ProStudioMasters.com

"Listening to [McCartney] is like hearing a man's personal contentment committed to the sound of music. Most of the sounds, effects and ideas are sheer brilliance; much of the aura is of quiet songs on a hot summer night; and virtually all of the tracks reflect a kind of intangible roundness. 'Excitement' is not a word to use for this album ... 'warmth' and 'happiness' are." - NME When Paul McCartney’s debut solo album, simply titled McCartney, was released on 17 April 1970, it was far from what many expected. Following Abbey Road’s polished perfection, McCartney chose to issue an album of songs, experiments and sound doodles predominantly made on his own at home. It would launch a solo career spanning five decades – and counting. McCartney recorded it in secrecy, mostly using basic home-recording equipment at his house in St John's Wood. Mixing and some recording took place at professional London studios. In its loosely arranged performances, McCartney eschewed the polish of the Beatles' past records in favour of a lo-fi style. Apart from occasional contributions by his wife, Linda, McCartney performed the entire album alone by overdubbing on four-track tape. He also recorded the album during a period of depression and confusion, following John Lennon's private departure from the Beatles in September 1969. McCartney the album received mostly negative reviews, while McCartney the man was vilified for seemingly ending the Beatles. The record was widely criticized for being under-produced. In the half-century since its release, McCartney has now been praised for its homemade nature, which gives it the charm that Paul saw in it all along. “I had all these rough things and I liked them all and thought, Well, they’re rough, but they’ve got that certain kind of thing about them.” - Paul McCartney