Paul McCartney

Paul's first two solo records were casual, under-rated charmers; his subsequent two LPs seemed lazy and formless. For Band on the Run, Paul took Denny Laine and his wife to Nigeria and holed up until they birthed this best-selling return to rock 'n' roll respectability. For once, Paul frontloads the LP with his best songs, so this opens with a 1-2-3 punch. The title track, the soaring "Jet" and the floating "Bluebird" all became instant rock classics. Nothing else tops those numbers, though "Let Me Roll It" stands up to any of Lennon's slow, sludgy rockers and "1985" is a sonic marvel. All help to make this one of the key albums of the 1970s.

Everyone eventually winds up writing about themselves -- the problem is finding the best
way to go about it. To write about oneself literally, in the first person, presumes a more
interesting personal life and philosophy than most rock lyricists possess. John Lennon was
good for one great album based on musical direct address, Plastic Ono Band. Ten years
from now he may have accumulated enough personal data on which to base ano... More >