McCartney

He's no George I'll tell ya that much...

McCartney needed Lennon and Lennon needed McCartney.

Favourites songs: Momma Miss America, Oo You

I like Paul McCartney a lot. This album is no exception. I also think that this album, like plenty of other Paul stuff, is quite half-formed. Even on its best songs (“Maybe I’m Amazed” notwithstanding), it feels like something Paul came up on the spot. In a way I’m glad he put this out before Ram, it feels like a somewhat worthy precursor to that MASTERPIECE. That being said it doesn’t impress and doesn’t do much for me. “Junk,” though hindered somewhat by its brevity, is charming at worst and enchanting at best, “Wasn’t We Lonely” is a sort of bright spot, though it’s obviously not a very formed song, much more of an idea in any case. Paul’s knack for rhythm and charm make this album more than bearable, though his lack of motivation to do anything other than flounder about makes it a disappointment. “Maybe I’m Amazed” is not like any of these other songs, it is obviously an incredible outing of pop rock. It’s an incredible song, a classic of the McCartney Canon, and easily the high point of this album. It’s only a shame it lands on such an underwhelming album. 5.9/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: NAH REASON: TOO HALF-BAKED; SEEK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF IF YOU MUST WHAT WOULD I REPLACE IT WITH: Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band

Maybe, I'm Amazed is one of the singular greatest songs ever written. Almost brings me to tears as to how powerful that song hits. It's a nice love letter of an album to Linda, but most of the other songs are pretty forgettable. Easy listen, very short, but a lot of it just sounds like outtakes.

Lovely sound, not like Beatles, gentle easy listening 3-4

This was a tough album for me to rate. On the one hand, I can understand why contemporary critics panned it, ultimately seeing McCartney's attempt at a solo venture during what was a particularly difficult period in his life as a poorly produced, loosely assembled project that lacked the cohesion of his previous work with the Beatles. On the other hand, I can also see why it's now revered by lo-fi musicians as an early example of DIY recording that defied the critical establishment, offering a collection of albeit loose but solid songs. Personally, I fall somewhere between these two camps. I'm a huge McCartney fan, including much of his post-Beatles work, so I suppose I enjoy this album more than I otherwise would. There are several songs I really like: The Lovely Linda, Junk, and Teddy Boy. Is it a four-star album? Probably not. Am I biased? Absolutely.

I assume he was still saving the good stuff for another Beatles album?? One great song isn’t enough to save this one. 2.5

I loved this album, always have

I really really enjoyed every night

Really good and enjoyable. Or maybe I’m amazed.

This was an unbaked cake.

not bad not great but it's a legend so 3/5

I didn’t want “Maybe I’m Amazed” to be the highlight of this album, but unfortunately I think it is. It’s a relatively interesting album with some good bluesy instrumental-only tracks, but realistically there aren’t many stand out moments. I guess this was Macca trying to find his own course immediately post Beatles.

I didn't hate it, but he's no George Harrison, is he? Stars are mainly for Maybe I'm Amazed. Rest of the album lacklustre and in places felt unfinished.

Muy bueno

I guess Paul McCartney is one of the reasons I don't enjoy the Beatles. A confusing album going between English Country Twee and rock. I found it baffling and boring.

I like this kind of bedroom pop-rock mix as it sounds modern for its time. Simplistic like folk but with more much clearer melodies. The songs are quite short and don't seem finished though.

Nice

It's okay.

Very solid album still sounds very beatlesque

You reheat leftovers from an average meal and it comes back dry and still kinda cold. That is what this album sounded like. 2.5 rounding up

doesn't grab me.

오오 노래하네

Paul is still my least favourite Beatle, some good song but doesn't make up for how much of a leftovers album this feels like

I'll keep saying it every time one of these Beatle's solo album or side projects comes on, but my god the Beatles are the very definition of "greater than the sum of their parts." If this album didn't have name recognition behind it, there's just no way it would have entered the cultural consciousness.

I love The Beatles and I love Paul, but this album does very little for me. Feels like he just wrote a bunch of easy breezy pop songs for the sake of writing them rather than having any cohesive vision, which makes the album a bit of a drag. Maybe I'm Amazed is up there with his best work though, so extra credit for that.

McCartney has some real banger albums, but this one isn't one of them in my opinion.. It's not bad, but it's not musical excellence either.

Great rainy day album.

It was like listening to a sketchbook. I can see why people would have reacted negatively at the time. The Beatles were at the top of their game (really at the top everyone's game). It would be hard not to see this as an incomplete Beatles album...maybe it makes sense that Paul would start his solo career with a "throwaway". Listening today, this album felt like a songwriter just doing what he loves, what he HAS to do. Some songs were rough and forgettable, a solo artist finding his way, but still miles better than early Beatles albums. Others were very sweet, love songs for Linda, which put a smile on my face. Then Maybe I'm Amazed came out of nowhere, a banger that feels like Paul reminding the world who he is. Really fun listen, will definitely return.

The bedroom DIY makes it sound great, other than a few tracks, it's mostly just ok

Aside from most of their music being mid at best and John Lennon being a useless wife beater, Beatles fans make me hate the Beatles and any of their side projects. This album is objectively not good. It seems half formed and phoned in and he sounds bored making it. Well Paul, I’m bored listening to it. It’s not a good album, it’s not a bad album made good because it’s a Paul McCartney album. It’s just a bad album and it’s made by Paul McCartney.

I had low hopes but I actually thought this was pretty pleasant, enjoyed it

Similar to Wu Tang, the Beatles solo albums don’t really hold up

No thanks, I just don't like it.

Such an odd album, and I like RAM, but this just seemed like a bunch of demos and half ideas of songs. Most of the stars are for Baby I’m amazed. 2.5

Overall heel goed album, perfect voor tijdens het werken en ga ik zeker nog naar terugkomen. Jammer dat het afgelopen is. Favoriet: Maybe I’m Amazed

No me ha dicho demasiado. Me gustan más otros discos posteriores a este

paul mcdonald

Yeah, probably should have been an EP as quite a few tracks here just sound unfinished (as many have pointed out). But... damn what a great EP the following would be: 1. Every Night 2. Junk 3. Hot as Sun/Glasses 4. Maybe I'm Amazed Junk is one of the best songs PM ever wrote.

Good news - Every Night and Junk are two of the most beautiful, effortless melodies I've ever heard. Not so good news - a lot of this album is made up of under-developed instrumentals and half-written songs.

All the stars.

Maybe I’m amazed saves this

I liked this more than I thought I would. Other solo McCartney is too over the top cheesy for me (looking at you, Wings). This just seemed like a sad guy doodling on the guitar. 3/5

I would rather listen to these dabblings by Paul McCartney than to albums like “Band on the Run.” This album falls short because he’s not really trying that hard; but you could imagine many of these simple tunes tucked away on a White Album somewhere. But when he tries really hard and ends up with “Band on the Run,” that’s more surprising and more sad. I think that life as a Beatle, and certainly the end of the Bestles, was traumatic for all involved—and Paul’s post-Beatles journey begins here. It’s a front row seat to see how he was coping.

It is amazing to me that Paul McCartney can basically produce an album of collateral creativity and it be as good as it is. In my opinion, this stuff still has the Beatle glow if not their specific input, and that makes it more intriguing than his genuine solo material which is largely hit and miss.

08/10/2026 First time I have given Macca a go before, it was pleasant enough. Spotify listeners: 13.3 million

Meh

Maybe I'm Amazed That (this album) Would Be Something (but it's kinda) Singalong Junk. 3 keepers in 13 (23%). 23

You can rely on Paul McCartney to come up with someone that is incredibly palatable and easy to listen to and appreciate. Great composition, songwriting and I like his almost measured style of singing. Short and sweet, good throughout and less cloying than a Beatles album.

I like the emotional theme here. It feels pretty intimate and enjoy the prominent acoustic leaning tunes. In spite of the emotion it remains engaging and quite chilled and relaxing so I blasted through this many times and even did the full delux version. Felt a little experimental but never lost and yes there are a few sections which are basic or could be considered filler but there is more than enough in here to enjoy. E.g. singalong junk is a little stripped back sugar but who cares its fine (I later learned it was literal in meaning for fans to have a track they can sing along to). A standout was there was lots of very well produced and isolated instrument sections.

A surprisingly enjoyable little album from Paul McCartney that I would never have thought to explore otherwise. This is one that really benefits from some dedicated critical listening because of the intimate home-recorded style of the album. As with a lot of Paul MacCartney, you need to suspend your cringe filter a little bit and just go with the odd hoots and woos. Once you have done that there is quite a lot of depth to this album and a lot to enjoy. Its a personal, intimate album. A little nugget of expression that is really pleasing to listen to.

I typically lean more towards the John Lennon side when it comes to Beatles, but this album is way better than any of Lennon's solo albums. I was pleasantly surprised here. Lots of rocking tracks, some reminiscent of the Beatles and some are something else. 4/5

Two McCartneys in a week. Perhaps a shame to have them in reverse chronological order but interesting to compare. On his own (sans-Wings), Macca is generally more stripped-back and throws out a few songs that feel more like sketches and loose ideas than the fully-formed numbers of his later work. That's not to say there aren't some beauties here. Maybe I'm Amazed is one of the best things he's ever written, and makes a nice counterpoint to the raw simplicity of The Lovely Linda. There are some great moments but not quite as many brilliant or 'complete' songs as he produced later (or previously).

this was good. I liked the instrumental stuff a lot.

Makes the white album look cohesive and polished. I’m not sure a collection of odd ideas and some (mostly) finished songs showcases McCartney!s genius. I understand why he personally needed to release this album, at the cost of The Beatles it must be said, but that does not make it a good album A great McCartney song like “Every Night“ being followed by a sketch like “Hot as Sun/Glasses” pretty much sums up this album as a whole.

The cover art is more interesting than the songs.

Very nice. Half baked but also feels appropriate given the circumstances. Starting over. Between 3 and 4.

Holy shit was this terrible! Paul McCartney is one of the most famous, successful and talented musicians of all time and this was barely better than something a high school might make on a 4 track in his bedroom. There are only like 2 real songs! This guy made some of the best music that has ever been created!I felt insulted by what sounds like a lack of effort and focus on this - and I didn't even pay for it. It sounds like McCartney knew everyone would go out and buy this based on who he is and so didn't even bother to finish half of these songs or put in any effort. He's one of the best to ever do it! Even the two good ones, (Every Night and Maybe I'm amazed) sound like rough drafts. Think of what it must have been like in 1970 to spend your hard-earned money on what you had every reason to believe would be a sensational album from one of the greatest to ever do it, and this is what you get??! It's 2026 and I'm outraged on their behalf! Wtf are you doing Paul? Are you depressed? Are you making this album at gun point. It sounds like he woke up one morning and said, I should make an album, and then decided he had to write it and record it before like noon when he had to go meet his famous friends for tea. Also, putting Maybe I'm Amazed, where he flexes that he could still make an awesome song if he wanted, at the end of this parade of slop almost makes it more insulting. I COULD blow your mind I just don't want to. Don't feel like it today. Thanks for the $$$ sucker!

McCartney 1 is fantastic. Its a bit of a stretch to call this "his" when the hits here were definitely at least partially conceived with his former band (you can hear early takes of Maybe Im Amazed in Beatle catalogs). But hey, George did the same thing In my opinion, RAM is a far better album with the same feel. Its loosy, goosy independent studio stuff and man... It hits. I personally go back to Oh You, Junk and We Was Lonely a lot. The rest of the world was certainly not ready for this version of Paul because somehow Ringo was more commercially successful in the early 70s 😂

Ted used to tell me he'd be twice as good. Love Paul so much and nice album, but not my favorite of his. That Would be Something, Every Night, Amazed are all solid songs, but this doesn't have any of my Paul favs.

3/5. The fallout of the Beatles was very messy, especially on the legal front, to the extent that Paul recorded this album mostly in secret and primarily used home-recording equipment. Which makes this a very early example of a lo-fi album. As an album it is very scatterbrained, there’s a number of songs here that feel more like fragmented ideas than fully realized songs, but you still feel the sense that Paul was working through some complicated feelings regarding the end of the Beatles. It’s not a perfect album by any means and the follow up, 1971’s “Ram” would go on to blow this album out of the water, but it’s still a very interesting listen in its own right and there’s some strong highlights here like “every night” or “maybe I’m amazed.”

This one was a sweet listen to. Paul McCartney's first album is very DIY and lo-fi-orientated in a way that it seems like a huge predecessor and stepping stone to indie music. Recorded mostly at McCartney's home with a few touch ups done at a professional studio in the later stage, he also recorded all instruments himself with the only other person, his wife Linda, doing additional harmony vocals. Even though I feel it's not inherently amazing whatsoever, partly because not all of it's experiments are delivered in the best way. It just has this amazing charm to it and has very vulnerable feel to it all, like he's showing a side of him that's been hiding away out of the sun to others. Him getting torn apart for this in the early 70s for this was horrible, this album doesn't warrant that amount of hostility. I guess reviewers couldn't keep their personal opinions separate from the album, one of the good perks of reviewers and music magazine losing credibility and their power to sway listeners. I think this is a must-hear for all music enjoyers, though maybe less so than his other stuff like Beatles or Band on the Run or Ram. Highlight Song/s: "Junk" and "Man We Was Lonely"

What a lovely album. It's a bit ramshackle and feels like a big, warm hug from someone with a home studio in the middle of nowhere (oh wait). I really like that it's not trying to be polished, that McCartney has thrown near-instrumentals into the mix (Momma Miss America is especially effective), and how organic it all sounds. Every Night is so lovely and darling.

Man this is underwhelming. For an artist so highly regarded as Paul McCartney, to release such a loosely tied project, is very disappointing. I am aware of the context of him being in a low point in his life and that he did all the recording and performances by himself, with some occasional voice contributions from her wife Linda, but it doesn't stop the music from being very watered-down. Now, in reality, this album isn't necessarily bad. It may be messy and unpolished, but still being the artist he is and with the background he has, he does actually manage to write some decent and beautiful melodies, specially in "The Lovely Linda", "Every Night", "Hot As Sun / Glasses", "Junk", "Singalong Junk" and "Maybe I'm Amazed". I know that I just mentioned almost half of the track list, so I need to note that, in spite of their cute melodies, I don't find them particularly splendid, fantastic or another adjective that implies I'm greatly enjoy them. Basically, they are good, and that's all, nothing truly substantial. The rest I think are either just alright or do not add anything at all, most notably "Valentine Day", "Oo You" and the weird "Kreen-Akroke". So in summary, this is an album that feels very unfinished, some songs more than others. It might have its valuable moments, but overall, it is very dry.

Some nice moments here and there, but inessential beyond its place in Beatles history and home to a couple of clangers (and, deep down, you five-star-givers know it too).

2,5

i see people are shitting on this album for being unfinished, underpolished, draft-like and not a proper album. but i think that's waht makes it beautiful, more human, more real. and i think it's something we need to hear more of these days

Feels very half-baked

Man this guy LOVES his wife, huh A bunch of song fragments and one barn burner with Maybe I’m Amazed

The album title just about sums it up really. Its full of short little ditties that could only have come from the pen of Paul McCartney. Simple easy listening, middle of the road stuff. This just confirms the belief that has been dawning on me for some time now, that I much prefer the songs with the stronger Lennon influence. Now to score it. Is it better than Heroes? That was more adventurous, this was safe, safe, safe. No it wasn't better, so 2 it is.

This was intriguing. Felt like a scrap book of little doodles for potential songs. The opening track just got my back up, and I didn’t warm up to the next few tracks either. But then it grew on me. Some of the instrumentals were great, and it peaked with the stunning ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’. Some great bass on the album as one might expect. Yep, glad I listened to this!

This was a pleasant surprise! I'm not a fan of McCartney's post Beatles material, but this was very good. I liked its stripped back homemade style without all the bells and whistles of major production. This doesn't mean I'm now a fully paid up member of the Paul folky brigade, it means I appreciated it for its simplicity and relaxed vibe. Just what I needed at the right time.

Was really sweet

Some pleasant tunes here mixed with some nonsense. Only track I'd heard before is Maybe I'm Amazed, which is a beaut.

Oh, he played in The Beatles. Let's add a McCartney album in this. And probably this isn't the only one. But nope this album stinks. This album sucks. This album is bad. So: 2/5

Kinda repetitive and a bit too experimental

It’s good, but I think that’s as far as it goes? It’s not groundbreaking. But then when you follow up from being in the biggest band of all time, it’s always going to be an unforgiving task to put out solo stuff.

It's a couple of decent songs left over from the White Album, a lovely new ballad and some unfinished sketches. It's very charming, but only essential if you're a Beatles obsessive.

Creative and clever songwriting with Paul McCartney's voice to carry them home. From fun little tunes to bluesy riffs, this album has everything! Album highlights: Junk and Oo You.

Paulie, you make it too easy – don't just hand me "Junk" – and then "Singalong Junk"! The review writes itself. Still, baby, I'm amazed that Maybe I'm Amazed never fails to connect

People want to hate on Paul McCartney's solo stuff because it's all about the feels, but I think those people are missing the point. What I love about Paul (and all the other Beatles) is that they were true craftsmen - they needed to create and express and write shit, without any people pleasing. I love the quiet of this album, how it almost sounds like a series of diary entries. I want more albums like these in the world!

This has been a favorite of mine for a long time. My dad listened to this a lot while I was growing up and I don’t think I even clocked it as a Paul McCartney solo album until I was in high school or college. The more I listen to it, the more I learn about it, the more I realize just how influential it was on indie rock as a method and form. Would Mac Demarco be recording whole albums by himself in his bedroom if it weren’t for this? Would sampling, looping, all of hip hop home recording have been the same? Maybe. Probably. But it’s crazy to think how simple yet revolutionary it was for one of the most famous people in the world to retreat to the country with his family, hole up in a room with some basic equipment, and tap percussion on the back of his guitar while huffing “hooba topppa TCHH” with his voice as a floor tom. On top of all that, it’s just so full of love. What a simple masterpiece.

I love the track "Junk" and kind of like "Maybe I'm Amazed". The rest of the album is just OK, some bluesy stuff and interesting that it's a more stripped down / less produced sound. I guess the album is mostly interesting because it was McCartney's first solo album and happened as the Beatles were breaking up. Kind of a border line 3/4 album but I'm feeling generous.

I actually really appreciate the lo-fi “guy just making music in his bedroom” vibe of this album, and feel like it oddly showcases what Paul brought to the Beatles in a way a more produced album might not. It’s easy to drag Paul, but the effortless breeziness of these songs reveals his natural talents.

Since Paul is the corniest Beatle, I was expecting this to be a lot cheesier. It was actually not bad, if sounding a bit unfinished in parts; for instance, were those instrumental tracks intentional or just Paul couldn't think of lyrics. But 'Junk' is a great track on a largely unobjectionable album.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Great - The Lovely Linda shows what kind of album Paul wanted to make. Loose, stripped back and melodic is the oder of the day and Paul essentially invented lo-fi with his early post-Beatles albums. Even if the songs are less fleshed out than his work with his former band or his own future work, the man has such a level of genius that some of the best melodies ever written are just throwaway tunes for him. The vibe of just messing around with some recording equipment is addictive. Things like the end of Valentine Day where a new groove kicks in only to be dropped after a few bars has such charm. Every Night is the most "proper" song so far and while it is still very good I think the other stuff is more enjoyable. Junk is brilliant and Man We Was Lonely has such a rustic charm. Oo You grooves along with great, cutting guitar. Maybe I'm Amazed is stunning. An absolute masterpiece of pop songwriting and Paul's vocals are incredible.

Who now? A few songs in, and there's really not much here to go off of. He seems bored, and I certainly am. I know that 'Maybe I'm amazed " is coming up, and that it's a real song. Popular review refered to this as a "sketch book" and I completely agree. Just the ideas of basic song structures. "Momma Miss America" almost gets there, but it's just an instrumental, which hardly feels like it should be the anchor to a whole album side like this. This might be of interest to a real Beatles fanatic to get into Paul's head. Historically significant. I am not a Beatles fanatic though, and I find myself really not caring. Maybe I'm amazed is a good one though. Barely an album, but doesn't make me mad, so it's a 2 star sorta thing.

The ethos isn't less is more on McCartney, it's that less is indeed less, & it could be that less is a good thing. 'Every night I just wanna go out / Get out of my head.' What I love about this album is that it doesn't boast a show-tuned Paul McCartney, the one too keen on a joke or a witty dig, but a raw & soul-tuned Paul McCartney, simultaneously laid-back & finally ready to crash on thru to the other side. 'Candlesticks, building bricks / Something old & new / Memories for you & me.' Like other slight but ravishing records - The Beach Boys's Wild Honey, Randy Newman's 12 Songs - McCartney is a masterpiece that gives so much of itself that its lo-fi values are only e'er registered after the fact. When you're in it, all that matters is that it's killer.

Really low-key. It's alright, but does showcase Paul's tendency to be too sugary sweet. "Every night" being a prime example of that. Standout track is "Maybe I'm amazed", if course - the one track here that you can imagine working on a Beatles record. But still... Shouldn't really be in this list. RAM should be. I'm maybe being a bit harsh (mwybe not, though), and we'll all be sorry when Sir Paul is gone. Paul used to be my least favourite Beatle. And then I concerned myself with John solo for a bit and thought... Nah. Gotta be John, despite his untimely and unnecessary demise. And then Ringo got on my nerves with his late hippie stylings. So Paul is now my favourite living Beatle, second of all Beatles. Because you knew George was the favourite, period. He paid for much of Life of Brian, he basically inspired 80% of all ELO songs ever, and he has the one Beatles solo album on this list that I gave a wholehearted, solid 4/5 to, despite the fact that album features My Sweet Lord, a song I wouldn't mind never hearing again for the rest of eternity. To the point that I'd oay extra for an expanded/director's cut edition of All Things Must Pass that does not feature that song.

I love Every Night, and Maybe I'm Amazed, quintessential Paul McCartney. Other songs on here a bit dull or falling short of the very high standard that comes from his reputation.

Another McCartney solo album? Should be excellent! It's not as good as the Wings album also on this list, but it's still a pretty good pop/rock album. Many people cite this as the first indie rock album, which is true to an extent. However, unlike most indie rock, this album is actually good. It has a very raw, somewhat unpolished feel to it, which is surprising to those used to the Beatles. While this is not McCartney's best album, it's still a pretty good album. This album is ranked #19 of 29 albums for 1970. Other 1970 albums rated by me: Bridge Over Troubled Water(2/29)-5 Led Zeppelin III(3/29)-4 Cosmo's Factory(4/29)-5 Black Sabbath(5/29)-5 All Things Must Pass(6/29)-3 Tea for the Tillerman(10/29)-4 After The Gold Rush(11/29)-5 Morrison Hotel(12/29)-3 Deep Purple In Rock(14/29)-5 Fun House(17/29)-5 Ananda Shankar(27/29)-4

I think this guy might know music.

No-frills and lo-fi. A little all over the place in sound, this certainly feels like an artist exploring new ground. Standouts for me were the upbeat numbers; Valentines Day, Oo You, and Momma Miss America. Maybe I'm Amazed, despite being a slower track is of course incredible (it was the hit for a reason), and I do dig the experimentation on Kreen-Akora.

Linda McCartney’s photo is the cover, designed with Paul, Roger Huggett and Gordon House. It’s very striking and emotive. The album, however, apart from the excellent studio version of ‘Maybe I’m Amazed ’, seems to be a set of well-produced and crafted songs that were never good enough to be B-sides. I’m not sure this album is relevant to 1001 albums, or at all.

I much preferred George Harrison's solo albums.

Yeah this is pretty boring, Junk and Maybe I'm Amazed are very fucking good though

605/1089 - This feels very rushed. I like "McCartney II" better with its demonic synthesizers.

I look forward to more Beatle's solo records. So far I have had this and Imagine, and I like this more. Maybe I am more of a McCartney fan, maybe McCartney is a little more funky and that is the deciding factor.

Enjoyed that. Jaunty.