Solo Artist · Macca

Paul McCartney

Active1970-present
OriginLiverpool, England
Albums23
Tracks282

Most frequent collaborator: Linda McCartney  ·  54 tracks

RockPopSoft RockExperimentalClassical
94%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 264 of 282 tracks

Did Paul McCartney write his own songs?

Yes, nearly all of them. In his solo and Wings catalogue Paul McCartney holds a writing credit on around 94% of tracks, most of them written by himself. Classics like 'Maybe I'm Amazed,' 'Ebony and Ivory,' and 'Band on the Run' are his. He often credited his wife Linda McCartney as co-writer, and worked with a few outside partners, such as Michael Jackson on 'Say Say Say.'

By the Numbers

23
Studio Albums
282
Tracks Credited
94%
Self-Written
100M+ (solo)
Records Sold
56
Years Active
52
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 264 / 282 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 282 tracks: how many Paul McCartney wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Paul McCartney has a writing credit94%
65%
29%
6%
Sole author183tracks65%
Co-written81tracks29%
Outside writers18tracks6%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Paul McCartney's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 282 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)94%
Composer (music)94%
Producer61%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Paul McCartney's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 94%
100%
100%
90%
100%
100%
85%
82%
93%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
20%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1970McCartney
1971Ram
1971Wild Life
1973Red Rose Speedway
1973Band on the Run
1975Venus and Mars
1976Wings at the Speed of Sound
1979Back to the Egg
1980McCartney II
1982Tug of War
1983Pipes of Peace
1984Give My Regards to Broad Street
1986Press to Play
1989Flowers in the Dirt
1993Off the Ground
1997Flaming Pie
1999Run Devil Run
2001Driving Rain
2005Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
2007Memory Almost Full
2013New
2018Egypt Station
2020McCartney III
Early · 93% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 87% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

93%
1970s
McCartney, Ram +6 more
100%
1980s
McCartney II, Tug of War +4 more
71%
1990s
Off the Ground, Flaming Pie +1 more
100%
2000s
Driving Rain, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard +1 more
100%
2010s
New, Egypt Station
100%
2020s
McCartney III

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Paul McCartney sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Paul McCartney
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Celine Dion2%
The Jacksons24%
Eric Clapton40%
Michael Jackson51%
Dolly Parton59%
Bob Dylan76%
The Beatles86%
94%Paul McCartney
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

The Back Seat of My Car
Ram
Written by Paul McCartney
Wrote it
My Love
Red Rose Speedway
Written by James Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Co-wrote
Jet
Band on the Run
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Co-wrote
Band on the Run
Band on the Run
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Co-wrote
Listen to What the Man Said
Venus and Mars
Written by James Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Co-wrote
Letting Go
Venus and Mars
Written by James Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Co-wrote
Silly Love Songs
Wings at the Speed of Sound
Written by James Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Co-wrote
Let 'Em In
Wings at the Speed of Sound
Written by James Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Co-wrote
Old Siam, Sir
Back to the Egg
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Getting Closer
Back to the Egg
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Arrow Through Me
Back to the Egg
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Coming Up
McCartney II
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Waterfalls
McCartney II
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Ebony and Ivory
Tug of War
Written by Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Take It Away
Tug of War
Written by Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Tug of War
Tug of War
Written by Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Say Say Say
Pipes of Peace
Written by James Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson
Co-wrote
Pipes of Peace
Pipes of Peace
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
So Bad
Pipes of Peace
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Press
Press to Play
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Pretty Little Head
Press to Play
Written by James Paul McCartney, Eric Stewart
Co-wrote
Only Love Remains
Press to Play
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
My Brave Face
Flowers in the Dirt
Written by James Paul McCartney, Declan Patrick MacManus
Co-wrote
This One
Flowers in the Dirt
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Hope of Deliverance
Off the Ground
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
C'mon People
Off the Ground
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Young Boy
Flaming Pie
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
The World Tonight
Flaming Pie
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Beautiful Night
Flaming Pie
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
No Other Baby
Run Devil Run
Written by Bob Watson, Dickie Bishop
Outside writers
From a Lover to a Friend
Driving Rain
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Fine Line
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Jenny Wren
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Dance Tonight
Memory Almost Full
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Come On to Me
Egypt Station
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it
Find My Way
McCartney III
Written by James Paul McCartney
Wrote it

Discography 23 albums

Covers 22 solo and Wings studio albums.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Paul McCartney282 tracks
LM54 GM41 CT29 DK29 GK13 NG12

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. LM Linda McCartney · GM George Martin · CT Chris Thomas · DK David Kahne · GK Greg Kurstin · NG Nigel Godrich

The Writers & Producers Behind Paul McCartney 6 key collaborators

LM
Linda McCartney
Songwriter
Ram / Wild Life / Red Rose Speedway / Band on the Run54 tracks
GM
George Martin
Producer
Tug of War / Pipes of Peace / Give My Regards to Broad Street / Flaming Pie41 tracks
CT
Chris Thomas
Producer
Back to the Egg / Run Devil Run29 tracks
DK
David Kahne
Producer
Driving Rain / Memory Almost Full29 tracks
GK
Greg Kurstin
Producer
Egypt Station13 tracks
NG
Nigel Godrich
Producer
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard12 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Paul McCartney writes virtually everything in his solo catalog, a career that picks up exactly where The Beatles left off. Where The Beatles were a true co-writing partnership with Lennon, the solo catalog shows McCartney operating alone, confirming he was the primary melodic writer of that partnership. McCartney (1970) was famously recorded entirely by himself, playing every instrument, and the Ram era established a convention of crediting Linda McCartney as co-writer on nearly everything, a practice widely understood as both a spousal gesture and a publishing arrangement.

Quick Facts

  • GrammysHas won 19 Grammy Awards
  • Rock Hall twiceInducted with the Beatles (1988) and as a solo artist (1999)
  • WingsLed the 1970s band Wings, behind hits like 'Band on the Run' and 'Live and Let Die'
  • Solo debutHis 1970 album McCartney was recorded entirely by himself, playing every instrument
  • Michael Jackson'Say Say Say,' his duet with Michael Jackson, was a US number one

Creative Fingerprint

A songwriter operating alone after the Beatles: across his solo and Wings catalogue Paul McCartney writes nearly everything himself, often crediting his wife Linda as co-writer, with only occasional outside partners like Michael Jackson and Elvis Costello.

The Story

Paul McCartney launched his solo career in 1970 following the dissolution of The Beatles, and has since released over 26 studio albums spanning rock, pop, classical composition, and electronic experimentation. His Wings era (1971-1981) produced some of the biggest-selling albums of the 1970s, including Band on the Run (1973), which is widely considered one of the greatest rock records of the decade, while later decades saw him collaborate with figures ranging from Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to Youth and Kanye West. Now in his eighties, McCartney remains an active touring and recording artist, cementing a solo legacy that, taken alongside his Beatles work, makes him arguably the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music.

Awards & Recognition

One of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated solo sales of 100 million records
Won 19 Grammy Awards
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, with the Beatles (1988) and as a solo artist (1999)
'Band on the Run' and 'My Love' were US number-one singles in the 1970s
Widely regarded as one of the most successful songwriters in the history of popular music

Frequently Asked Questions Paul McCartney

Did Paul McCartney write his own songs?
Yes, nearly all of them. In his solo and Wings catalogue Paul McCartney holds a writing credit on around 94% of tracks, most of them written by himself. Classics like 'Maybe I'm Amazed,' 'Ebony and Ivory,' and 'Band on the Run' are his. He often credited his wife Linda McCartney as co-writer, and worked with a few outside partners, such as Michael Jackson on 'Say Say Say.'
Who wrote 'Maybe I'm Amazed'?
'Maybe I'm Amazed' (1970) was written by Paul McCartney for his first solo album, McCartney, which he recorded entirely on his own. It is often cited as his greatest solo song.
Who wrote 'Band on the Run'?
'Band on the Run' (1973) is credited to Paul and Linda McCartney and was recorded with Wings. It became a US number-one single and one of the defining rock albums of the 1970s.
Did Linda McCartney really co-write his songs?
She is credited as co-writer on many Wings-era songs, including 'Band on the Run' and 'Jet.' The credit is widely understood as both a genuine collaboration and a publishing arrangement between the couple.
Who wrote 'Say Say Say'?
'Say Say Say' (1983) was co-written by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, who also sang it together. It was McCartney's most recent US number-one single for many years.
Was Paul McCartney in Wings?
Yes. After the Beatles broke up, McCartney formed Wings in 1971 with his wife Linda and Denny Laine. The band recorded hits like 'Band on the Run' and 'Live and Let Die' before disbanding in 1981.
How many solo albums has Paul McCartney released?
This catalogue covers 23 of his solo and Wings studio albums, from McCartney (1970) to McCartney III (2020).
How many Grammys has Paul McCartney won?
19 Grammy Awards, across his solo career and his work with the Beatles and Wings.
Is Paul McCartney in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes, twice: as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1999.
What genre is Paul McCartney?
As a solo artist he ranges across rock, pop, soft rock, and even classical and electronic experiments, reflecting the restless songwriting that began in the Beatles.

Sources

Wikipedia: Paul McCartney discography Wikipedia: McCartney (album) Wikipedia: Ram (album) Wikipedia: Band on the Run Wikipedia: Tug of War (album)