I'm going to explore his songs as I've been exploring Lennon's (I'm 17, and I'm disappointed with Lennon.  Though I love Imagine and (Just Like) Starting Over, I feel that he didn't have enough good songs, but then again, his life was tragically ended ).  What are VERY good songs that I could try to find on CDs and such?

I think Jet is alright, I guess.  Maybe I'm Amazed is great.  Live and Let Die is great.  Band On The Run is good, just not as good as I thought.  I even found a Tribute to John Lennon for download, and he sings Strawberry Fields, Help!, and Give Peace a Chance.  It's very good.

But I'm disappointed because I'm not getting Eleanor Rigby or Let It Be quality songs yet.  So a lil help would be appreciated

Its hard to tell you what songs to like or dislike. You have your own opinion and tastes. I could sit here and tell you what people consider Pauls better albums to be, but that would be pointless. I'm also a little confused when you state the John didnt have enough good songs. Are you only listening to the greatest hits albums?

If you really want to understand an artist, i'm afraid your going to have to attack their solo catalogs (not just greatest hits) to really understand them. If this is what your after and Pauls next then start with 'Ram'.

Sorry that I cant be more precise with you, but I guarantee you that my favorite songs wont even be close to what your looking for. If you are really serious about it, I guess I can list what I feel are the best efforts on his albums, but it would take me a long time.

Well, I'm just trying to cover what everyone usually considers their fav MAcca solo songs, and THEN go from there.

And I've been exploring John Lennon's albums.  Instant Karma is good, but not what I was expecting.  Mother is decent.  God is repetitive.  I'm still looking.

Get Wingspan then. The two cds cover a lot of great Macca songs.

I disagree.....Wingspan really doesn't represent him well........but, two full discs of Paul for about a buck more than the cost of a single Paul album, you can't really go wrong....

Thirty-four years of work ... there's no easy way to explore it, I'm afraid. A little collection of songs won't give you a feel for a prolific muso's work - and Macca was nothing if not prolific!

Some of us older guys are at an advantage because we were around when the solo albums were released. So, for us it was a matter of buying the "new" album whenever it came out and getting to know it at the time. I imagine it's rough being 17 today and having to go back and absorb everything.

I think a lot depends on how much of a "Beatles" fan you are to begin with. If you're a big fan of the group, and enjoy many songs (or almost all of them) then it's easier for you to seek out the solo recordings and enjoy them.

For me, each new solo album was a matter of re-playing and re-playing, until I got to KNOW the record. The more you hear it, the more you grow to get familiar with the music, the more you like more songs.

When I was 17 I bought BACK TO THE EGG and hated it on first listen. The more I played it, the more I knew and familiarized myself and loved it! Same thing with McCARTNEY II and TUG OF WAR. Hated them at first, loved them with repeat plays. I'm not suggesting that everyone should try this with every band's albums, but if you're a Beatles Fan, it's almost like you owe it to yourself to be more familiar with the solo years and give the music enough of a chance by giving the disc a few spins.

So, I'd suggest playing fine albums like PLASTIC ONO BAND, IMAGINE, BAND ON THE RUN, VENUS AND MARS, TUG OF WAR, FLAMING PIE, ALL THINGS MUST PASS, CLOUD NINE, and Ringo's BLAST FROM YOUR PAST a few times. I'd say it's the cream of the crop for beginners.

joe....theres a speck on yer glasses.screw that start by the releases as they happened started at the break up and buy each  one in order of release.

Quoted from pc31, posted July 16, 2004, 12:35am at here

joe....theres a speck on yer glasses.screw that start by the releases as they happened started at the break up and buy each  one in order of release.

Not a bad idea really.....especially since like 80% of the best solo albums all came in the first few years...

Quoted Text

joe....theres a speck on yer glasses.screw that start by the releases as they happened started at the break up and buy each  one in order of release.

Well, I agree that your advice is definitely how "I'd" do things... but if I'm suggesting stuff to a young person who's already said he doesn't care for some of John and Paul's BEST material, what am I gonna do -- suggest McCARTNEY, RAM  or WILD LIFE to him? 

Quoted Text

Not a bad idea really.....especially since like 80% of the best solo albums all came in the first few years...

This is true for George and John (if we don't count his avant garde records ). But it took Paul a few albums to get to BAND ON THE RUN. And do you think a new fan would ever get uo to the great RINGO album if he started off with SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY and BEAUCOUPS OF BLUES first??!

No, the answer is to begin with what are generally considered the "best" and if you like them, then go back and explore the lesser stuff. IMO.

Quoted from Joe_Karlosi, posted July 16, 2004, 10:19am at here

Well, that's definitely how "I" do things... but if I'm suggesting stuff to a young person who's already said he doesn't care for some of John and Paul's BEST material, what am I gonna do -- suggest McCARTNEY, RAM  or WILD LIFE to him? 

Yes! Ram is probably Pauls best solo album. With these three albums to compare and listen to, a person would be able to see why after hearing McCartney and Wild Life (which I like). The same goes with the Beatle albums. I always suggest to a new listener to start at the beginning so that the evolution of the band is prominent. Its how I like to do it anyways.

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Yes! Ram is probably Pauls best solo album. With these three albums to compare and listen to, a person would be able to see why after hearing McCartney and Wild Life (which I like). The same goes with the Beatle albums. I always suggest to a new listener to start at the beginning so that the evolution of the band is prominent. Its how I like to do it anyways.

But when the person says that JET is only "alright" and BAND ON THE RUN is "good, but not as good as I thought" --- do you expect him to enjoy KREEN-AKRORE, THREE LEGS, or BIP BOP?

I LOVE the first few McCartney albums! But I doubt a newcomer would do well to start there.

Quoted from Joe_Karlosi, posted July 17, 2004, 1:44am at here

But when the person says that JET is only "alright" and BAND ON THE RUN is "good, but not as good as I thought" --- do you expect him to enjoy KREEN-AKRORE, THREE LEGS, or BIP BOP?

I LOVE the first few McCartney albums! But I doubt a newcomer would do well to start there.

Thats just it, whos to say? "Jet" hasent sat real well with me over time either, but he/she may like something else. 'Three Legs' is great, so yes I would expect them to like that one (along with the rest of the album). 'Bip Bop' and 'Kreen' are probably the worst songs on their albums, so its a decent chance they may not be enjoyed, but I think the other material deserves a shot.

Quoted Text

Thats just it, whos to say? "Jet" hasent sat real well with me over time either, but he/she may like something else. 'Three Legs' is great, so yes I would expect them to like that one (along with the rest of the album). 'Bip Bop' and 'Kreen' are probably the worst songs on their albums, so its a decent chance they may not be enjoyed, but I think the other material deserves a shot.

You've got a point. "Who's to say?" is right. So okay -- go through each album in chronological order; just don't give up if you don't like the first or second. This is what I would do in the situation.

I also like 'Three Legs'. And I'm also a fan of 'Bip Bop' as well .... I was just trying to single out what may generally be considered the weakest songs on the albums to  make my point.