I agree that post Beatles work is not up to the standard of the earlier recordings. What were my first four solo Beatles records ? Electronic Music by George, Sentimental Journey by Ringo, Two Virgins by John ( and Yoko) and Wings Wildlife by Paul ( and Wings). All stinkers in my opinion. There was so much better music in the early 70s by Bowie, T Rex, Roxy Music, Elton John, etc etc.
Excellent job of putting the Beatles' solo work into context of the times. What made it even more interesting was charting my own musical progression during the 1970s (high school and college), by looking at what was "cutting edge" during that time.
I very much agree with your perspective. The top was in, around, 1971. I can imagine a doble album called Imagine, from the best of Ram and Imagine, two or three George-songs and maybe a Ringo song. After a one year break when they all did their solo albums. But in 1972, it's all over. Thanks for these wonderful posts!
I never knew anyone thought the Beatles solo work was the equal of the group together. This was remarkably thorough, beyond anything I've seen or read about the former Beatles' solo albums. I think you were being fair and accurate. After those first few albums there was a long slide and to be honest I lost touch with a lot of the releases after the mid 70s. To be fair, most pop/rock artists have about two big years on the charts and the better ones five to seven. They were part of something bigger than themselves, a very big part of an incredible decade and that''s enough to ask of anyone.
@@popgoesthe60s52 just to put this out there Matt, if you were to put all of the Top 40 Hits or even Top 10 Hits of The (Ex)Beatles together (as if They were the Beatles) against all the 70's Hits of (say) The Rolling Stones, ELO, The Eagles, or Queen how do they stack up???
Had they got a contract for an album every 2-3 years with four songs from each and freedom to work solo it would have been great. No stipulation to perform live. It would have been quality stuff.
I agree that I've never ever heard anyone consider their solo stuff equal. TBF, I think he meant that people compare the two, which is only natural. I don't think he was being fair, though. He's framing the artistic fall off - which is natural for any artist - as some sort of failure. If you wrote 'Hey Jude', 'A Day In the Life', or 'Here Comes The Sun', there is no failure. You get the gold star for life.
Good job! I was 15 in 1970 and you truly summed up the feelings I had over the years concerning their solo material when compared to the real world. Cutting Edge is the best description. I was laughing at some of your comments, cuz they're true, but love the albums, and now and then something beatlesque pops out.
I think there's more to pop music than being cutting edge. It is sometimes more difficult to maintain the quality of your established work rather than constantly coming up with something new and different and I give them credit for their efforts in that regard even when they were settling into a genre different than rock and roll.
Thanks, Matt, I'm just 5 minutes in and had to write. 70, 71 was last year of HS into college for me. Wonderful memories of the records and groups you mention. I got to see CSN&Y and Tull during these years. You really have a fantastic way of evoking the time. It's always a pleasure to see your latest videos! Now I can continue...
Very interesting episode, my friend. What it did was to remind me why I didn't keep up with the Beatles' solo careers very consistently. The reason being that almost all the LPs you highlighted from other artists were so incredible! It reminded me of what I heard Phil Collins say about the Beatles in that they opened so many doors that no one even knew existed and all those albums were the result of what the Fab Four initiated. I think Phil said of Sgt. Pepper, "Oh, you mean we can go in there, too?" (or something like that). Brought back a lot of excellent musical memories, bro. Keep it up.
Thanks again for your time and research Matt. 'Been following you for a little less than two years now, and I always find it insightful. I'm a little younger (45, though my hair is disappearing at a much faster rate than yours), but a huge fan of the rock/jazz/folk (pop) music from 1954 to 1976 (for me, it started to drastically peak in 1965 and began to dwindle after 1973, despite masterpieces being made before and after that period). I fear The Beatles will remain my favorite group of all time, but your perspectives on Jefferson (a top ten band for me), The Turtles, and your Rolling Stone critiques were, and are, nice eye-openers. Thanks again and looking forward to your solo Beatles' critiques... and of course, anything else on the '60s-'70s.
The first half of the 1970s were great. As the 1970s progressed, not only the Beatles solo albums became artistically weaker, but rock and popular music in general was becoming a commodity where selling units was the industry's only goal. The cutting-edge albums by anybody were a scarcity by the late '70s. That what caused punk to happen as a revolt against AOR rock radio and disco.
Love this segment; well thought out. First time I've ever seen someone list the solo stuff against their contemporaries--quite revealing. It's hard to know, of course, what would have happened had they stayed together for any length of time after '69, but no matter, all these years later I still love their music from "Love Me Do" to "The Long and Winding Road." Thanks, Matt, for some great perspective!
I was surprised at the harshness of your review at first. The Beatles were always my shining light on the hill. However, looking back, I realize I bought precious few solo albums from any of the Beatles from about 73' forward. I did not buy a single album by Ringo. I had two from both Paul and George and 4 from John. I have since rediscovered George and purchased three more. If I listen to music online, it is usually John's. I don't know if my change of choice is nostalgia or a deeper appreciation of their work. I only listened to Paul and Ringo when they had a song on the radio. So I guess I am harsh too. Good video Matt. It really made me think and remember.😊
Appreciated the video and really liked the format you used to frame it. That this topic continues to drive interest and debate -- it certainly brought me here -- only proves the lasting relevance of The Beatles. But even so, one can argue that to even ask the question is unfair. No other band, no matter how giant or cutting edge has been held up to the same scrutiny. No other former members held up to the same expectations. Bands are fluid. Members come and go. They breakup. Some put out solo albums. Some are successful. Some are not. Very few remain cutting edge or even relevant. We don't spend hours analysing Robert Plant's solo career for example. The Beatles solo success stands out more for how unlikely it was than for how disappointing it was. They ALL had successful solo careers. Was that due to mere legacy loyalty? Sure, some people might buy anything they put out. But I don't think so. They each still had something to contribute and people liked what they heard.
Great comments, Kieop. The cream of the crop from the collective Beatles solo careers is quite impressive. I generally make playlists of the good stuff and avoid the annoying stuff. If we were to discuss Robert Plant, we'd would be saying similar things about Plant that we've said about the Beatles solo career. Everyone has their time but the solo Beatles material is granted special privilege by virtue of having been Beatles. That is also something that is routinely overlooked.
Excellent watch, gotta say. It's nice to see someone come at this with a clear view. I agree completely that the Beatles solo stuff is often talked about in the same light as their group work, and it's like, "What? Wait. What are you talking about? The quality just isn't the same." It's like, hey people. No artist is completely innovative on a legendary level for an entire career. It just doesn't happen. Great concepts in here. Enjoyed! 😁
Hi Matt, very thought provoking as usual - however I must pull you up on the McCartney discography - although not listed as McCartney albums The Fireman albums are every bit as experimental and more so in most cases that the supposed ‘cutting edge’ pop/rock music of the time. Probably not every McCartney fans favourite and that is probably one of the reasons he kept his anonymity for these albums. These album only prove that like it or not Paul McCartney never lost his appetite for experimentation - despite his years. Cutting edge - not just a young man’s game! Cheers Matt. PS glad to see the Electric Light Orchestra getting a mention - Eldorado is a classic album!
Hey Matt, I did omit those along with that Oratorio stuff because I simply can't take this stuff seriously. If McCartney was doing that stuff in the 60s or 70s it would have been a real risk. But in the twilight of his career, it's safe and been done before. He has nothing to prove but he seems intent on proving something, which comes off as insecure. I have listened to some of that just to be in the know and I think its for McCartney completists only. I know you'll disagree with me on this one but that is my take. I appreciate the comments!
@@popgoesthe60s52 it’s fine to have an opinion and I respect yours - that’s why I enjoy your informative videos. I just have a different take on McCartneys later years and there are several albums from his late period which rate highly IMHO. I am not necessarily looking for cutting edge either - there is pleasure in listening to well crafted and memorable songs. Cheers Matt
Another excellent video about the former Beatles and their solo career output, Matt! I have to agree that much of their solo work beyond 1972 just was not as high-quality, although each of them did have some very good songs after that year. It is also kind of unfair in a way for anyone to compare their solo work with what John, Paul, George and Ringo created as the Beatles.
I have every Beatles album (as I assume just about everybody here also have). Over time I bought several solo Beatles albums - All Things Must Pass, Ram, Imagine, Walls and Bridges, 'Ringo', Living in the Material World, Band on the Run, 33 and a Third, 'George Harrison', Flaming Pie, Double Fantasy, Cloud 9, as well as many, many songs and singles songs from all the lads. I'm good for now!
I very much agree with your points. It seems to me inevitable that as artists age they start losing that cutting edge you are talking about. It is hard to keep that up for many years and songs written! I agree that the Beatles' star was fading during all these years, with a few notable exceptions that you aptly pointed out. I still love Band on the Run, and listen to that one on a regular basis.
I appreciate your insight on the solo careers. You really broke it down well for me as a fan I have most all their music. I look forward to you going head to head with J. Heaton again.
wow...this really is a half hour shot to the Pulitzer of YT pure genius! Well researched, well presented and crystal clear exposing of truths we all "missed", skipped or avoided as die hard Beatles fans all this time...I agree even with the "cutting edge" examples of the eras that don't really "ring a bell" in 2023 (although most of them became timeless jewels)...thank you Sir for this!!!
Excellent Matt! This was really quite good. I very much appreciate your dispassionate approach to this topic. There is simply too much hagiography these days when "looking back" at the post Beatles era. Not to take a cheap shot, but there was a lot of competition at that time and the solo Beatles simply did not keep pace. 1976... what a year of stunning releases. Frampton, Boston, etc. Wow! Keep up the great work!
Hi Matt, I enjoyed the analysis and I agree with pretty much all you say. When you look at it the way you did here, it confirms the Beatles were up against some amazing new talent. So like you, I still love The Beatles for what they did. Maybe they could have done another year or two and an album or two if circumstances had been different but not much more. There was some good stuff after 1972, but I agree, it wasn't cutting edge. Great channel. 👍
Matt, I've never heard anyone slam The Beatles so much in such a loving and respectful way. :) Seriously, you make a lot of good points and raised a hard truth that a lot of fans (including me) don't want to face: Rock 'n' roll is a young person's game (not just for young guys), and it's unrealistic to expect men in the 30s, 40s, and beyond to keep up with younger artists such as Bowie, Queen, The Police, and Prince. It could be argued that there was no reason for them to be cutting edge. They were each doing their own thing, and songs such as "Band on the Run," "Photograph," and "Blow Away" (still my favorite George song) were pleasant and fun and perennial radio companions. But certainly they lost a lot of the intensity that fueled younger artists.
Hey Greg, thank you for the kind words. I do love a lot of the solo Beatles work (especially the 3 you listed) but I simply can't rate them better than Steely Dan, Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Bowie etc. I typically listen to the solo stuff in playlists of the songs I love and leave the songs I can't stand unplayed.
I don't think Matt slammed the Beatles. I think he was comparing their work year by year with contemporary music for the time. He simply told the truth. Thank you, I enjoyed your comments.
@@jammininthepast Thanks for the response. The smiley face at the end of the sentence was meant to indicate that it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Hi Matt, probably one of the best episodes you have ever done. I love hearing opinions and real comparisons with other artist of the period. It’s the million dollar question that we will never know, had the Beatles stayed together would they have put together fantastic music in the 70’s with other emerging bands. You mentioned a lot of legendary albums from new bands, that only the Beatles may have been able to compete with. Great episode!!!!
@@frugalseverin2282 They would have been better together than apart due to their incredible arranging skills as a four-piece -- something they never came close to matching again. I'm talking about John bringing in "Come Together" as a Chuck Berry derivative and the others (especially Paul) turning it into something swampy and badass, with an iconic bass hook and incredible intro beat. Still, the Beatles were never going to be on the cutting edge again. It's not humanly possible to do it for that long. The only artist I can think of who revolutionized his genre multiple times over a longer time period was Miles Davis, and and that's partly because the jazz audience was more niche and wasn't quite as dependent on masses of 20-year-olds looking for young artists to identify with. Miles also didn't have to write lyrics, which is another dimension in which a pop-rock artist has to stay in step (or quickly lose cred).
*Very interesting video and I agree 200% with your analysis on the recent "Beatles products" era which is getting ridiculous and out of control it seems... Thank you for daring say the truth that most people think without ever daring say them out loud. I mean, Ringo Starr has indeed become a rather embarassing character over the last few years really I think... Keep up the good work dude !*
My heart wants to say you're full of it but of course you're 100% right. After watching Get Back you can see how they worked bouncing off each other and I think one or two albums after Abbey Road could have been spectacular. We just have to appreciate what they did from 1964 - 1970 because it's why you can list all those great albums that followed. Without the Beatles in the 60s, changing music, we don't see those albums because most of those artists never would have picked up a guitar or tried writing a song. Just my thoughts on a great episode.
Hey Rick, thank you for the kind words. The influence of the Beatles must not be underestimated and you are quite right about the great bands that followed owing a debt to the Fabs. I appreciate the comment!
It's so funny, Matt. I remember talking to my Beatles friends about this exact topic ten years ago. I said something like "To be honest with you guys - I'd rather listen to Born To Run by Bruce than Extra Texture by George." They absolutely did not agree. Ha! But nonetheless - Excellent video, as usual!!!!
Hey, if someone wants to listen to Extra Texture all the way through, I would never try to stop them. I'll just put on Katy Lied and leave Extra Texture on the shelf. I listen to only 1 song on the album: Tired Of Midnight Blue.
Man when you ran down what was released from 70 on by other artist it solidified in my mind what a great era that was for rock. As you exhaust the 60s hope there is a Pop Goes the 70s! Also greatly appreciate the shout out for one of my favorite bands ELP.
I think the phrase , "cutting edge" is exactly right. How do they match up to what is going on at the time should be the first way to judge their work- critically.... and then commercially. Then, how good is it to the subjective listener on its own merit out of context. The Beatles were cutting edge at the time, how long did they keep that as solo artists? Were they breaking new ground or just being pop fabulous or missing both? I think the short answer was they stopped being cutting edge by early 1972. They stayed pop fabulous for longer; especially McCartney. JL/POB and All Things Must Pass are amazing albums that stand as an extension of the great work done by the Beatles. Unique sounds and great messages and performances. Band on The Run is an underrated excellent Pop Album. Everything else is spotty at best. The only reason I extend their relevance to early 1972 is because The Concert for Bangla Desh was an epic event and Imagine gave the appearance that things would be continuing in a solid direction. Paul fell down out of the gate and stayed down for a while and never tried to be more than a pop star, as did Ringo. Lennon's relevance was done after STINYC and George showed by 1973 that ATMP was really all he had in him as an artist of major import. As to being pop fabulous, the Solo Beatles always had great songs and were legitimate top 40 artists until 1975 for the three and 1982 for Paul. I love their solo stuff, but it doesn't rate with their contemporaries as cutting edge. They really needed each other. But I do think they split at the right time. No way they could have maintained both critical and commercial mastery through the 70's. Commercial to be sure, but not critical.
Outstanding analysis, Matt!! Your comparisons of each of their solo output with the classic releases during those same years really shines a light in the difference in quality.
Thanks Matt, enjoyed the review. On my CD player for the last week and what I was listening to when this popped up Ram, the remastered Revolver, Disc one of the White Album, Abbey Road, Let it Be and Sgt Pepper. I have always loved the Ram LP and put it on par with the last years of the Beatles work. Rock and Roll is a young man's game, you can make your argument for any band from almost any era. The Stones are still together but in my mind they haven't put out any relevant new music after the 1970's, the same for Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac and the rest that are still active. Life changes for most of us and as you grow older your voice and thoughts are about middle age issues, you can't help that. The fact that all four of the Beatle's had some level of individual success after they broke up puts them way ahead of most other bands most of who are lucky if one of the band members is able to have some success after the breakup.
No other band has had every single individual member reach no 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Just The Beatles. Maybe they were no longer cutting edge but they were still at the top of their game.
I tend to gravitate to Paul when I listen Beatles' solo stuff. Ram and Band on the Run are really good and as Matt said, the man can still write a song. I must respectfully disagree about Bob Dylan though, imo he's continued to put out good stuff, and if you haven't yet, do check out Rough and Rowdy Ways from 2020 - it's amazing!
As a big Beatles fan, and fond of McCartneys solo work, I totally agree with this assessment of the “solo years”. I think McCartney has the most enjoyable output of the four overall. To me anyway.The only veteran artists of the 60’s with strong output today have been the Zombies, and the late David Crosby. In my opinion. As usual, enjoy your videos. Appreciate all your hard work. Take care!
Terrific video Matt, I'm sure that a lot of work went into it and its appreciated! I don't think you are being overly harsh, The Beatles reached such extraordinary heights in the 1960's, any honest comparison with their solo work is naturally going to seem critical. I envy people who continued to enjoy The Beatles solo albums or any of the rock music which came out in the 1970's, I didn't care for the direction in which rock was going and I moved on to jazz. There were individual cuts off Beatles solo albums which I liked, as well as songs from other groups but I can't recall buying any of the Beatles solo albums or any rock albums throughout the 70's. For me, it was all about progress, was the music moving forward, creatively advancing. During the 60's with groups like the Beatles, Stones, Traffic, Cream, Moody Blues, etc., each album seemed better than the previous one. The creative output during that time period was astonishing and as a fan, it kept me interested. I might have been overly critical because it prevented me from enjoying music which fell short of a standard which I had come to expect. Rock became interesting again in the 1980's but it was only in recent years that I started listening to the albums you cover in this video. Maybe if the Beatles had stayed together for one more year, their group output would have been better than their initial solo albums? Once again, this was a very informative and enjoyable video, thanks!
Excellent overview. I don't think you were harsh at all, spot on in fact! I stopped with the Beatles solo work with "Venus and Mars" in recent years. I remember listening to "Mind Games" a few years ago and thinking how surprisingly bad it was (I won't include the Harrison/Starr LP's from the era and beyond). I can't really tell you what the post '76 LP's sounded like excpet what received airplay. Great job and keep putting out the great vids! Thanks for the hard work.
Personally, I love Ringo's solo career. I like it more than Paul and John. Though to be fair to John he had less time. Don't really care for Ram. I've found I gel with Paul's music the least, both when with The Beatles and solo. Meanwhile I think Mind Games is probably my favorite Lennon album. Even so, I look forward to your future videos on their solo stuff! You always have very objective and analytical takes, even when bringing up your own personal preferences, and it's refreshing.
RAM will always be my favourite Beatles solo record for its sheer inventiveness and unrestrained creativity - just like with McCartney, Paul seems to try anything and just have fun, and since he's a musical genius, it works out amazingly.
McCartney, Ram, and Red Rose Speedway are/were mostly ignored or degraded by the press/Lennon-Harrison at the time they were released. It affected the history and true value of just how great the albums really were. Most of McCartney's early albums were fantastic. 🤏
Hi Matt, this was a very interesting episode and you did a great job. I tend to think you were a little too KIND about their solo work in spots. A thought provoking theory that came to mind while watching, was that all the 'contemporary" artists had The Beatles as inspiration to greater or lesser degrees as their influence transcended many areas of music and society. The solo 70s Beatles couldn't be really inspired by their contemporaries because their contemporaries were inspired by THEM. So their inspiration came more from, family, politics (Lennon), religion (George), etc. as they then relied on the laurels of their own history. Just a thought and possibly not well expressed.. LOL. Excellent episode. Thanks.
Well I would say that the solo Beatles also had the Beatles as inspiration! I think some of the inspiration was actually derivative like McCartney's punk outings or Ringo's disco, but generally I think they tried NOT to be influenced, which may have been their collective problem. Thank you for the comments, Joe!
johns rookie solo record is awesome. stark, simple..in your face & pulls 0 punches. the lad was definitely not afraid to let the world see the chaos within him.
The first two Ringo cover albums are incredible. ESPECIALLY Sentimental Journey, as a jazz guy it absolutely knocks it out of the park. Totally nails that authentic old-school jazz legacy.
Very nicely put. I remember being blown away with Roll It by Paul McCartney. I also remember being embarrassed hearing Coming Up by Paul McCartney. Continued success to you and your channel.
Great video! I disagree on some points, but you explained your perspective very well. Some corrections though: Paul MCartney DID have a top 10 hit in the "Twilight Era." FourFiveSeconds, which he wrote and recorded with Kanye West and Rhianna. Paul also released more albums than Ringo during this era, if you count his classical albums, and collaborative albums with Youth under the name "The Fireman." If the Travelling Wilbury's count for George, then these would count for Paul.
I love your honesty, Matt, I agree with so much of what you have to say here. You hit the nail on the head with your comments on “selling PRODUCT” because that’s what’s happened, regardless of musical quality. I saw the dreaded late 70’s “Ringo The Fourth” album at a record store recently brand new for forty fricking bucks! I’ve heard it, and that record was a cut-out before it was even recorded, that’s how bad it is! I can’t imagine the justification of even reissuing that album. Looking at it all they made so many breakthroughs musically in the 60’s, it would be maybe impossible for anybody to continue doing that their whole career, and with the money coming in, they have no incentive to do otherwise. Showing the records by other artists that were cutting edge in each year, really helps drive the point home, excellent perspective. Thanks for another great show! p.s. I n my unpopular opinion, Jeff Lynne should only produce his own albums, that production style really gets in the way sometimes. Lotsa fluff.
@@popgoesthe60s52 The box sets will just keep coming, but I won’t be buying. The 2 cd “Revolver” was plenty enough for me, but why weren’t they released this way in the first place? The Byrds reissues from the 90’s were excellent, including bonus tracks. How many times are people going to buy the same album? There’s plenty of modern artists worth hearing that are ignored and worth supporting.
I want to say upfront that I love all your work , the Beatles stuff in particular. But wow! This one was great the best yet! I've watched it a couple of times.
A really good video that really puts some aspects about their careers into perspective, well done! However there are a few things which I struggle to agree with you on - In regards to McCartney, your view on RAM as a 'pretty solid' album is a bit of an understatement. In my opinion I think that RAM is quite simply a masterpiece and it draws on themes such as domestic bliss in an extremely effective way, with the quality of the songs being on par with a lot of his work with The Beatles. Also, I think that it could be argued (many may disagree with me here) that McCartney II is actually quite 'cutting edge' (depending on how you use that phrase), and I know it is for an acquired taste but many notable writers credit it as a 'forerunner to the sound of 1980s pop' such as NME, it has a strong influence to artists within the genres of electronica, lofi and bedroom pop. Also Pitchfork included it within their 2018 list of the best albums of the 1980s (I'm not saying I love it but am just making a case for why I think in some ways it should be considered as cutting edge). I also think Chaos And Creation should have got more of a mention and I think it is simply fantastic and one of the best records of his career. Additionally, passing off Venus and Mars as the 'ugly step child' to BOTR is harsh - in my opinion it a classic 70s record and should not be kept in the shadow of BOTR. However, I mostly agree with you views and they are well-though out and justified in most cases, making for a really interesting watch. Just thought I would share my opinion on your takes of some of them McCartney albums.
Hello Beck, thank you for the comments. First, this needs to be said: I covered 52 years of solo work and 126 competing albums in under 29 minutes. To do that, omissions and generalizations were made. I realize that people may take issue with my remarks but I am happy to concede them to make the bigger point. For example, my comments on Ram were all positive, yet you single out “it’s a pretty solid album” as an “understatement”. Apparently I didn’t praise it enough! That’s disappointing because you missed the bigger point - that I considered it a cutting edge album. I’m happy to offer critiques on albums like Venus, Chaos, II, but based on my experience, the uber McCartney fans are not interested unless sufficient amount of praise is given. I appreciate your comments, even though we disagree on some things. Challenging me helps me to continue refine my positions and strive for strong content.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I thought the amount of their work you covered in such a short period of time was really great and I totally get that generalisations were made, I was drawing some attention to the RAM comment as I thought it deserved more than that, but again, I realise that you said it was 'cutting edge'. Just out of curiosity, do you see my point about McCartney II or am I talking nonsense? Cheers for the quick reply
@@beckcole-picton852 You are not talking nonsense because McCartney is always an interesting topic because his music is so polarizing. I think rating McC II as 'cutting edge' is a tough argument to make simply because other artists did electronic stuff prior to McCartney (new wave bands, Brit synth, Human League). He only does this on a couple songs which is why people don't consider this a big change in direction. He slips into his usually bag of tricks. There are some quality songs on here (On The Way, Waterfalls, Coming Up), but Temporary Secretary is irritating, Bogey Music, Nobody Knows and Frozen Jap I find very thin. Check My Machine sounds like a send up so it’s hard to take seriously. His drumming is a weak point (also exposed on McC I) but he is in great voice on this album and a number 1 song helped get this album listened to. I'm surprised he never did a soul/R&B album. That is something I think could have been special. I think McCartney more than any other artist gets more retroactive praise for his albums that weren't actually influential in their time. The terms 'lo-fi' and 'bedroom pop' are more current terms that get applied to McC even though he didn't really influence anyone in those genres. Calling Ram "the first indie" album is a perfect example of this and gets repeated ad nauseam. I think this is a result of a new wave of hipster writers that perpetuate this. McCartney is the perfect foil. His work has been ridiculed, so now we (the hipster writers) find reasons to praise it and take the credit for noticing it first. Another reason we see this writing trend is that there isn't much to say about new music which is why we see old music being re-evaluated by writers, UA-camrs and podcasters. McCartney fans struggle with me because there are 2 distinct types that don’t mix well. The uber-McCartney fan that loves and defends practically everything he produces and the more average fan that followed him through the 70s, gave up on him in the 80s, and may go to some of his shows. I’m in the second group and I chalk both groups up to a matter of personal taste. Unfortunately, they don’t have much respect for one another.
I am so excited you’re gonna be delving into that solo work. I can’t wait till you talk about George Harrison’s self-titled 1978/79 album which has one of my favorite solo tracks of the Beatles, blow away
You know...Back then (after the big break up) We kept listening to the solo albums and kept saying to ourselves, "Don't worry, the next album will be like The Beatles best again". We kept wishing and hoping that year after year after year...and the sad thing is, I keep thinking it might happen. Especially with McCartney's new releases....but it never does. But I still keep wishing....and anticipating a miracle that one day it all comes back again...Am I a sad and pathetic human being??....maybe....But there's always hope....and that's why we kept buying those solo albums...
It was (and is) something that could not possibly happen in the general culture, because "The Beatles" was (and is) an idea in our heads attached to too many precious time-locked personal and historical associations and fantasies. Some individuals (who perhaps have a less rose-tinted view of The Beatles legend, great as they were) appear able to have a different view of what some of them accomplished solo and can appreciate it's value. But as a culture, we were never going to be able to escape the vast gravitational pull of The Beatles myth.
Crap. I've finally met my twin! Kept waiting for the next MAC release... "you wait". No Beatle wrote a full album of stuff in the 60s. You should expect three or four edited and Beatlized tracks. Married. competing against legacy. coasting.
Hi Matt, I'm fairly convinced by your analysis of the Golden Era and the Chart Decline era, though I would have liked more comparisons with the competition in the Chart Decline era, a period when pop and rock in general completely lost the plot. But I completely disagree with your dismissal of McCartney's music in the so-called Twilight era. For me, he underwent a profound renaissance in this period, starting with Flaming Pie, but getting even better with Driving Rain and Chaos and Confusion in the Backyard, not to mention his classical music, culminating with Ocean's Kingdom, and the experimental work in Electric Arguments. I also think there's a flaw in your assumption that the solo Beatles' material is a measure of the quality of what they might have done together. The astonishing cutting edge quality of Abbey Road demonstrates that the Beatles were innovating right up to the end, and there is no reason to think that they would not have continued to develop as a band. I hope that your upcoming discussion of the Beatles' solo material includes an attempt to justify your dismissal of albums like Driving Rain.
Hey Tom. Paul's work in the Twilight era appeals to a niche audience, and I said some positive things about his work from this period. I simply don't care or it. I didn't dismiss Driving Rain. I didn't even mention it. As for their 70s solo stuff, I was mainly comparing their solo work to their contemporaries. Period. The fact that all of them "fell off the cutting edge" (along with several other 1960s heavies I might add) suggests that Beatles could not have remained "at the top."
@@popgoesthe60s52 Paul didn’t fall off the edge. McCartney II has been very influential to electronica, bedroom pop, and lofi artists. Paul was still influencing genres 10 years after the Beatles split
I liked the analysis in this video. I went into the video thinking "oh it can't be that bad", but then as I watched it, I realized that the only solo Beatle songs that I consistently go back to are John's Surprise Surprise, What You Got, Scared, and Tight A$.
Hi Matt! A long time suscriber here, and I love your videos. I pretty much agree with your view of the Beatles solo catalog. And, basically, you're proving they disbanded probably at the right time, and at the top of their game. They stopped being "on the cutting edge" pretty soon, that's a fact. But, is that not the case with any other artist? For how long were The Who, Steely Dan, Jethro Tull, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, or whoever, on the cutting edge? How do each of those band's members' solo albums compare to their bands' music and to their contemporaries? Or... How good are Elton John's albums released since the 2000s, compared to his early 70s albums or to their 2000s contemporaries? Let me just add a few comments up for discussion: 1. No artist can be on the cutting edge forever. 2. Even if they could, does it really matter that much? Because all music ever recorded and released, now (2023) coexists, and is just there waiting to be listened to. And you can now listen to the Sex Pistols if you want, next to Ringo Starr, then to Fleetwood Mac, then to The Hollies, and so on and so forth. That's certainly what I do (and I'm pretty sure you and many of us here do too) 3. Isn't "being on the cutting edge" just being trendy at any given moment? 4. You can enjoy say, Wild Life, and also Led Zeppelin IV. 5. If you think about it, Paul is only good at being Paul, John at being John, Queen at being Queen, Deep Purple at being Deep Purple, James Taylor at being James Taylor.... You can always choose and listen to any music that you want/like/fit your mood at any given time. 6. People listen to and buy (bought) music for variuos reasons. I guess maybe 1% of Beatle fans have bought or listened to their whole solo catalog. Probably the same percentage of that specific 1% think their solo material is at the same artistic level of the band (as a whole) output. But they bought it probably for sentimental reasons, or just for the sake of completeness. The same happens, I think, if you are a very intense Black Sabbath/Stones/whatever band fan. 7. At the end of the day, the greatness of the Beatles (and of any other artist) is about the number of people they've touched and made somehow better, not about being "on the cutting edge" (or on the changing fads of popular music)
1.Yes, every artist that replaced the solo Beatles themselves fell off the cutting edge. Success is fleeting and dominance is rare. 2. yes we all listen to variety, but that doesn't mean you can't compare the relevance of Zeppelin 4 vs Band on the Run. 3. No, being on the cutting edge does not mean trendy. The albums I compared the solo Beatles work to where chosen because they have stood the test of time. 4. not being on the cutting does not mean one can't enjoy it. For example I love the Archies. 7. Some people don't like topics like this and say things like "its about the greatness, etc." Some people want to have discussions outside of fanboy topics and they are sometime harder discussions to have.
2. Of course. Relevance and enjoyment don't necessarily go together. It's better when they do though.😉 3. I meant that, say, the singer-songwriter era was a thing in thet early 70s (it was "trendy" at that time), and the solo Beatles couldn't do that kind of music even if they wanted. They were, as you imply, from another era (you're right!). Of course, the best singer-songwriter stuff have stood the test of time, while 95% of the solo Beatles stuff haven't. We agree: they just made the music they were able to make, and were lucky they had a fan base from the sixties (smaller as time keeps going by) that would go and listen to whatever they released... Prog-rock was "trendy" in the 70s (not in the eighties, and certainly not now, you must concur), and yet it doesn't prevent Fragile, Selling England By The Pound, The Dark Sinde Of The Moon and the like from having stood the test of time.
Very interesting analysis, in context and perspective, although I could hardly expect any relevant artist or performer to indefinitely remain at the top of their game. Forgot to mention George Harrison's double album Live In Japan.
A brutally fair take and very much appreciated the era breakdowns. For me, so much of their work was overplayed as a child in the 70s and I wanted something different. I share your disappointment Matt lol!
100% on the ball Matt. Within the group they had themselves to compete against - outside the group it was either egos cocaine or wives/girlfriends. Not the same. Boom. Thank MW for another great video.
Excellent analysis. Arguably Ringo was most successful in terms of reinventing himself going from a bit of a joke in the 70s and the guy who "just had dumb luck" joining the Beatles to a guy that many drummers now respect and credit as being an inspiration based on his Beatles work. As for McCartney - I think Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is the only other album that deserves a mention as a high point - it has good songs but also not in the least due to Greg Kurstin's production work. John of course never really had a chance in the 80s or later to redeem himself or make a "come back", it's anyone's guess what would have happened with his musical career.
I lived thru the '70s and I remember it as a time when music fans were looking for the next Beatles whether it was Badfinger, the Bee Gees, Klaatu, Cheap Trick or Bay City Rollers. Remember the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band" movie starring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton, those big '70s stars? The Beatles' legacy was still huge, Capitol kept releasing more compilation albums. The solo Beatles were competing against themselves. Meanwhile the ex-Beatles were trying NOT to sound like the Beatles. The "Ringo" album succeeded because he had the other 3 ex-Beatles lending a hand. I like a lot of their '70s albums; "Venus and Mars" sounded a little more modern but you're right they were not on the cutting edge. As a group they jumped on the sitar, the mellotron and the Moog early on. In the '70s they were guys at work, craftsmen but no longer leaders.
Hi Perry! I do have one other "biggie" that will be a multi parter. That will be in July. Once I complete that, the Monkees will find a place on the schedule, so stay tuned!
This was stupendous. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the AI mashups we are seeing on UA-cam. Having Lennon on McCartney songs and viceversa. I know ultimately it isn’t your thing, nor mine, but I find it more genuinely interesting than auto tuning; it tries to give us something impossible but not to hide imperfections, to fulfill nostalgia and see what might have been (in a limited way).
Now let's compare all of the competitors to Beatles albums and none of them come even close in quality and transcendense. Even if The Beatles ceased to be at the cutting edge, they were always the top influence for any new comers.
Fascinating video. And I remember all the other artists at this time as well so it took me back. Critical analysis that some people might be offended by, but that’s in reality what was going on then. And I agree the sum is so much greater than the parts. Beatles were an absolutely magical, once in a lifetime corroboration that will never be surpassed.
I have more of Macca’s solo albums than all the other three’s combined. First of all (if you don’t count Ringo’s EPs), he’s released more material than any of the other three. Though more isn’t automatically better, it does give more material to judge and put into perspective with everything else out there. And so, my favorite Beatles solo albums are Band On the Run and Tug of War, which I consider Macca’s best albums. I would also put Press to Play near there-an album that’s not Macca’s best, but far better than anything that he’s put out in recent years. Let’s face it: Macca has run out of steam (everybody does eventually), and Ringo continues to glide along. People will still buy their albums and go to their concerts (like when I saw Ringo in June), for one reason: they’re all that’s left of The Beatles. And that’s a time period that people don’t want to completely give up. And so they will continue to hold on to both Macca and Ringo for as long as they can.
Great overview. A thing that occurs to me about the Golden Era recordings is that to some degree the Beatles still played together despite the breakup. Ringo plays drums on Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass, George played guitar on "Instant Karma" and the Imagine album, all three contributed to Ringo's third album. While Paul was always on his own, the others did lend each other a hand and I have to imagine that plays some role in their quality. Also, that Ringo had a solo career at all was pretty remarkable, since he wasn't a songwriter or multi-instrumentalist like the others. I'd be curious about the paths of other drummers when their high profile bands break up. Thanks for this and all you other videos.
Great video! Just wanted to note that McCartney actually collaborated for a few songs (co-writing 15 in total), notably My Brave Face, on Flowers in The Dirt. Once again adding to your points of McCartney bringing in successful artists at the time to help his writing process.
Matt, this is the type of video where I wished it was a group discussion between you and the people that watch your videos, because we all have varying opinions on what was good and what was bad. In general I tend to agree with everything you said. I was a record buying teenager in the 70's, but some of those album's that considered cutting edge...I don't know. Don't get me wrong, I bought some of those albums in the 70's, but they did not stand the test of time. I bought album's by bands such as Styx, Boston, Journey. I have no desire to listen to those albums now. As far as the ex-Beatles go, I became an ex-Beatles fan because I was a Beatles fan first. And you are correct to say that any album they did as individuals was not on par with anything they did as a group. But one thing that you left out was that none of them wanted to put out a record that sounded like a Beatles song. Paul McCartney and Wings was very successful in the 70's. I don't know if cutting edge is the right term for him, but he was certainly selling a hell of a lot of records. I personally loved Wings. (Wings was my first concert. June 7th, 1976). I agree with you that there are people who love everything that McCartney has done since the Beatles. I'm not one of those people. Don't get me wrong, I have every one of his albums from McCartney to McCartney III, but there are plenty of his albums that I just can't listen to. Since 1980, in my opinion, Paul's best albums are Flowers in the Dirt, Flaming Pie, and Egypt Station. Everything else, I either rarely listen to or never listen to. I truly wished that we could have a group discussion. That would be great fun. One of my first questions would be; Am I the only one on this planet who thinks Dark Horse and Extra Texture are great albums? I love both of them. Thanks again, Matt.
Thank you for the great comments. You are one of the few who think those two George albums are great. You are not alone but I find few that really rate those high.
Great analysis. I thought the Beatles broke up at the right time. I didn’t expect them to stay on the cutting edge of music as solo artists, but I sure enjoyed a lot of their solo albums and still do. After they broke up the void was quickly filled and I embraced LZ, Pink Floyd, Bowie, Neil Young, Todd Rundgren. The true genius of the 1970s was Stevie Wonder with those back to back masterpieces. And speaking of Stevie wonder, I don’t think it was because Paul couldn’t do it alone. He seemed to enjoy collaborating and I’m sure it helped keep him sharp. Just my opinion since I do not personally live inside Paul McCartney‘s head 😅
Great summary Matt, but what about Paul's 2008 album "Electric Arguments" under the name "The Fireman" (with "Youth", whoever that is)? That was at least an attempt to be cutting edge, has some interesting sounds and possibly a few decent songs ("Sing the Changes" and "Dance Til We're High" among the more listenable songs).
Thank you Matt ... A respectfully brutal and long overdue assessment of The Beatles solo careers. If there was a highwater mark it surely was (1972). Your juxtaposition of The Beatles solo work with that of their musical contemporaries illustrates just how no longer 'cutting edge' their music was. Bringing in Zepplyn, Bowie, Supertramp, Floyd, Zappa are excellent examples and stark to say the least of just how time was passing the ex Beatles musical relevancy. Your also one of the few people to remove the Lennon tragedy from 'Double Fantasy' as a stand alone musical album ... I can not believe Lennons decline from the harrowing 'plastic ono band album' to a ho hum, over produced 'Double Fantasy' ... 'just watching the wheels go round' indeed ... I still to this day listen to 'Plastic ono band' album. Has anyone bared their soul on vinyl in such a primal way? I'll stop my rambling now Matt ... Kudos for your honesty ... look forward to this series ... PS: Don't get me started on Jeff Lynns soulless, cardboard, over produced pruduction .... 🤔
It's hard to argue with your assessment of the Beatles solo years, and I'm speaking as someone who has all of it and still enjoys it, but mostly, I suspect, through loyalty to what they once were. After 1972 they were no longer leaders of any kind. As time wore on, they were essentially irrelevant to the direction of rock/pop music. No kids were looking to their current music for inspiration in making their own. They simply don't measure up to what was being produced by other acts, as you so superbly demonstrate. Superb and well-reasoned video.
Hey Terry, yes - you make a great point when it comes to loyalty. I still think people so love the Beatles, that solo releases in the 21st century are treated as a loyalty purchase. I also think that music gets artificially overrated to justify the purchase.
Something I realized is the first half of the 70s feels like an extension of the 60s, at least in the rock world. Most of the big names you mentioned had some notoriety in the 60s. I'd argue if the Beatles would continue into the 70s, they'd remain strong until around 1973. Their solo careers really thrived in the early 70s, John and George especially. Honestly I could also see an alternate reality where they reunited in 1973 and made an album. Mind Games, Living in Material World, Band on the Run, and Ringo all have a more Beatlesque sound that wasn't on their previous albums. So if you combined those four albums together you'd get a pretty solid album in my opinion.
Very sober (and accurate) review of their solo work. Dividing it into era's was a good move.
Thank you, Tim. I appreciate the comment.
How refreshing it is that someone like you has actually said what they feel without sugarcoating anything…well done 👍
I agree that post Beatles work is not up to the standard of the earlier recordings.
What were my first four solo Beatles records ? Electronic Music by George, Sentimental Journey by Ringo, Two Virgins by John ( and Yoko) and Wings Wildlife by Paul ( and Wings).
All stinkers in my opinion.
There was so much better music in the early 70s by Bowie, T Rex, Roxy Music, Elton John, etc etc.
Thank you, Rob. It felt good to say!
@@phillipanderson7398 finally the truth. No one to push and edit each other.
You were pretty spot on with everything you said ❤
Excellent job of putting the Beatles' solo work into context of the times. What made it even more interesting was charting my own musical progression during the 1970s (high school and college), by looking at what was "cutting edge" during that time.
Thank you, Thomas!
I really, really enjoyed this clear eyed overview of the 70s. Thanks ☺️
Thank you, Anna. It felt good to say it!
I very much agree with your perspective. The top was in, around, 1971. I can imagine a doble album called Imagine, from the best of Ram and Imagine, two or three George-songs and maybe a Ringo song. After a one year break when they all did their solo albums. But in 1972, it's all over.
Thanks for these wonderful posts!
I never knew anyone thought the Beatles solo work was the equal of the group together. This was remarkably thorough, beyond anything I've seen or read about the former Beatles' solo albums. I think you were being fair and accurate. After those first few albums there was a long slide and to be honest I lost touch with a lot of the releases after the mid 70s. To be fair, most pop/rock artists have about two big years on the charts and the better ones five to seven. They were part of something bigger than themselves, a very big part of an incredible decade and that''s enough to ask of anyone.
Thank you for the feedback, John - much appreciated.
@@popgoesthe60s52 just to put this out there Matt, if you were to put all of the Top 40 Hits or even Top 10 Hits of The (Ex)Beatles together (as if They were the Beatles) against all the 70's Hits of (say) The Rolling Stones, ELO, The Eagles, or Queen how do they stack up???
Had they got a contract for an album every 2-3 years with four songs from each and freedom to work solo it would have been great. No stipulation to perform live. It would have been quality stuff.
I agree that I've never ever heard anyone consider their solo stuff equal. TBF, I think he meant that people compare the two, which is only natural. I don't think he was being fair, though. He's framing the artistic fall off - which is natural for any artist - as some sort of failure. If you wrote 'Hey Jude', 'A Day In the Life', or 'Here Comes The Sun', there is no failure. You get the gold star for life.
Good job! I was 15 in 1970 and you truly summed up the feelings I had over the years concerning their solo material when compared to the real world. Cutting Edge is the best description. I was laughing at some of your comments, cuz they're true, but love the albums, and now and then something beatlesque pops out.
Thank you, Chris. I had to get this off my chest. This is a sign that I am coming after the fanboy worshipers!
I think there's more to pop music than being cutting edge. It is sometimes more difficult to maintain the quality of your established work rather than constantly coming up with something new and different and I give them credit for their efforts in that regard even when they were settling into a genre different than rock and roll.
Thanks, Matt,
I'm just 5 minutes in and had to write. 70, 71 was last year of HS into college for me. Wonderful memories of the records and groups you mention. I got to see CSN&Y and Tull during these years. You really have a fantastic way of evoking the time. It's always a pleasure to see your latest videos! Now I can continue...
Hello, Cynthia. I appreciate the comments and the kind words. More to come!
Very interesting episode, my friend. What it did was to remind me why I didn't keep up with the Beatles' solo careers very consistently. The reason being that almost all the LPs you highlighted from other artists were so incredible! It reminded me of what I heard Phil Collins say about the Beatles in that they opened so many doors that no one even knew existed and all those albums were the result of what the Fab Four initiated. I think Phil said of Sgt. Pepper, "Oh, you mean we can go in there, too?" (or something like that). Brought back a lot of excellent musical memories, bro. Keep it up.
Thank you Flirolas.
Thanks again for your time and research Matt. 'Been following you for a little less than two years now, and I always find it insightful. I'm a little younger (45, though my hair is disappearing at a much faster rate than yours), but a huge fan of the rock/jazz/folk (pop) music from 1954 to 1976 (for me, it started to drastically peak in 1965 and began to dwindle after 1973, despite masterpieces being made before and after that period). I fear The Beatles will remain my favorite group of all time, but your perspectives on Jefferson (a top ten band for me), The Turtles, and your Rolling Stone critiques were, and are, nice eye-openers. Thanks again and looking forward to your solo Beatles' critiques... and of course, anything else on the '60s-'70s.
Thank you so much, François-Mark! More to come.
The first half of the 1970s were great. As the 1970s progressed, not only the Beatles solo albums became artistically weaker, but rock and popular music in general was becoming a commodity where selling units was the industry's only goal. The cutting-edge albums by anybody were a scarcity by the late '70s. That what caused punk to happen as a revolt against AOR rock radio and disco.
Good summation
Wow! The format, detail, honesty, and information presented in this video is outstanding. What a presentation.
Thank you, Tunafish - much appreciated!
Love this segment; well thought out. First time I've ever seen someone list the solo stuff against their contemporaries--quite revealing. It's hard to know, of course, what would have happened had they stayed together for any length of time after '69, but no matter, all these years later I still love their music from "Love Me Do" to "The Long and Winding Road." Thanks, Matt, for some great perspective!
Hey Marty - thank you for the kind words .
I was surprised at the harshness of your review at first. The Beatles were always my shining light on the hill. However, looking back, I realize I bought precious few solo albums from any of the Beatles from about 73' forward. I did not buy a single album by Ringo. I had two from both Paul and George and 4 from John. I have since rediscovered George and purchased three more. If I listen to music online, it is usually John's. I don't know if my change of choice is nostalgia or a deeper appreciation of their work. I only listened to Paul and Ringo when they had a song on the radio. So I guess I am harsh too. Good video Matt. It really made me think and remember.😊
Thank you, Vicki. I think we all want to support the guys we love and sometimes we overrate their work because of it.
Appreciated the video and really liked the format you used to frame it. That this topic continues to drive interest and debate -- it certainly brought me here -- only proves the lasting relevance of The Beatles. But even so, one can argue that to even ask the question is unfair. No other band, no matter how giant or cutting edge has been held up to the same scrutiny. No other former members held up to the same expectations. Bands are fluid. Members come and go. They breakup. Some put out solo albums. Some are successful. Some are not. Very few remain cutting edge or even relevant. We don't spend hours analysing Robert Plant's solo career for example. The Beatles solo success stands out more for how unlikely it was than for how disappointing it was. They ALL had successful solo careers. Was that due to mere legacy loyalty? Sure, some people might buy anything they put out. But I don't think so. They each still had something to contribute and people liked what they heard.
Great comments, Kieop. The cream of the crop from the collective Beatles solo careers is quite impressive. I generally make playlists of the good stuff and avoid the annoying stuff. If we were to discuss Robert Plant, we'd would be saying similar things about Plant that we've said about the Beatles solo career. Everyone has their time but the solo Beatles material is granted special privilege by virtue of having been Beatles. That is also something that is routinely overlooked.
Excellent watch, gotta say. It's nice to see someone come at this with a clear view. I agree completely that the Beatles solo stuff is often talked about in the same light as their group work, and it's like, "What? Wait. What are you talking about? The quality just isn't the same."
It's like, hey people. No artist is completely innovative on a legendary level for an entire career. It just doesn't happen.
Great concepts in here. Enjoyed! 😁
They needed each other to create that magic.
Thank you, Craig!
Hi Matt, very thought provoking as usual - however I must pull you up on the McCartney discography - although not listed as McCartney albums The Fireman albums are every bit as experimental and more so in most cases that the supposed ‘cutting edge’ pop/rock music of the time. Probably not every McCartney fans favourite and that is probably one of the reasons he kept his anonymity for these albums. These album only prove that like it or not Paul McCartney never lost his appetite for experimentation - despite his years. Cutting edge - not just a young man’s game! Cheers Matt. PS glad to see the Electric Light Orchestra getting a mention - Eldorado is a classic album!
Hey Matt, I did omit those along with that Oratorio stuff because I simply can't take this stuff seriously. If McCartney was doing that stuff in the 60s or 70s it would have been a real risk. But in the twilight of his career, it's safe and been done before. He has nothing to prove but he seems intent on proving something, which comes off as insecure. I have listened to some of that just to be in the know and I think its for McCartney completists only. I know you'll disagree with me on this one but that is my take. I appreciate the comments!
@@popgoesthe60s52 it’s fine to have an opinion and I respect yours - that’s why I enjoy your informative videos. I just have a different take on McCartneys later years and there are several albums from his late period which rate highly IMHO. I am not necessarily looking for cutting edge either - there is pleasure in listening to well crafted and memorable songs. Cheers Matt
Another excellent video about the former Beatles and their solo career output, Matt! I have to agree that much of their solo work beyond 1972 just was not as high-quality, although each of them did have some very good songs after that year. It is also kind of unfair in a way for anyone to compare their solo work with what John, Paul, George and Ringo created as the Beatles.
I have every Beatles album (as I assume just about everybody here also have). Over time I bought several solo Beatles albums - All Things Must Pass, Ram, Imagine, Walls and Bridges, 'Ringo', Living in the Material World, Band on the Run, 33 and a Third, 'George Harrison', Flaming Pie, Double Fantasy, Cloud 9, as well as many, many songs and singles songs from all the lads. I'm good for now!
I very much agree with your points. It seems to me inevitable that as artists age they start losing that cutting edge you are talking about. It is hard to keep that up for many years and songs written! I agree that the Beatles' star was fading during all these years, with a few notable exceptions that you aptly pointed out. I still love Band on the Run, and listen to that one on a regular basis.
Wow you really crapped on Ringo
I appreciate your insight on the solo careers. You really broke it down well for me as a fan I have most all their music. I look forward to you going head to head with J. Heaton again.
Yes, John and I will be collaborating in a week or so with a focus on ol' Ringo!
I never really thought of it this way. You've raised a lot of good points.
wow...this really is a half hour shot to the Pulitzer of YT pure genius! Well researched, well presented and crystal clear exposing of truths we all "missed", skipped or avoided as die hard Beatles fans all this time...I agree even with the "cutting edge" examples of the eras that don't really "ring a bell" in 2023 (although most of them became timeless jewels)...thank you Sir for this!!!
I appreciate the kind words! Thank you.
Excellent Matt! This was really quite good.
I very much appreciate your dispassionate approach to this topic. There is simply too much hagiography these days when "looking back" at the post Beatles era. Not to take a cheap shot, but there was a lot of competition at that time and the solo Beatles simply did not keep pace.
1976... what a year of stunning releases. Frampton, Boston, etc. Wow!
Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Neal. This topic needed a closer look!
Hi Matt, I enjoyed the analysis and I agree with pretty much all you say. When you look at it the way you did here, it confirms the Beatles were up against some amazing new talent. So like you, I still love The Beatles for what they did. Maybe they could have done another year or two and an album or two if circumstances had been different but not much more. There was some good stuff after 1972, but I agree, it wasn't cutting edge. Great channel. 👍
Much thanks, mrGman!
Matt, I've never heard anyone slam The Beatles so much in such a loving and respectful way. :) Seriously, you make a lot of good points and raised a hard truth that a lot of fans (including me) don't want to face: Rock 'n' roll is a young person's game (not just for young guys), and it's unrealistic to expect men in the 30s, 40s, and beyond to keep up with younger artists such as Bowie, Queen, The Police, and Prince. It could be argued that there was no reason for them to be cutting edge. They were each doing their own thing, and songs such as "Band on the Run," "Photograph," and "Blow Away" (still my favorite George song) were pleasant and fun and perennial radio companions. But certainly they lost a lot of the intensity that fueled younger artists.
Hey Greg, thank you for the kind words. I do love a lot of the solo Beatles work (especially the 3 you listed) but I simply can't rate them better than Steely Dan, Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Bowie etc. I typically listen to the solo stuff in playlists of the songs I love and leave the songs I can't stand unplayed.
@@popgoesthe60s52 agree. by the 70s The Beatles were not leading the charge. Other bands had taken over. Had they stayed together who knows...
I don't think Matt slammed the Beatles. I think he was comparing their work year by year with contemporary music for the time. He simply told the truth. Thank you, I enjoyed your comments.
They deserve to be slammed.
@@jammininthepast Thanks for the response. The smiley face at the end of the sentence was meant to indicate that it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Hi Matt, probably one of the best episodes you have ever done. I love hearing opinions and real comparisons with other artist of the period. It’s the million dollar question that we will never know, had the Beatles stayed together would they have put together fantastic music in the 70’s with other emerging bands. You mentioned a lot of legendary albums from new bands, that only the Beatles may have been able to compete with. Great episode!!!!
Thank you, Jim. I appreciate the feedback.
I think it would have been an improvement over their solo work. They had a constructive competition with each other.
@@frugalseverin2282 They would have been better together than apart due to their incredible arranging skills as a four-piece -- something they never came close to matching again. I'm talking about John bringing in "Come Together" as a Chuck Berry derivative and the others (especially Paul) turning it into something swampy and badass, with an iconic bass hook and incredible intro beat. Still, the Beatles were never going to be on the cutting edge again. It's not humanly possible to do it for that long. The only artist I can think of who revolutionized his genre multiple times over a longer time period was Miles Davis, and and that's partly because the jazz audience was more niche and wasn't quite as dependent on masses of 20-year-olds looking for young artists to identify with. Miles also didn't have to write lyrics, which is another dimension in which a pop-rock artist has to stay in step (or quickly lose cred).
Excellent perspective. One of the best videos I’ve seen in quite a while.
Thank you, Al. I was a little worried but I'm glad this view is appreciated.
Beautiful job, Matt...
Thank you, Lee.
*Very interesting video and I agree 200% with your analysis on the recent "Beatles products" era which is getting ridiculous and out of control it seems... Thank you for daring say the truth that most people think without ever daring say them out loud. I mean, Ringo Starr has indeed become a rather embarassing character over the last few years really I think... Keep up the good work dude !*
Thank you for the comments - much appreciated!
My heart wants to say you're full of it but of course you're 100% right. After watching Get Back you can see how they worked bouncing off each other and I think one or two albums after Abbey Road could have been spectacular. We just have to appreciate what they did from 1964 - 1970 because it's why you can list all those great albums that followed. Without the Beatles in the 60s, changing music, we don't see those albums because most of those artists never would have picked up a guitar or tried writing a song. Just my thoughts on a great episode.
Hey Rick, thank you for the kind words. The influence of the Beatles must not be underestimated and you are quite right about the great bands that followed owing a debt to the Fabs. I appreciate the comment!
It's so funny, Matt. I remember talking to my Beatles friends about this exact topic ten years ago. I said something like "To be honest with you guys - I'd rather listen to Born To Run by Bruce than Extra Texture by George." They absolutely did not agree. Ha! But nonetheless - Excellent video, as usual!!!!
Hey, if someone wants to listen to Extra Texture all the way through, I would never try to stop them. I'll just put on Katy Lied and leave Extra Texture on the shelf. I listen to only 1 song on the album: Tired Of Midnight Blue.
I liked Extra Texture's cover. It was cool. And the little Apple core logo. But what was in the grooves never did a thing for me.@@popgoesthe60s52
Man when you ran down what was released from 70 on by other artist it solidified in my mind what a great era that was for rock. As you exhaust the 60s hope there is a Pop Goes the 70s! Also greatly appreciate the shout out for one of my favorite bands ELP.
Thanks John! I keep crossing 60s bands off my list. I may do a couple of stray 70s artists so stay tuned!
I think the phrase , "cutting edge" is exactly right. How do they match up to what is going on at the time should be the first way to judge their work- critically.... and then commercially. Then, how good is it to the subjective listener on its own merit out of context. The Beatles were cutting edge at the time, how long did they keep that as solo artists? Were they breaking new ground or just being pop fabulous or missing both? I think the short answer was they stopped being cutting edge by early 1972. They stayed pop fabulous for longer; especially McCartney. JL/POB and All Things Must Pass are amazing albums that stand as an extension of the great work done by the Beatles. Unique sounds and great messages and performances. Band on The Run is an underrated excellent Pop Album. Everything else is spotty at best. The only reason I extend their relevance to early 1972 is because The Concert for Bangla Desh was an epic event and Imagine gave the appearance that things would be continuing in a solid direction. Paul fell down out of the gate and stayed down for a while and never tried to be more than a pop star, as did Ringo. Lennon's relevance was done after STINYC and George showed by 1973 that ATMP was really all he had in him as an artist of major import. As to being pop fabulous, the Solo Beatles always had great songs and were legitimate top 40 artists until 1975 for the three and 1982 for Paul. I love their solo stuff, but it doesn't rate with their contemporaries as cutting edge. They really needed each other. But I do think they split at the right time. No way they could have maintained both critical and commercial mastery through the 70's. Commercial to be sure, but not critical.
Thanks for your well-reasoned response, Christian!
Outstanding analysis, Matt!! Your comparisons of each of their solo output with the classic releases during those same years really shines a light in the difference in quality.
Brilliant idea and format! Excellent context for the ex Beatles output. Nice one, dude!
Thanks DooDah... This was a satisfying one to do.
Very well presented. I liked the comparisons of their solo work versus what was cutting edge at the time.
Thanks Matt, enjoyed the review. On my CD player for the last week and what I was listening to when this popped up Ram, the remastered Revolver, Disc one of the White Album, Abbey Road, Let it Be and Sgt Pepper. I have always loved the Ram LP and put it on par with the last years of the Beatles work.
Rock and Roll is a young man's game, you can make your argument for any band from almost any era. The Stones are still together but in my mind they haven't put out any relevant new music after the 1970's, the same for Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac and the rest that are still active. Life changes for most of us and as you grow older your voice and thoughts are about middle age issues, you can't help that. The fact that all four of the Beatle's had some level of individual success after they broke up puts them way ahead of most other bands most of who are lucky if one of the band members is able to have some success after the breakup.
No other band has had every single individual member reach no 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Just The Beatles. Maybe they were no longer cutting edge but they were still at the top of their game.
I tend to gravitate to Paul when I listen Beatles' solo stuff. Ram and Band on the Run are really good and as Matt said, the man can still write a song.
I must respectfully disagree about Bob Dylan though, imo he's continued to put out good stuff, and if you haven't yet, do check out Rough and Rowdy Ways from 2020 - it's amazing!
As a big Beatles fan, and fond of McCartneys solo work, I totally agree with this assessment of the “solo years”. I think McCartney has the most enjoyable output of the four overall. To me anyway.The only veteran artists of the 60’s with strong output today have been the Zombies, and the late David Crosby. In my opinion. As usual, enjoy your videos. Appreciate all your hard work. Take care!
Thank you, Shawn, Great call on the Zombies and Crosby!
Terrific video Matt, I'm sure that a lot of work went into it and its appreciated! I don't think you are being overly harsh, The Beatles reached such extraordinary heights in the 1960's, any honest comparison with their solo work is naturally going to seem critical. I envy people who continued to enjoy The Beatles solo albums or any of the rock music which came out in the 1970's, I didn't care for the direction in which rock was going and I moved on to jazz. There were individual cuts off Beatles solo albums which I liked, as well as songs from other groups but I can't recall buying any of the Beatles solo albums or any rock albums throughout the 70's.
For me, it was all about progress, was the music moving forward, creatively advancing. During the 60's with groups like the Beatles, Stones, Traffic, Cream, Moody Blues, etc., each album seemed better than the previous one. The creative output during that time period was astonishing and as a fan, it kept me interested. I might have been overly critical because it prevented me from enjoying music which fell short of a standard which I had come to expect. Rock became interesting again in the 1980's but it was only in recent years that I started listening to the albums you cover in this video.
Maybe if the Beatles had stayed together for one more year, their group output would have been better than their initial solo albums? Once again, this was a very informative and enjoyable video, thanks!
Thank you for the comments, Gene!
Matt you are amazing! Best 60's channel by far!
I appreciate that Matthew! Thank you.
Excellent overview. I don't think you were harsh at all, spot on in fact! I stopped with the Beatles solo work with "Venus and Mars" in recent years. I remember listening to "Mind Games" a few years ago and thinking how surprisingly bad it was (I won't include the Harrison/Starr LP's from the era and beyond). I can't really tell you what the post '76 LP's sounded like excpet what received airplay. Great job and keep putting out the great vids! Thanks for the hard work.
Thank you, Junior. I really don't listen to any of the solo album all the way through and I pretty much cap it off at 1979.
Matt, Fantastic Job!! Reminded me of old albums of the 70's I have to re-listen to.
Personally, I love Ringo's solo career. I like it more than Paul and John. Though to be fair to John he had less time.
Don't really care for Ram. I've found I gel with Paul's music the least, both when with The Beatles and solo. Meanwhile I think Mind Games is probably my favorite Lennon album.
Even so, I look forward to your future videos on their solo stuff! You always have very objective and analytical takes, even when bringing up your own personal preferences, and it's refreshing.
Hi Ani - the next review on a solo effort will be on the Ringo album with my friend John Heaton, so stay tuned!
AWESOME, you snuck in The Streak! Great episode!
yeah but I forgot Basketball Jones!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Ha! Another classic!
RAM will always be my favourite Beatles solo record for its sheer inventiveness and unrestrained creativity - just like with McCartney, Paul seems to try anything and just have fun, and since he's a musical genius, it works out amazingly.
McCartney, Ram, and Red Rose Speedway are/were mostly ignored or degraded by the press/Lennon-Harrison at the time they were released. It affected the history and true value of just how great the albums really were. Most of McCartney's early albums were fantastic. 🤏
Hi Matt, this was a very interesting episode and you did a great job. I tend to think you were a little too KIND about their solo work in spots. A thought provoking theory that came to mind while watching, was that all the 'contemporary" artists had The Beatles as inspiration to greater or lesser degrees as their influence transcended many areas of music and society. The solo 70s Beatles couldn't be really inspired by their contemporaries because their contemporaries were inspired by THEM. So their inspiration came more from, family, politics (Lennon), religion (George), etc. as they then relied on the laurels of their own history. Just a thought and possibly not well expressed.. LOL. Excellent episode. Thanks.
Well I would say that the solo Beatles also had the Beatles as inspiration! I think some of the inspiration was actually derivative like McCartney's punk outings or Ringo's disco, but generally I think they tried NOT to be influenced, which may have been their collective problem. Thank you for the comments, Joe!
johns rookie solo record is awesome. stark, simple..in your face & pulls 0 punches. the lad was definitely not afraid to let the world see the chaos within him.
The first two Ringo cover albums are incredible. ESPECIALLY Sentimental Journey, as a jazz guy it absolutely knocks it out of the park. Totally nails that authentic old-school jazz legacy.
Very nicely put.
I remember being blown away with Roll It by Paul McCartney. I also remember being embarrassed hearing Coming Up by Paul McCartney.
Continued success to you and your channel.
A sensational video. I particularly like comparing their albums to other releases of the time. Brilliant.
Thank you, MrKaywyn! I wasn't sure how this video would be received.
Great video! I disagree on some points, but you explained your perspective very well.
Some corrections though:
Paul MCartney DID have a top 10 hit in the "Twilight Era." FourFiveSeconds, which he wrote and recorded with Kanye West and Rhianna.
Paul also released more albums than Ringo during this era, if you count his classical albums, and collaborative albums with Youth under the name "The Fireman." If the Travelling Wilbury's count for George, then these would count for Paul.
GREAT analysis, I agree 100% 👍
your videos always manage to scratch my itch for the beatles no other content creator can, hope to see more coming, take care :)
Thank you, I appreciate that! Plenty more to come.
I love your honesty, Matt, I agree with so much of what you have to say here. You hit the nail on the head with your comments on “selling PRODUCT” because that’s what’s happened, regardless of musical quality. I saw the dreaded late 70’s “Ringo The Fourth” album at a record store recently brand new for forty fricking bucks! I’ve heard it, and that record was a cut-out before it was even recorded, that’s how bad it is! I can’t imagine the justification of even reissuing that album. Looking at it all they made so many breakthroughs musically in the 60’s, it would be maybe impossible for anybody to continue doing that their whole career, and with the money coming in, they have no incentive to do otherwise. Showing the records by other artists that were cutting edge in each year, really helps drive the point home, excellent perspective. Thanks for another great show!
p.s. I n my unpopular opinion, Jeff Lynne should only produce his own albums, that production style really gets in the way sometimes. Lotsa fluff.
I agree with your Jeff Lynne comment. These reissues - especially the box sets - are ridiculous! Does Ringo's catalog deserve special treatment?
@@popgoesthe60s52 The box sets will just keep coming, but I won’t be buying. The 2 cd “Revolver” was plenty enough for me, but why weren’t they released this way in the first place? The Byrds reissues from the 90’s were excellent, including bonus tracks. How many times are people going to buy the same album? There’s plenty of modern artists worth hearing that are ignored and worth supporting.
@@Mandrake591 When the babyboomers are gone, I think the veneration of these mediocre albums will stop.
Great stuff Matt....of course I don't agree with everything....but we are agreed on the golden period 1970-82!
Thank you, John! Yes that golden period is quite satisfying overall.
I want to say upfront that I love all your work , the Beatles stuff in particular. But wow! This one was great the best yet! I've watched it a couple of times.
Thank you Jake!
A really good video that really puts some aspects about their careers into perspective, well done!
However there are a few things which I struggle to agree with you on - In regards to McCartney, your view on RAM as a 'pretty solid' album is a bit of an understatement. In my opinion I think that RAM is quite simply a masterpiece and it draws on themes such as domestic bliss in an extremely effective way, with the quality of the songs being on par with a lot of his work with The Beatles. Also, I think that it could be argued (many may disagree with me here) that McCartney II is actually quite 'cutting edge' (depending on how you use that phrase), and I know it is for an acquired taste but many notable writers credit it as a 'forerunner to the sound of 1980s pop' such as NME, it has a strong influence to artists within the genres of electronica, lofi and bedroom pop. Also Pitchfork included it within their 2018 list of the best albums of the 1980s (I'm not saying I love it but am just making a case for why I think in some ways it should be considered as cutting edge). I also think Chaos And Creation should have got more of a mention and I think it is simply fantastic and one of the best records of his career. Additionally, passing off Venus and Mars as the 'ugly step child' to BOTR is harsh - in my opinion it a classic 70s record and should not be kept in the shadow of BOTR.
However, I mostly agree with you views and they are well-though out and justified in most cases, making for a really interesting watch. Just thought I would share my opinion on your takes of some of them McCartney albums.
Hello Beck, thank you for the comments. First, this needs to be said: I covered 52 years of solo work and 126 competing albums in under 29 minutes. To do that, omissions and generalizations were made. I realize that people may take issue with my remarks but I am happy to concede them to make the bigger point.
For example, my comments on Ram were all positive, yet you single out “it’s a pretty solid album” as an “understatement”. Apparently I didn’t praise it enough! That’s disappointing because you missed the bigger point - that I considered it a cutting edge album. I’m happy to offer critiques on albums like Venus, Chaos, II, but based on my experience, the uber McCartney fans are not interested unless sufficient amount of praise is given.
I appreciate your comments, even though we disagree on some things. Challenging me helps me to continue refine my positions and strive for strong content.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I thought the amount of their work you covered in such a short period of time was really great and I totally get that generalisations were made, I was drawing some attention to the RAM comment as I thought it deserved more than that, but again, I realise that you said it was 'cutting edge'. Just out of curiosity, do you see my point about McCartney II or am I talking nonsense? Cheers for the quick reply
@@beckcole-picton852 You are not talking nonsense because McCartney is always an interesting topic because his music is so polarizing. I think rating McC II as 'cutting edge' is a tough argument to make simply because other artists did electronic stuff prior to McCartney (new wave bands, Brit synth, Human League). He only does this on a couple songs which is why people don't consider this a big change in direction. He slips into his usually bag of tricks. There are some quality songs on here (On The Way, Waterfalls, Coming Up), but Temporary Secretary is irritating, Bogey Music, Nobody Knows and Frozen Jap I find very thin. Check My Machine sounds like a send up so it’s hard to take seriously. His drumming is a weak point (also exposed on McC I) but he is in great voice on this album and a number 1 song helped get this album listened to. I'm surprised he never did a soul/R&B album. That is something I think could have been special.
I think McCartney more than any other artist gets more retroactive praise for his albums that weren't actually influential in their time. The terms 'lo-fi' and 'bedroom pop' are more current terms that get applied to McC even though he didn't really influence anyone in those genres. Calling Ram "the first indie" album is a perfect example of this and gets repeated ad nauseam. I think this is a result of a new wave of hipster writers that perpetuate this. McCartney is the perfect foil. His work has been ridiculed, so now we (the hipster writers) find reasons to praise it and take the credit for noticing it first. Another reason we see this writing trend is that there isn't much to say about new music which is why we see old music being re-evaluated by writers, UA-camrs and podcasters.
McCartney fans struggle with me because there are 2 distinct types that don’t mix well. The uber-McCartney fan that loves and defends practically everything he produces and the more average fan that followed him through the 70s, gave up on him in the 80s, and may go to some of his shows. I’m in the second group and I chalk both groups up to a matter of personal taste. Unfortunately, they don’t have much respect for one another.
I really like the analysis of the 1970s. Thanks for the video.
I am so excited you’re gonna be delving into that solo work. I can’t wait till you talk about George Harrison’s self-titled 1978/79 album which has one of my favorite solo tracks of the Beatles, blow away
One of my favorite tracks too.
The demo version is better than the released version, although I think it's included on the album now.
You know...Back then (after the big break up) We kept listening to the solo albums and kept saying to ourselves, "Don't worry, the next album will be like The Beatles best again". We kept wishing and hoping that year after year after year...and the sad thing is, I keep thinking it might happen. Especially with McCartney's new releases....but it never does. But I still keep wishing....and anticipating a miracle that one day it all comes back again...Am I a sad and pathetic human being??....maybe....But there's always hope....and that's why we kept buying those solo albums...
It was (and is) something that could not possibly happen in the general culture, because "The Beatles" was (and is) an idea in our heads attached to too many precious time-locked personal and historical associations and fantasies. Some individuals (who perhaps have a less rose-tinted view of The Beatles legend, great as they were) appear able to have a different view of what some of them accomplished solo and can appreciate it's value. But as a culture, we were never going to be able to escape the vast gravitational pull of The Beatles myth.
Great Posts Gentlemen, Very well put.👍
Crap. I've finally met my twin! Kept waiting for the next MAC release... "you wait". No Beatle wrote a full album of stuff in the 60s. You should expect three or four edited and Beatlized tracks. Married. competing against legacy. coasting.
Mind Games may not have been a great album, but the SONG Mind Games is one of my fave Lennon solo songs,
Wonderful review, I'm sorry I got here late... can't find Beatlely tone's crappy answer.....but you are correct 💯 % .....maybe too soft on them 😁
Thank you, Sir! I did pull some punches.
Definitely agree with you Matt on 95% of your Beatles solo analysis! PLAY LOUD
The Fireman stuff is worth exploring
Hi Matt, I'm fairly convinced by your analysis of the Golden Era and the Chart Decline era, though I would have liked more comparisons with the competition in the Chart Decline era, a period when pop and rock in general completely lost the plot. But I completely disagree with your dismissal of McCartney's music in the so-called Twilight era. For me, he underwent a profound renaissance in this period, starting with Flaming Pie, but getting even better with Driving Rain and Chaos and Confusion in the Backyard, not to mention his classical music, culminating with Ocean's Kingdom, and the experimental work in Electric Arguments. I also think there's a flaw in your assumption that the solo Beatles' material is a measure of the quality of what they might have done together. The astonishing cutting edge quality of Abbey Road demonstrates that the Beatles were innovating right up to the end, and there is no reason to think that they would not have continued to develop as a band. I hope that your upcoming discussion of the Beatles' solo material includes an attempt to justify your dismissal of albums like Driving Rain.
Hey Tom. Paul's work in the Twilight era appeals to a niche audience, and I said some positive things about his work from this period. I simply don't care or it. I didn't dismiss Driving Rain. I didn't even mention it. As for their 70s solo stuff, I was mainly comparing their solo work to their contemporaries. Period. The fact that all of them "fell off the cutting edge" (along with several other 1960s heavies I might add) suggests that Beatles could not have remained "at the top."
@@popgoesthe60s52 Paul didn’t fall off the edge. McCartney II has been very influential to electronica, bedroom pop, and lofi artists. Paul was still influencing genres 10 years after the Beatles split
I liked the analysis in this video. I went into the video thinking "oh it can't be that bad", but then as I watched it, I realized that the only solo Beatle songs that I consistently go back to are John's Surprise Surprise, What You Got, Scared, and Tight A$.
Hi Matt! A long time suscriber here, and I love your videos. I pretty much agree with your view of the Beatles solo catalog. And, basically, you're proving they disbanded probably at the right time, and at the top of their game. They stopped being "on the cutting edge" pretty soon, that's a fact. But, is that not the case with any other artist? For how long were The Who, Steely Dan, Jethro Tull, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, or whoever, on the cutting edge? How do each of those band's members' solo albums compare to their bands' music and to their contemporaries? Or... How good are Elton John's albums released since the 2000s, compared to his early 70s albums or to their 2000s contemporaries?
Let me just add a few comments up for discussion:
1. No artist can be on the cutting edge forever.
2. Even if they could, does it really matter that much? Because all music ever recorded and released, now (2023) coexists, and is just there waiting to be listened to. And you can now listen to the Sex Pistols if you want, next to Ringo Starr, then to Fleetwood Mac, then to The Hollies, and so on and so forth. That's certainly what I do (and I'm pretty sure you and many of us here do too)
3. Isn't "being on the cutting edge" just being trendy at any given moment?
4. You can enjoy say, Wild Life, and also Led Zeppelin IV.
5. If you think about it, Paul is only good at being Paul, John at being John, Queen at being Queen, Deep Purple at being Deep Purple, James Taylor at being James Taylor.... You can always choose and listen to any music that you want/like/fit your mood at any given time.
6. People listen to and buy (bought) music for variuos reasons. I guess maybe 1% of Beatle fans have bought or listened to their whole solo catalog. Probably the same percentage of that specific 1% think their solo material is at the same artistic level of the band (as a whole) output. But they bought it probably for sentimental reasons, or just for the sake of completeness. The same happens, I think, if you are a very intense Black Sabbath/Stones/whatever band fan.
7. At the end of the day, the greatness of the Beatles (and of any other artist) is about the number of people they've touched and made somehow better, not about being "on the cutting edge" (or on the changing fads of popular music)
1.Yes, every artist that replaced the solo Beatles themselves fell off the cutting edge. Success is fleeting and dominance is rare.
2. yes we all listen to variety, but that doesn't mean you can't compare the relevance of Zeppelin 4 vs Band on the Run.
3. No, being on the cutting edge does not mean trendy. The albums I compared the solo Beatles work to where chosen because they have stood the test of time.
4. not being on the cutting does not mean one can't enjoy it. For example I love the Archies.
7. Some people don't like topics like this and say things like "its about the greatness, etc." Some people want to have discussions outside of fanboy topics and they are sometime harder discussions to have.
2. Of course. Relevance and enjoyment don't necessarily go together. It's better when they do though.😉
3. I meant that, say, the singer-songwriter era was a thing in thet early 70s (it was "trendy" at that time), and the solo Beatles couldn't do that kind of music even if they wanted. They were, as you imply, from another era (you're right!). Of course, the best singer-songwriter stuff have stood the test of time, while 95% of the solo Beatles stuff haven't. We agree: they just made the music they were able to make, and were lucky they had a fan base from the sixties (smaller as time keeps going by) that would go and listen to whatever they released... Prog-rock was "trendy" in the 70s (not in the eighties, and certainly not now, you must concur), and yet it doesn't prevent Fragile, Selling England By The Pound, The Dark Sinde Of The Moon and the like from having stood the test of time.
One of your best videos, I appreciate the frankness.
I appreciate that! thank you.
Very interesting analysis, in context and perspective, although I could hardly expect any relevant artist or performer to indefinitely remain at the top of their game. Forgot to mention George Harrison's double album Live In Japan.
Really important episode, Matt 🫡
I'm glad you said that! As I was shooting it, I was beginning to have my doubts about this topic.
A brutally fair take and very much appreciated the era breakdowns. For me, so much of their work was overplayed as a child in the 70s and I wanted something different. I share your disappointment Matt lol!
100% on the ball Matt. Within the group they had themselves to compete against - outside the group it was either egos cocaine or wives/girlfriends. Not the same. Boom. Thank MW for another great video.
My pleasure, Jimmy!
As traumatic as it was for the fans, it really was fortuitous for their legacy that the Beatles broke up when they did. They went out on top.
Very true. Few are able to do this and we were very fortunate that they broke up when they did.
Yes. I'm from the era, and my take then was the Beatles had run its course, so the breakup didn't bother me too much.
@@popgoesthe60s52& so were they..
Excellent analysis. Arguably Ringo was most successful in terms of reinventing himself going from a bit of a joke in the 70s and the guy who "just had dumb luck" joining the Beatles to a guy that many drummers now respect and credit as being an inspiration based on his Beatles work. As for McCartney - I think Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is the only other album that deserves a mention as a high point - it has good songs but also not in the least due to Greg Kurstin's production work. John of course never really had a chance in the 80s or later to redeem himself or make a "come back", it's anyone's guess what would have happened with his musical career.
I think you mean Nigel Godrich, not Greg Kurstin.
I lived thru the '70s and I remember it as a time when music fans were looking for the next Beatles whether it was Badfinger, the Bee Gees, Klaatu, Cheap Trick or Bay City Rollers. Remember the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band" movie starring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton, those big '70s stars? The Beatles' legacy was still huge, Capitol kept releasing more compilation albums. The solo Beatles were competing against themselves.
Meanwhile the ex-Beatles were trying NOT to sound like the Beatles. The "Ringo" album succeeded because he had the other 3 ex-Beatles lending a hand. I like a lot of their '70s albums; "Venus and Mars" sounded a little more modern but you're right they were not on the cutting edge. As a group they jumped on the sitar, the mellotron and the Moog early on. In the '70s they were guys at work, craftsmen but no longer leaders.
Matt, God bless you for sitting thru Ringo the 4th....that's dedication man!...love your videos...great one this time around...Monkees soon please!
Hi Perry! I do have one other "biggie" that will be a multi parter. That will be in July. Once I complete that, the Monkees will find a place on the schedule, so stay tuned!
I agree with others: this is one of the most interesting studies you have done. Really valuable.
Thank you, Edie!
Great video. I loved the presentation. Also good to hear a critical voice. I was entranced by the continuity and the judgment calls. Thanks.
Excellent analysis, fairly argued.
Great upload 🤘
Thank you, Scott! I appreciate the feedback.
I really like & admire your content…& this was real informative & accurate
Thank you so much 🙂
This was stupendous. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the AI mashups we are seeing on UA-cam. Having Lennon on McCartney songs and viceversa. I know ultimately it isn’t your thing, nor mine, but I find it more genuinely interesting than auto tuning; it tries to give us something impossible but not to hide imperfections, to fulfill nostalgia and see what might have been (in a limited way).
I haven't heard too many of the AI examples but this seems like my type of topic, so stay auto tuned!
Now let's compare all of the competitors to Beatles albums and none of them come even close in quality and transcendense. Even if The Beatles ceased to be at the cutting edge, they were always the top influence for any new comers.
Fascinating video. And I remember all the other artists at this time as well so it took me back. Critical analysis that some people might be offended by, but that’s in reality what was going on then. And I agree the sum is so much greater than the parts. Beatles were an absolutely magical, once in a lifetime corroboration that will never be surpassed.
Thank you for watching and commenting, Anne!
I have more of Macca’s solo albums than all the other three’s combined. First of all (if you don’t count Ringo’s EPs), he’s released more material than any of the other three. Though more isn’t automatically better, it does give more material to judge and put into perspective with everything else out there. And so, my favorite Beatles solo albums are Band On the Run and Tug of War, which I consider Macca’s best albums. I would also put Press to Play near there-an album that’s not Macca’s best, but far better than anything that he’s put out in recent years.
Let’s face it: Macca has run out of steam (everybody does eventually), and Ringo continues to glide along. People will still buy their albums and go to their concerts (like when I saw Ringo in June), for one reason: they’re all that’s left of The Beatles. And that’s a time period that people don’t want to completely give up. And so they will continue to hold on to both Macca and Ringo for as long as they can.
Interesting, compelling work. Thank you, you are appreciated.
Excellent video, thank you, Matt!
Great overview. A thing that occurs to me about the Golden Era recordings is that to some degree the Beatles still played together despite the breakup. Ringo plays drums on Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass, George played guitar on "Instant Karma" and the Imagine album, all three contributed to Ringo's third album. While Paul was always on his own, the others did lend each other a hand and I have to imagine that plays some role in their quality. Also, that Ringo had a solo career at all was pretty remarkable, since he wasn't a songwriter or multi-instrumentalist like the others. I'd be curious about the paths of other drummers when their high profile bands break up. Thanks for this and all you other videos.
Good point about Beatles helping Beatles in the 70s. That certainly helped!
Another thoughtful incisive video. Completely agree with you how they slowly went from innovators to followers, and it's sad.
Great video! Just wanted to note that McCartney actually collaborated for a few songs (co-writing 15 in total), notably My Brave Face, on Flowers in The Dirt. Once again adding to your points of McCartney bringing in successful artists at the time to help his writing process.
Good points, I forgot about Costello. I also forgot about Rhianna!
Matt, this is the type of video where I wished it was a group discussion between you and the people that watch your videos, because we all have varying opinions on what was good and what was bad. In general I tend to agree with everything you said. I was a record buying teenager in the 70's, but some of those album's that considered cutting edge...I don't know. Don't get me wrong, I bought some of those albums in the 70's, but they did not stand the test of time. I bought album's by bands such as Styx, Boston, Journey. I have no desire to listen to those albums now. As far as the ex-Beatles go, I became an ex-Beatles fan because I was a Beatles fan first. And you are correct to say that any album they did as individuals was not on par with anything they did as a group. But one thing that you left out was that none of them wanted to put out a record that sounded like a Beatles song. Paul McCartney and Wings was very successful in the 70's. I don't know if cutting edge is the right term for him, but he was certainly selling a hell of a lot of records. I personally loved Wings. (Wings was my first concert. June 7th, 1976).
I agree with you that there are people who love everything that McCartney has done since the Beatles. I'm not one of those people. Don't get me wrong, I have every one of his albums from McCartney to McCartney III, but there are plenty of his albums that I just can't listen to. Since 1980, in my opinion, Paul's best albums are Flowers in the Dirt, Flaming Pie, and Egypt Station. Everything else, I either rarely listen to or never listen to.
I truly wished that we could have a group discussion. That would be great fun. One of my first questions would be; Am I the only one on this planet who thinks Dark Horse and Extra Texture are great albums? I love both of them. Thanks again, Matt.
Thank you for the great comments. You are one of the few who think those two George albums are great. You are not alone but I find few that really rate those high.
@@popgoesthe60s52 lol. It's sad really. George Harrison wasn't even really fond of them. But I love them both especially Extra Texture.
Great analysis. I thought the Beatles broke up at the right time. I didn’t expect them to stay on the cutting edge of music as solo artists, but I sure enjoyed a lot of their solo albums and still do. After they broke up the void was quickly filled and I embraced LZ, Pink Floyd, Bowie, Neil Young, Todd Rundgren. The true genius of the 1970s was Stevie Wonder with those back to back masterpieces. And speaking of Stevie wonder, I don’t think it was because Paul couldn’t do it alone. He seemed to enjoy collaborating and I’m sure it helped keep him sharp. Just my opinion since I do not personally live inside Paul McCartney‘s head 😅
Well said, Cynthia - thank you for commenting.
Great summary Matt, but what about Paul's 2008 album "Electric Arguments" under the name "The Fireman" (with "Youth", whoever that is)? That was at least an attempt to be cutting edge, has some interesting sounds and possibly a few decent songs ("Sing the Changes" and "Dance Til We're High" among the more listenable songs).
Thank you Matt ...
A respectfully brutal and long overdue assessment of The Beatles solo careers.
If there was a highwater mark it surely was (1972).
Your juxtaposition of The Beatles solo work with that of their musical contemporaries illustrates just how no longer 'cutting edge' their music was.
Bringing in Zepplyn, Bowie, Supertramp, Floyd, Zappa are excellent examples and stark to say the least of just how time was passing the ex Beatles musical relevancy.
Your also one of the few people to remove the Lennon tragedy from 'Double Fantasy' as a stand alone musical album ...
I can not believe Lennons decline from the harrowing 'plastic ono band album' to a ho hum, over produced 'Double Fantasy' ... 'just watching the wheels go round' indeed ...
I still to this day listen to 'Plastic ono band' album. Has anyone bared their soul on vinyl in such a primal way?
I'll stop my rambling now Matt ... Kudos for your honesty ... look forward to this series ...
PS: Don't get me started on Jeff Lynns soulless, cardboard, over produced pruduction .... 🤔
Hey New Jack! thank you for the kind words. It was very satisfying to make this video.
I find myself nodding my head in agreement a lot during this episode
It's hard to argue with your assessment of the Beatles solo years, and I'm speaking as someone who has all of it and still enjoys it, but mostly, I suspect, through loyalty to what they once were. After 1972 they were no longer leaders of any kind. As time wore on, they were essentially irrelevant to the direction of rock/pop music. No kids were looking to their current music for inspiration in making their own. They simply don't measure up to what was being produced by other acts, as you so superbly demonstrate. Superb and well-reasoned video.
Hey Terry, yes - you make a great point when it comes to loyalty. I still think people so love the Beatles, that solo releases in the 21st century are treated as a loyalty purchase. I also think that music gets artificially overrated to justify the purchase.
Something I realized is the first half of the 70s feels like an extension of the 60s, at least in the rock world. Most of the big names you mentioned had some notoriety in the 60s. I'd argue if the Beatles would continue into the 70s, they'd remain strong until around 1973. Their solo careers really thrived in the early 70s, John and George especially.
Honestly I could also see an alternate reality where they reunited in 1973 and made an album. Mind Games, Living in Material World, Band on the Run, and Ringo all have a more Beatlesque sound that wasn't on their previous albums. So if you combined those four albums together you'd get a pretty solid album in my opinion.
Wow, no matter how I feel about your take, this is a great “must have” list for collectors.
Yes, some really great stuff... I've had to put a few of them on since I did the video!
Thanks Matt
Was great you mentioned some Prog stuff!!