Paul McCartney McCartney (180g Vinyl LP) * * *

When The Beatles finally called it a day in April 1970 the last thing that most people expected was for Paul McCartney to form another band so soon and embark on a rigorous and lengthy schedule of touring. He'd seemed set on pursuing a solo career on his own terms; his first solo album, McCartney, was recorded during the last days of The Beatles and was released in the same month that their break-up was officially announced. In an age when excess in music was becoming more prevalent McCartney, with its pared down arrangements, hit No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 2 in the U.K. Home to the enduring tracks "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Every Night" and "That Would Be Something," it's an album that has improved with age and can be seen as a strong statement of intent from McCartney about the sort of songs he wanted to write in the future and the way he wanted to present them.