# What is the best Paul McCartney solo album of all time?

> From his Beatles farewell to his Wings years and into a solo golden age, Paul McCartney's discography is one of popular music's great ongoing adventures. Which album captures him at his creative peak?

*By YPB Team · Published May 18, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-paul-mccartney-solo-album-of-all-time*

---

## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Band on the Run**
   Wings' 1973 comeback masterpiece recorded in Lagos with a skeleton crew, widely considered McCartney's greatest post-Beatles achievement.
2. **Ram**
   The 1971 home-studio album made with Linda McCartney, a joyful, eclectic record now celebrated as an ahead-of-its-time indie-pop gem.
3. **Tug of War**
   McCartney's polished 1982 comeback featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Carl Perkins, earning widespread critical acclaim.
4. **McCartney**
   His 1970 debut solo album, recorded intimately at home with Paul playing all instruments, a raw and charming statement of independence.
5. **Flaming Pie**
   Paul's warmly received 1997 album, inspired partly by the Anthology project, praised as a return to form and emotional honesty.
6. **Chaos and Creation in the Backyard**
   Produced by Nigel Godrich, this reflective 2005 album is lauded for its stripped-back intimacy and standout melodies.
7. **Venus and Mars**
   Wings' 1975 American stadium rock record, featuring lush arrangements and radio-friendly singles that dominated the charts.
8. **McCartney II**
   A quirky 1980 electronic solo experiment, ahead of its time and now influential among synth-pop and indie artists.
9. **Flowers in the Dirt**
   Paul's celebrated 1989 comeback co-written with Elvis Costello, marking a creative resurgence with songs full of craft and hooks.
10. **Egypt Station**
   His 2018 album that debuted at #1 in the US, blending McCartney's classic songwriting style with modern production.
11. **Memory Almost Full**
   A reflective 2007 album touching on mortality and memory, praised for emotional depth and inventive arrangements.
12. **New**
   McCartney's vibrant 2013 album produced by four different producers, combining fresh sounds with his trademark melodic instincts.
13. **Wings at the Speed of Sound**
   Wings' 1976 crowd-pleasing effort featuring 'Silly Love Songs', one of the best-selling singles of the decade.
14. **London Town**
   The 1978 Wings album recorded partially on a yacht, blending soft rock with new wave influences and yielding radio hits.
15. **McCartney III**
   A surprise 2020 lockdown album recorded solo at home, continuing the DIY spirit of McCartney I & II with psychedelic textures.
16. **Driving Rain**
   Paul's 2001 comeback after a period of grief, recorded quickly and openly with fresh collaborators to celebrate new love.
17. **Wild Life**
   Wings' raw and spontaneous 1971 debut, notable for being recorded in just three days and its loose, live-feel charm.
18. **Red Rose Speedway**
   Wings' 1973 album featuring the #1 hit 'My Love', capturing McCartney's gift for romantic pop songwriting.
19. **Pipes of Peace**
   McCartney's 1983 follow-up to Tug of War, best known for 'Say Say Say' with Michael Jackson and the seasonal 'Pipes of Peace'.
20. **Run Devil Run**
   A lively 1999 covers album of rock 'n' roll classics, recorded as therapy after Linda McCartney's death with raw, live energy.
21. **Off the Ground**
   Paul's 1993 album, partly recorded with the same band from Flowers in the Dirt, featuring bold arrangements and optimistic themes.
22. **Press to Play**
   McCartney's 1986 synth-heavy album, under-appreciated at the time but home to some ambitious production experiments.
23. **Back to the Egg**
   Wings' 1979 swan song, an uneven but bold album blending rock riffs and orchestral pop in a punk-era context.

Tags: music, rock, bands, classics, british