As if further proof of The Beatles’ superiority were needed, they are the only band whose members went on to have highly successful solo careers. John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the primary songwriters, were obviously destined to continue making hits after the band’s breakup, and George Harrison had already hinted at his penchant for writing a pop hit. Even drummer Ringo Starr, who had written just two of the band’s songs, had consistent chart success in the ’70s.
While the band’s overall discography surpasses that of collective solo efforts, other artists have occasionally released individual albums that dwarf any work by their original group. For example, as good as Buffalo Springfield was in the late ’60s, its material isn’t as enduring as Neil Young’s solo work.
Here are ten other artists whose solo albums are better than any of the records their group made.
Ben Gibbard
His train lives 2013’s release, with songs like “Bigger than Love” and “Teardrop Windows,” was in some ways even better than any of the big releases he made with Death Cab for Cutie.
miller
The Old 97’s are the best alt-country band out there, but Miller’s poppier approach seems to hold more appeal, especially on LPs like the instigator and The dreamer.
Pete Townsend
His first three solo albums, especially Empty glass and All the best cowboys have Chinese eyesIt tops all the amazing things he did with his Hall of Fame rock band, The Who.
christopher owens
The former frontman of the indie group Girls went solo last year with a new testamentan abrupt but extremely pleasing change in musical direction.
gerry rafferty
Though he hit the Top Ten with “Stuck in the Middle,” the Stealer’s Wheel frontman went to number one with from city to city after the band broke up.
scott miller
After establishing a loyal following with The V-Roy’s, the alternative country Appalachianist created excellent records like Thus Always to Tyrants, Quotation and Great Great World.
Jenny Lewis
The leader of the folk-country duo Rilo Kelly ventured solo, and since then she has made great albums such as the last call The traveler.
black frank
As a member of the rock group Pixies, he was known as Black Francis, but as a solo artist, his focus has been more toward country-rock or folk.
Conor Oberst
He was the heart and soul of Bright Eyes, but last year upside down mountain it proved that it could be even better without the guise of a band.
Paul Westerberg
He had more hits with The Replacements, but subsequent solo material as Mono/Stereo show his maturity as a songwriter without the stridency of a band.