Beatles: all you need are solo albums

If there is one thing I can't get enough of it, it's oxygen. Second to that are the Beatles. Recently I decided I would check out what solo albums the members of the Beatles recorded and are available at the library. I found a good assortment! The number of albums the four lads from Liverpool put out is quite astonishing, and some of it is astonishingly bad (we're looking at you, Ringo) but you can find some of the best there is to offer quicker than you can tell me who the Walrus really was.

John, Paul George and Ringo have all contributed strongly as solo artists to the music world after the Beatles split in 1970. Each ex-member of the Fab Four, in addition to releasing strong solo albums, also were in bands: John and Yoko One in Plastic Ono Band; George in the Traveling Wilburys; Ringo's All Starr Band; and Paul in Wings.

Now, on with the Magical Mystery Tour:



PAUL 

In terms of age and durability, Sir Paul McCartney has the most varied solo career and continues to release new material through today. His music has spanned classical and electronica, and he has partnered with musicians like Michael Jackson. As a Beatle, the Lennon-McCartney writing duo churned out almost every single Beatles hit. Paul is arguably best know for his hit "Yesterday" and for owning a house in Tucson, which is featured in a lyric of the song "Get Back."

If you're looking for a Paul fix, here are some of the solo albums PCPL owns:



Ram (his second solo album, notable for the hit "Uncle Albert").

Band on the Run (Wings)

Memory Almost Full (Solo album with hit single "Dance Tonight" from 2007)

Standing Stone (classical music)

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005 solo album)

Kisses on the Bottom (His most recent, it covers classic love standards and includes one McCartney original).




RINGO

Ringo Starr has some solo albums including a DVD of his "2006 All Starr Band Tour" available to you! Ringo's solo music career is perhaps not as accomplished at his other Beatles band mates, but he did pen and sing several popular Beatles tunes including "Yellow Submarine" and "I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends." And Ringo continues to record albums and is an iconic figure on tours. Ringo had a fairly dry streak of songs from the 70s into the 80s, and many of his solo albums are considered some of the worst albums of music ever produced. Ringo turned to acting in films for a time but established himself again by touring with his "All Starr Band" concert tours.

Here are the musical CDs for your Ringo fix:

Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr (key songs include "It Don't Come Easy" "You're Sixteen" and "Back Off Boogaloo.")

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Live Band 2006

Ringo 2012 (as the title says, this is a solo Ringo 2012 release)


GEORGE

George Harrison brought Indian Music and the sitar to the Beatles as lead guitarist, and was responsible for some of their best loved and commercial hits such as  "Something" and "Taxman" as well as "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." George released a double-album in 1970 after the Beatles broke up and played music with Eric Clapton, and later formed "The Traveling Wilburys" with Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan among others.

George  passed away in 2001 of cancer.

For a George fix, check out:

The Concert for Bangladesh (features Ravi Shankar and Bob Dylan)

Let It Roll (released on 2009, includes many of George's favored hits like "Give Me Love" and "My Sweet Lord.")

Early Takes Vol. 1

Brainwashed (George's final album of original music, includes a beautiful haunting instrumental "Marwa Blues."

The Best of George Harrison (includes Beatles songs, too)


JOHN

Finally, John Lennon had one of the most troubled and creative solo careers, tragically cut short by his death in 1980. John only released a short amount of solo material. As a Beatle, he experimented with the sound recording process to produce strange effects and give the band a surreal, trippy sound. John wrote and sang songs like "Come Together" and "All Your Need is Love." With Yoko One, John would create albums sometimes containing nothing but screaming and yelling, and moved on to anti-war protest songs. He stopped recording for four years to raise their son, Sean, but would record one more album with Yoko before being shot to death outside his condo in New York City.

Check out some John albums from the library:

Imagine (Considered John's greatest solo album, and possible one of the best solo Beatles albums, "Imagine" is an incredible tune, as well as "Jealous Guy." The song "How Do Your Sleep" is a jab at Paul McCartney, who John was feuding with).

John Lennon Plastic Ono Band ("Working Class Hero" and "Power to the People" reveal John at his most political, as well as the emotional song for his "Mother."

The U.S. vs John Lennon motion picture soundtrack (Practically a greatest hits collection from the DVD, which is also owned by the library, includes one of my favorites "Instant Karma" as well as some live and unreleased material.)  

Double Fantasy Stripped Down (the final John album, with songs by Yoko One, this version is a stripped down mix of tunes from the original release. "Watching the Wheels" is one of the great singles from this).

And don't forget all the wonderful Beatles albums & books available too!

-William