Paul McCartney released his first solo album in 1970.
Titled McCartney, the album was released by Apple Records on 17 April 1970. It arrived during the final phase of the Beatles' breakup and became McCartney's first solo studio album after years as the group's bassist, singer, and principal songwriter alongside John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
McCartney recorded much of the album privately at home in St John's Wood, London, using relatively simple equipment. He performed nearly all the instruments himself through overdubbing, including acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, piano, organ, and percussion. His wife, Linda McCartney, contributed harmony vocals.
The record's informal, homemade sound contrasted with the polished productions associated with the Beatles. Its best-known song is “Maybe I'm Amazed,” although McCartney declined to release it as a single at the time. The album topped the US Billboard Top LPs chart and was followed by Ram in 1971, another major step in his post-Beatles career.