Typically, when an artist puts out a "solo" album, they usually just sing and play one instrument (if that) while every other part is filled out by their band members or session musicians. While there's nothing wrong with making an album that way, there are other artists who insist on controlling every aspect of their albums, even if it means playing each and every instrument on their own. Here are seven great albums that were created almost entirely by a single person.
1. Paul McCartney - McCartney (1970)
During his time with the Beatles, Paul McCartney demonstrated his virtuosity on multiple instruments (John Lennon even hinted at him being a better drummer than Ringo in a legendary quip), so when it came time for him to record his first solo album, he naturally decided to record every part himself. Though McCartney was criticized for being slapdash and underwritten, it's refreshingly scrappy, considering it came after the technical marvels of late-period Beatles.
2. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007)
Though every Of Montreal album from 2004 to 2010 was recorded almost entirely by frontman Kevin Barnes, the strongest and most cohesive of these was 2007's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, a psychedelic dance suite about Barnes' battles with depression and his separation from his wife. The album's lyrics are so personal and cathartic that it's no surprise Barnes wanted to record this all on his own.
3. Jay Reatard - Blood Visions (2006)
According to the documentary Better Than Something, Jay Reatard had all of his recording equipment set up at all times while recording his debut solo LP Blood Visions, in order to capture his inspiration as soon as it came to him. The resulting album is one of the most immediate and visceral recordings in punk history.
4. Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings (2011)
Though he would later expand his Cloud Nothings project into a full-fledged band, Dylan Baldi started off recording every instrument himself in his parent's basement in Ohio. These early Cloud Nothings recordings, particularly the eponymous 2011 album, are much poppier and less brutal than the subsequent full-band albums Attack On Memory and Here and Nowhere Else. Even the album cover has some colors in it, unlike the last two.
5. Young Legs - The Fog and the Forest (2010)
Young Legs is the solo moniker of New Jersey folk musician Steve Donahue, who overdubbed every instrument of his debut (and so far only) album The Fog and the Forest in his parents' basement. Due to his limited microphone setup, Donahue was supposedly forced to record each part of his drum kit one at a time in order to maximize the sound quality.
6. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)
Sufjan Steven's 2005 concept album Illinois is so musically complex and instrumentally dense that it would be impressive enough if Stevens had simply composed and produced the album, but he goes beyond that by performing nearly every instrument as well. What's even more unusual is that much of this majestic album was recorded in Stevens' Brooklyn apartment.
7. Prince - 1999 (1982)
For someone with such an excellent backing band, you'd think that Prince would gladly record with it every chance he could get. However, the Revolution didn't make their recorded debut until 1984's Purple Rain. Every Prince album prior to that, the best of which is the double LP 1999, consists of Prince playing every song by himself, with only occasional vocal contributions from his band members.
(Unfortunately, Prince hates the internet, so finding one of his songs is very difficult. Just go buy the album; it's worth it.)
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