The Top Five Post Beatles Solo Albums By Lennon, McCartney, & Harrison

People love to off handily dismiss the solo work of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison and say that they were no good after The Beatles. And while it is true that they never quite reached the same level as The Beatles (but who has?) they really did release a number of great albums after “the greatest band of all time.”

In this article I highlight five such albums that I recommend you give an honest listen to. Are any of these albums a match for Revolver, The White Album, or Abbey Road? No, not in my opinion. But not many albums are in that league! While these albums may not be true classics, they are (in some cases) very close to that status.

Paul McCartney – McCartney (1970) – I love this album. I love it’s “homemade DIY” charm. It sounds like a great singer/songwriter/musician just recording for the fun of it rather than to really please anyone in particular. Some people see that as unfocused. I see it as charming. I think if a mostly unknown artist had recorded this same album it’d be considered a real “gem” by hipsters but since it’s Paul McCartney it’s too often overlooked.

John Lennon – Walls & Bridges (1974) – This is a really underrated album. I really enjoy listening to it all the way through. My favorite track on the album is #11, “Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out.)” It’s a true classic in my opinion.

George Harrison – All Things Must Pass (1970) – This one was a huge revelation as showed what a prolific songwriter George was He had a lot of songs built up from his time with The Beatles that he wasn’t able to get onto Beatles albums thus this triple album came into being (the 3rd LP being instrumental jams.) Unfortunately he never came close to matching this album the rest of his career, in my opinion.

Paul McCartney – Memory Almost Full (2007) – A lot of people were disappointed by this one in comparison with Chaos & Creation… and I can understand that, but it’s really a completely different side of Paul. Chaos… was the disciplined Paul. This is the “do anything he damn well pleases” Paul. I find both Paul’s charming and I think this is a pretty great album.

The Fireman – Rushes (1998) – This is Paul working with Youth under the name “The Fireman.” It’s an experimental electronic ambient album that you are either going to think is really interesting (like I do) or a complete snooze fest (this sort of cerebral music is definitely not for everyone.) But what it does show beyond a shadow of a doubt is that Paul McCartney is not the simple pop balladeer that so many uninformed people try to make him out to be.

These are just five post Beatles albums that I chose out of the many that I appreciate, please do not think that this list is any way a “complete” list of all of the best post Beatles albums. It is definitely not!

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Buying A Ukulele? Get Serious

With so many different types of ukuleles out there, the prospect of buying one can be unnerving. It’s a tricky undertaking, especially if you’re looking for a beginner or basic ukulele. If you’ve dug into typical sites that have ukuleles for sale at $30 or $40, you’ve probably seen that you won’t get much more than a toy for that price and one that you can’t play seriously, forget the idea of getting any real acoustic value.

You can choose from four different types, all of which are considered basic ukuleles-soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Each type correlates to a different size, and all are available in a wide range of style and quality, anywhere from what amounts to little more than a toy to a high quality, well playing instrument.

Ask and answer this question about your intended purchase, and the result can be some serious fun, with a high quality, well playing instrument. What is the intended use you plan to make of your ukulele, and how “serious” are you about that use? The primary focus should be on how seriously it will be played. Let that seriousness be your measure of quality, acoustic value and price.

Extend that serious consideration to whoever is the intended user, if it’s for someone else. Regardless of the user’s age and level or playing proficiency, how serious will that person approach this instrument’s playability? If this is a gift for someone just learning to play (a beginner ukulele makes a very unique Christmas gift), is that person serious about playing, even if just playing for fun? It has been suggested that putting a low quality ukulele in the hands of a beginner is a huge mistake.

Although you can expect to pay more for quality, it may not necessarily be as a direct proportion. There are some exceptions; while you can expect to get what you pay for, some very well playing instruments are still very reasonably priced. A good principle to follow is that whether for a beginner or for an established player, and regardless of the age, the more serious you are, the more you can expect to play, and the higher the quality you will need. Successful melding of quality and price should be your goal and will for the most part determine your budget. With that in mind, let’s look briefly at the four types of ukulele.

Soprano Soprano was the earliest of the four and for that reason most early ukes were made on this scale. The classic sound of a ukulele is often identified with the soprano, and, to many purest, it is still considered to be the “authentic” ukulele. It lends itself to strumming with less finger picking, and is a good place for beginning players to start.

Soprano is good for playing chords and beginner strumming and is easier to learn to play than the others. A lot of finger picking on the soprano is another story. It is harder to master more difficult routines on soprano and its resonance can sometimes seem thin.

Although good for the young beginner, the soprano’s smaller size may make you think it is only for children or people with small hands and fingers. Don’t be fooled. Great soprano players come in all sizes, and many large players swear by it. Its popularity among seasoned players makes for a wider variety from which to choose, and as a rule you will see the soprano ukulele will priced lower.

Concert Concert is a little bigger than soprano and it therefore sounds bigger. You’ll find more middle range, more alto, and a somewhat deeper, mellower sound. Some players find that a concert is easier to hold than the smaller soprano. The traditional ukulele sound with more complex playing potential makes the concert an instrument that offers the best of both worlds.

It can be a good compromise for those who like to strum and fingerpick and are more comfortable with a somewhat larger size. It has the same gCEA tuning as the soprano, with a similar sound but more resonance and a fuller tone. It’s not a guitar, but if you can get serious again (which means to seriously practice), you can learn to play just about anything.

Teno Larger still and with more of a guitar look and feel is the tenor. It’s still not a guitar though, and it’s not intended to be. Slightly larger than a concert, but far smaller than an acoustic guitar, it carries a deeper, fuller, more resonant quality in sound and tone than the concert. The range can be extended by tuning the fourth string an octave lower. Though you may not play like Jake Shimabukuro, the tenor can be used for more advanced solo playing, and since it has more finger room, it lends itself to more complex runs and faster play.

Baritone The baritone’s crisp, fuller sound can begin to make one think of a guitar. Make no mistake, the baritone is all ukulele, but if you are just beginning to play guitar, you will have an easier time learning to play a baritone uke. It can actually help your guitar practice and vice versa. The baritone is tuned like a four string guitar. The two top strings (base) are not there, so it plays like a guitar with no top end.

In summary, let’s get serious again. If you consider quality coupled with cost, add in your level of musical ability and interest in playing, you are now ready to go shopping. There’s one additional possibility I’d like you to consider. And it can make your ukulele selection more meaningful than ever. Think about the possibility of building your own ukulele, either from scratch or by assembling one from a ukulele building kit.

The internet has many schematics and plans to guide you through creation from scratch. A host of sites are also available that offer basic ukulele building kits that you can start with, then finish by adding whatever components or modifications that suit your fancy. The tramp art music culture is another good place to start. This is where good-quality, well playing instruments are made from everyday components, using cigar boxes with surprising resonance. These boxes usually have a wooden back. If your level of craftsmanship warrants, you can include a simple box that you make yourself.

Whether you build your own from scratch, use a conventional or cigar box building kit, or purchase a completed instrument, you’re in for some serious fun. And remember the pithy and so often repeated observation made by many serious players-you can’t play a sad song on a ukulele. Whether you decide to purchase a completed instrument, build from scratch or assemble from either a cigar box ukulele kit or a conventional ukulele kit, here’s to you; good luck and good building.

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What Is The Best Portable Music Stand For A Student?

I am a music student, and I want to get a new music stand, preferably one that is foldable and portable. Which type is the best in terms of quality, portability, and ease of use?

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What Is The Best Free Music Download Program Available On The Internet?

I just tried bearshare and it’s crap. Doesn’t download full songs, and the music available is basically only popular music. Emule slows down my pc. Anyone knows a really good program that downloads fast and where it’s possible to find rare and older songs?

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