Everybody has their favorite Beatle, but who is your favorite outside the band? When The Beatles broke up in 1970, they were at each other’s throats, fighting over money, songs, and personal issues. Their solo careers are distinct, carrying each of their artistic essences, but they are also inextricably linked. They wrote songs for each other (for better and for worse), inspired each other, and collaborated together long after the breakup.

Throughout the early ’70s, Paul McCartney and John Lennon were practically at war, George Harrison was trying to make it on his own, and only Ringo Starr was on good terms with all of them. As time went by, they let go of their old grievances, but even their most spiteful moments served to create incredible songs.

10

“Ringo” by Ringo Starr (1973)

This 1973 album by the often most relegated Beatle is special for many reasons, not just the incredible songs it includes. It had only been three years since The Beatles had broken up, and it’s a well-known fact that, in the early ’70s, the relationships among the former bandmates were strained. Well, except for Ringo Starr, who seemed to always get along with everyone. And knowing this special role he played, he decided to enlist John Lennon and George Harrison to help him on his album, Ringo. They said yes, and Harrison co-wrote three songs for him: “Photograph,” and two singles, “Back Off Boogaloo” and “It Don’t Come Easy.” Lennon wrote the song “I’m the Greatest,” and with both of them on the project, he knew Paul McCartney wouldn’t be able to resist saying yes. Reportedly, Starr convinced him by saying, “You don’t want to be left out, do you?” So, he and Linda McCartney wrote him the song “Six O’Clock.” While the Fab Four might not have played a song together, this album is the closest the world has come to having a Beatles reunion.

9

“McCartney” by Paul McCartney (1970)

Often referred to by fans as the album that broke The Beatles, McCartney released his eponymous debut solo album in April 1970 and wreaked havoc in the Beatles community. Nowadays, McCartney is considered a groundbreaking lo-fi album, but at the time it was heavily misunderstood. “In both the quality of its songs and the character of its production, McCartney will no doubt be a disappointment to many Beatles fans,” Rolling Stone reviewed it at the time. “When compared to the best of The Beatles’ previous work, the songs on McCartney are distinctly second rate.” Part of the reason this album was so criticized is that it competed with The Beatles’ Let It Be when it came out; but now it is recognized as the incredible piece of work it is. This album was written, recorded, and produced all by McCartney himself with some help from his wife Linda; it’s a masterpiece of indie recording.

8

“Somewhere in England” by George Harrison (1981)

Somewhere in England was a difficult album for George Harrison to make. He originally had finished it in September 1980, but when he presented it to his record label they rejected it saying it wasn’t commercial enough and told him to drop some of the songs and rework it. He ended up reluctantly agreeing with them but was frustrated at having to turn to covers to appease them; he even wrote a song calling out his record label named “Blood from a Clone.” Beatles fans are probably noticing the timeline by now. Between the rejected first version and the ultimate 1981 release there was the tragic death of John Lennon. This impacted Harrison greatly; he ended up writing a single named “All Those Years Ago,” which was a tribute to his former bandmate.

7

“Plastic Ono Band” by John Lennon (1970)

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was John Lennon’s debut album after The Beatles split up; while McCartney might have been seen as the album that ended the band you could say that Lennon made the breakup definite. This album includes a lot of vulnerable tracks such as “Mother,” “Isolation,” and “Love,” as well as one of Lennon’s greatest political anthems: “Working Class Hero.” But the song that really stands out is “God,” the second-to-last track which broke the hearts of fans all over the world. It was Lennon’s way to give an abrupt closure to the youth of his generation and all that it entailed. He repeats the refrain “I don’t believe in…” And mentions Elvis, Kennedy, Bob Dylan, and lastly The Beatles. “I was the walrus / But now I’m John / And so dear friends / You’ll just have to carry on / The dream is over,” he concludes.

6

“Imagine” by John Lennon (1971)

Imagine is the clearest example of John Lennon’s contradictory spirit that marked his entire career. There is of course the title track “Imagine,” which is a call for peace on Earth and the end of war in a soft almost sappy ballad. But that is where his sentimentalism about politics ends. He has strong protest songs like “Gimme Some Truth” and “I Don’t Want to Be a Soldier,” along with great vulnerable love songs like “Jealous Guy” and “Oh My Love.” And then there’s “How Do You Sleep?” a song that effectively throws all sentimentalism out of the window. It’s a direct attack on Paul McCartney; it made clear to the world that their relationship was all but ruined. They eventually rebuilt their friendship but this song remains a prime example of how far their feud had gotten.

5

“Band on the Run” by Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)

Another one of McCartney’s eccentricities that really paid off. In 1973 Paul and Linda McCartney’s band Wings was just starting. They were doing well but they had yet to leave their mark on music; with this album they managed. After having recorded in his home studio and in some of the best studios in Britain and America he felt they needed a change of pace. So he decided they would go to Lagos Nigeria where EMI had a studio. He wanted to immerse himself in African music (which he eventually did with his friendship with Fela Kuti) but not everyone wanted to follow him halfway across the world. The day before they were set to depart half the band quit leaving only the McCartneys and their guitarist Denny Laine. The experience in Lagos left them with incredible songs like the title track “Band on the Run,” “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five,” “Mamunia,” and more; despite difficulties (their demos were stolen and they had to rerecord) this album finally proved what McCartney could do on his own.

4

“Cloud Nine” by George Harrison (1987)

Cloud Nine was highly anticipated as George Harrison had gone on a five-year hiatus in the ’80s; people were excited to hear from him again. This album also led Harrison to top charts again for first time in over a decade with his amazing cover of Rudy Clark’s “Got My Mind Set on You,” reestablishing him as a top-notch solo artist. The album also included a tribute to his time in The Beatles: a loving yet sarcastic song titled “When We Was Fab,” featuring Ringo Starr. “The microscopes that magnified tears / Studied warts and all / Still life flowed on / Long time ago when we was Fab / But it’s all over now Baby Blue,” he sings cheerily.

3

“Double Fantasy” by John Lennon (1980)

A bittersweet album for sure. Double Fantasy came out in 1980 shortly before John Lennon’s life was tragically cut short; it marked his return to show business after taking five years away from music focusing on raising his son. This album reflects how happy he was with his quiet life: songs like “Watching the Wheels” and “Beautiful Boy” are about his peaceful life as a father and husband; perhaps most heartbreaking is “(Just Like) Starting Over.” It’s about still being in love with his wife after all those years together while looking into their future together. This album really established John Lennon as a class-A balladist; it remains one of his best works.

2

“All Things Must Pass” by George Harrison (1970)

It’s no secret that George Harrison felt slighted in The Beatles so when they broke up while establishing himself as a solo artist was daunting but also liberating. All Things Must Pass is a triple album full of masterpieces; he topped charts everywhere with it. His single “My Sweet Lord” was an instant success along with its title track which had originally been rejected by The Beatles just a year earlier. This album proved both to him and everyone else that he didn’t need Lennon or McCartney to be an exceptional songwriter.

1

“RAM” by Paul McCartney (1971)

“It is by now apparent that Lennon held back on McCartney’s cutsie-pie florid attempts at pure rock muzak,” Rolling Stone said in their review when it first came out. Fifty years later this album is considered one of the greatest of the ’70s: loathed by critics yet loved by fans — its single “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” topped charts in US while other great songs include closing track “The Backseat of My Car,” “Dear Boy,” “Monkberry Moon Delight,” but opening track really drew attention: “Too Many People” was veiled attack at John Lennon scolding him for breaking up The Beatles leading Lennon lashing out at him later in “How Do You Sleep?”

The Beatles were incredible together but these 10 albums prove they were just as great each on their own.