain be of Paul’s voice. Simply one if a kind.

I think McCartney is one of the all-time best pop songwriters of the 20th century. Top five easily.

One of my favorite albums

Beautiful! Reminds me some of the white album (with its mixes of electric, and acoustic). This is Paul for the first time exploring his craft alone, one review compared this to a sketch book, and I agree but I don’t think it’s a bad thing.

Exceptional album. Stripped down in complex simplicity. Either you get it or your don’t, the global rating is biased and should be much higher.

Teddy Boy and Maybe I’m Amazed.

My first paul solo project! The only one left to listen to is ringo now! Clearly the bluesiest and goofiest beatles of them all. Might be jumping the gun on this one, but it might be my favorite out of all the beatles solo projects so far. So warm, so fun, and Paul isn't afraid to get weird with it

If Paul McCartney sang to me like he does to lovely Linda I don’t think I’d be a lesbian anymore. Teehee

It made me feel very happy listening to it.

Short and sweet without fillers. Great album. I liked how blusey it was.

The album is so well balanced with some slow soothing tracks and then a Little Rock and roll stuff .. keeps you entertained

Paul’s first post Beatles album is nothing short of incredible. The dude played every instrument on this, you could tell he was bound for greatness from the first track

Hab das Album erst vor einer Woche entdeckt, lustiger Zufall. Habs nochmal durch gehört und meine Favoriten sind That Would Be Something und Maybe I'm Amazed. Ich finds sehr cool dass er es ganz alleine sehr primitiv aufgenommen hat

Skipping from song to song, brings sunshine to my life, cohesive but full of little drops of sunshine

i love it i love paul -- so many ideas on here but also some great songs

I think this album is underrated. Maybe I'm Amazed is a classic. Every Night is great, possibly the best on the album. Love the guitar tone in Momma Miss America. Swithering between 4 & 5, but I really enjoyed listening to this today, so I'm going with 5.

Standouts: Maybe I’m Amazed, Lovely linda, That Would Be Something, Every Night, Man We Was Lonely, Momma Miss America. 4.5/5

Paul McCartney is my #1 musician and I look up to him a lot. ANY album from McCartney is a good album, and McCartney I is no exception.

LOVED this!

This rules, I love it

Really good actually

Probably not as strong as the other McCartney's and can also understand how this may have had a less than favourable reception as his first post Beatles release but can't say the man hasn't done exactly what he wants, when he wants since day one. Interestingly I've been listening to a lot of Chuck Berry's San Francisco Dues at the same time as this and can hear a heaeeeaaapp of influence on McCartney's style.

I was really pleased to see this album come up, as I wasn't sure we'd be getting any non-Wings McCartney albums. While it lacks the full-band punch of something like Band on the Run, I feel like this album best showcases Paul's raw creativity better than practically anything else he has done. I think it also effectively puts to rest any ideas that Paul was somehow less innovative than his bandmates in the Beatles. There are songs on this album that sound 40 years ahead of their time. Yeah, some of the individual songs seem like fragments that he hadn't completely fleshed out, but that bare bones quality is what gives these songs their charm. When he gets it just right, it's stunningly beautiful, some of the loveliest songs of McCartney's career. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Maybe I'm Amazed, Junk/Singalong Junk, Every Night, Man We Was Lonely, Teddy Boy, Momma Miss America, Oo You, The Lovely Linda, Hot as Sun/Glasses, Valentine Day, That Would Be Something, Kreen-Akrore

4.8 - Paul McCartney in his prime. I feel like he's really letting himself flourish after leaving the Beatles. Loved the whole thing

Always good

Maybe I'm amazed that this album is on this list. 1/5

I really enjoyed this album. I have always been in the John Lennon camp but did remember the easy & fluidity of Paul’s vocals. Listened to this on a hike through the redwoods, just perfect.

Freed from what had been becoming the confines of the world's most famous band, this album is a sketch of what is to come on McCartney's own. Playing all the instruments and helped only by backing vocals by Linda on a home 4 track machine, this started as a decidedly lo-fi affair with the the first track The Lovely Linda a test for running the new equipment. But even his doodles have the potential for a top 40 hit. For me this just reinforces the brilliance of his songwriting and arranging. And for being a stripped down affair with minimal effects, it's still pretty damn polished. The mix of instrumentals and sung songs is a demonstration of someone stretching his wings, proving what we already knew: Hands down he is the best pop songwriter of his generation (I'll be biased and say he's the best songwriter out there, but I won't be alone in that assessment). Maybe I'm Amazed (seemingly appropriate towards the end of the album) remains my favorite, but if I had to pick a couple of standouts, Man We Was Lonely and Oo You would be it. But there truly isn't a weak one on here. Just an incredible album.

A knockout lofi album, which came as a bit of a shock.

Loved the more avant-garde nature of some of the tracks.

It was a joy to listen to!

5 stars. Great stuff.

Hard to argue with the positive reviews here. Yes it's not perfect. That's the point. He's just doing what he wants, all on his little own. Some absolutely perfect pieces of music here though, and the whole album is just a pleasure to listen to. Very much also worth checking McCartney 2 and Ram, and I am a little surprised to see they aren't also in the book. Still, there's lots of Beatles of various shapes.

5 easy, je connais et jadore, j'ai réécouté souvent et c'est dans ces meilleurs.

I have this one on vinyl! It's a good one :)

It's Maca what's not to love

This is the sound of a depressed man missing his friends and figuring out what to do next. It's not the greatest thing McCartney ever produced, but he's so immensely talented that there are still masterpieces on here. "Maybe I'm Amazed" is wonderful.

Très cool ! Je n’avais jamais écouté de chansons de Paul McCartney jusqu’à présent mais je savais que ça me plairait bien !

Some great songs and some okay. Overall really enjoyed

I appreciate his down to earth, self recorded lo-fi approach. He didn't need to prove anything to anybody at this point, and instead we get a more intimate view into his musical life - just jamming with himself - playing all the instruments like it's no thing.

Ja, ik vind dus leuke muziek. Geinig dat dit eerste post-Beatles-album meteen al klinkt als een solo-Paul McCartney-plaat. De kenmerkende samenzang is weg en in plaats daarvan horen we Paul lekker aanklooien in zijn huisstudio, en af en toe komt Linda hem een kopje thee brengen. Ik ga (denk ik) niet alle McCartney-platen vijf sterren geven, maar ook deze keer kan ik het niet laten.

Paul gets a lot of shit, but he’s been the most prolific and most daring. Just doing whatever he feels like since 1970. I respect that he never seemed to follow the pop psychedelic trends and just did his own thing. There’s some really good stuff on this album. The songs about love, romance and Linda are the best. 4/5

One of the most "one-man-band" solo albums, by an artist capable of so much better. The lack of anyone else helping to polish the songs may explain why some sound unfinished, as will his rush to get things recorded and released. I never knew this came out before the end of his previous band, and was arguably partly responsible for bringing about the end for them. It is solid, but not 'worth breaking up The Beatles' good.

Paul eu te vejo como um pai!!! Um álbum com uma vibe meio lo-fi, super gostosinho de ouvir. É realmente o maior que nós temos! Destaques: Maybe I'm amazed, Man we was lonely, Oo You

It's cool to hear what is basically demo tracks for Paul's first solo venture. Sure, some of these songs might have been even better with John's, George's, and (to a lesser extent) Ringo's influence. But they're still good songs (a couple great ones), and they all show what a talented musician he was/is. Definitely worthy of the list.

4/5

This was interesting. Quite an eclectic mix of songs, some of them very short, a few instrumentals, some nice guitar and melodies here and there, some nasty drumming. It wasn't too long and overall I enjoyed it enough for 4 stars, which was a surprise. I liked the lo-fi feel and the fact it sounded more like a demo tape than a fully realised album.

Maybe Paul's "granny songs" weren't that bad John

McCartney is one of the greatest song writers of his generation but should have quit while he was ahead.

A charming little album with a DIY aesthetic. I've heard that some consider this the FIRST lo-fi indie rock album and it definitely has that feel. Some throw away songs for sure but there is plenty here to sink your teeth into, and I appreciate the spontaneous feel of many of the songs. Plus it does have one of McCartney's very best songs as a solo artist in Maybe I'm Amazed. 4 stars.

If you go into this expecting the Beatles, you’re going to come out disappointed. It’s very laid back, however. It seems like some of the material could have used some polishing before recording, but that’s also part of the charm.

I enjoy this record, who knew the guy from Wings had it in him! Momma Miss America will always be my jam! Maybe I'm Amazed is arguably the best solo Beatles song?

I really liked this, just fun music, nothing prolific or ground-breaking. Just fun. Even if you don't like McCartney, at least the album is fast.

This was the first time I got this album. Really good

Songs from this usually end up in my Spotify shuffling, but this was the first time I’ve listened to the album in its entirety. Not a hot take but I really love Maybe I’m Amazed

Torn between: -Appreciation of his lo-fi underproduced sound oozing with great melodies, hooks, and ideas -Disappointment that he couldn't have taken his time and/or worked with other talented musicians (such as John, George, and Ringo...) to fully fledge out these songs because they had the potential to be so much more.

This was an unexpected delight. It felt more raw and personal than the material he recorded and released later in the 1970s. I can see why it's on this list. Thanks to Cameron Crowe and the movie "Jerry Maguire," I know 2 more tracks on here than I originally would have. It may not be a 5/5, but this was quite enjoyable and I could easily see myself listening to this again at some point.

Quite easy to listen to, but it can lack direction at times. Paul is still good here though, with a lot of the songs just sounding good in the background whilst you do something. Also Paul really loved Linda.

What I have always liked about this album is that it wasn't meant to be a 5 star record. It was just Paul doing what he does. He recorded it at home and got his wife to sing a little. When I was a teenager dreaming of being a musician, this album showed me that you could just record on a 4-track in your bedroom and still do something worthwhile. It didn't need perfection; the imperfections are what gave it character.

McCartney is the debut solo album by Paul McCartney, originally released in 1970. This album has a really intimate feel to it. He recorded it at a home studio, and it shows. Not saying that the content is low quality, moreso that it's not extremely polished or produced. I think that's a strength of this album. Some of the ideas are a bit half-baked but I think it adds to the charm. I'm sure people were clamoring for new Beatle-adjacent content by the time the band broke up. I'm very surprised at the amount of instrumental tracks on here. I guess Paul really wanted to flex his chops. I think this is a really fun record that was quite fitting for release in the wake of the Beatle drama.

I guess there's detractors of this album that it's incomplete or half-done, but these songs are great as they are. Solid songs with some great musicianship.

So Paul proving that, chilling at his house, he was the best guitarist in the band, broke up the Beatles? Anyhow, not all these lo-fi experiments are successful, but many are quite lovely, especially the instrumentals. I’m glad these songs were recorded here, as I worry if they had been brought to the Beatles, John would have rejected many out of hand.

i actually thought i was gonna hate this but it’s actually very good, low 4

Pre-listening thoughts: my favorite Beatle often alternates between Paul and George so I am a little excited for this! I also know and like Paul’s stuff with the Wings so I feel like I’m familiar enough with his solo stuff to know what to expect. Post/during listening thoughts: this is about 90% what I expected lol. I didn’t expect this many instrumental tracks though. I feel like Paul just has a lot of fun with his music and that is so apparent listening to this album. Fun, short songs with interesting instrument use and catchy melodies. Where can you go wrong? 7/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah just listen to the Beatles Fav tracks: That Would Be Something, Every Night, Man We Was Lonely, Maybe I’m Amazed Least fav tracks: n/a

Softspoken and wondrous, harsh and outspoken when necessary. Although it lacks a musical intricacy it pulls me in with amazing lyrics and strings me along with its simplicity and thoughts.

Favourite tracks: that would be something; junk; maybe I'm amazed; oo you

Not my favorite McCartney solo albums (that would be McCartney II), but it is a very good album. Thankfully, as a songwriter McCartney has the the good sense to know when a concept has been played out and leave the audience wanting more as he moves on to something else. He also keeps things interesting by providing lots of variety in his compositions and taking risks (like the outro Glasses on the back half of Hot As Sun) and the homage to the indigenous tribe of "Kreen-Akrore". McCartney's solo album, lauded as a progenitor of lo-fi albums is waaaay better than any of the other lo-fi artists at the time. I'm looking at you Neil Young, etc. I enjoyed this album very much. It does have the feeling of intimately sitting in with a master songwriter who is at the top of his craft. All lean hooks, no fat, no indulgence. It is kind of crazy to realize that with "Live and Let Die" and BAND ON THE RUN coming in 1973, he was only going to get even better.

Enjoyed this album. For better or worse, I always saw it as McCartney's cathartic cleansing, to work through all those unused Beatles ideas.

overall good album, I realt enjoy paul's perspective on the songs and the production of the album. note to self: check out singalong junk again