10 Rock Music Albums Where One Person Plays Everything
1. McCartney I/II/III - Paul McCartney
In 1970, after The Beatles went their separate ways, Paul McCartney set the blueprint for every single-person album that followed.
From his house, Macca produced McCartney, his first solo album and a lo-fi dream that could easily have been written today. Ten years later, after the dissolution of his next band, Wings, he did it all over again.
McCartney II, released in 1980, was another DIY effort from The Walrus, only these songs had a more synthy vibe. Tracks like Temporary Secretary and Coming Up proved that McCartney still had a finger on the cultural pulse two decades into his career.
Then, during the COVID lockdowns of 2020, McCartney retired to his home studio to complete the trilogy. McCartney III was another collection of earnest, salt of the earth rockers that didn't quite live up to their predecessors, but provided reassurance that Paul's legendary ear for music had not vanished in his old age.
Apart from some guitar and drum work on one song from McCartney III, all three of these albums are Paul solo works through and through.
The McCartney trilogy is a masterclass in musicianship and a great example that raw talent can be enough to carry you through.