Tom scholz of Boston wrote produced engineered and invented new gear and played every instrument on his first masterpiece album. Yea he didn't sing the vocal tracks but he should have an honorable mention here...
Ken Estrada--Tom did not do all the production work on the 1976 Boston debut album. Google John Boylan and read his account of how this album came together and who else contributed to this album. John did production work on the tracks that Tom brought him, and Boylan had to clean up Toms tracks before they could be mixed. John also had to hire LA engineer Paul Grupp to come to Toms studio to teach him how to record acoustic instruments such as acoustic guitars and drums because Toms tracks were so "amateurish" to quote Boylan. Engineer Warren Dewey also contributed to this album. John Boylan does not get the credit he deserves for all that he did to get this album to the market and for the way this record sounds. Tom did not play every instrument on every track of this album. Sib Hashian plays the drums on every song but one. Jim Masdea plays drums on Rock and Roll Band. Barry Goudreau plays guitars on Foreplay and Long Time. The "monster guitar" and the lead solo on Long time are played by Barry. Barry also plays guitars on Let me Take You Home Tonight. Brad plays acoustic guitar on Let Me Take You Home. Fran Sheehan plays bass on Foreplay and Let Me Take You Home. Let Me Take You Home and all of Brads vocals were recorded by Boylan at fully furnished big name recording studios. There are multiple engineers who played a major role in how this album sounds-Warren Dewey and Paul Grupp are two of the biggest contributors. Brad Delp helped a great deal with the song arrangements and Jim Masdea made major contributions to the arrangements as well. The liner notes on the 2006 Scholz remaster of this album and various interviews with John Boylan are my sources and can be verified with a little research. Google the Mix Magazine interview of John Boylan to read it for yourself.
Lol she used 21 writers in her latest album. She just waltzes into the studio and gets told what to do. she doesn't add any creative input to her music
To be fair, Beyonce's latest album in 2013 was actually much more creative and sophisticated then anything she had released anything up to that point. Mainstream music is a much more collaborative effort then independent artists because of the money involved. Even if Beyonce didn't write or produce much of the album, her melodies and vocals are incredible. Gotta give her props for at least trying, even if it took alot of help.
***** Agreed. And also an unpopular opinion. I actually agree with Kanye. Beyonce should have won over Morning Phase. Sure, Beck wrote his whole album and Beyonce used 13123257769 writers and producers and Beck probably took more effort into producing his album. However, when judging an album, I do not care about the process that went into making it. I care about the actual quality of the album and when it comes down to the line, Beyonce's record is just more interesting, creative, and better than Beck's Morning Phase.
Gustavo P Not only that but fucking listen to "I'm yours" from that album. There are very few people anywhere on this video that could play any single instrument as well as the showcase of skill that is in that song on all the instruments. It's ridiculous.
I think this list got it right with 1999. Prince's first album, while showcasing his amazing talent, was nowhere near as good. Like you said, he was only 19 years old. You really hadn't found himself yet. I'd put 'Something in the Water' up against any song on 'For You.' Hell, The 'Dirty Mind' album blows that in out of the water.
Michael Vin Wrong...or to be more accurate kinda wrong. Viccaro said he did very little and interestingly enough he said he wasn’t overly impressed with Prince’s guitar playing, he thought Prince was an exceptional drummer. That really stuck with me.
sirajdevil You into black metal dude? If so any bands you recommend. I haven't heard a lot of bands but I like Mayhem, Venom, Darkthrone, Immortal and Burzum. Would be awesome haha...
Steve Libby - 100% ...throughout most of the late 60s and 70s, state of the art, cutting edge, 24 track recording/mixing was Gold Standard....but yet the only place for musicians to access was via big name labeled recording studios....”Except One” - in the basement of Todd Rundgren ! The Only Musician to personally own one for his own recordings n albums....fact. Long Live Runt
Theocracy, by Matt Smith, a song writer, multi-instrumentalist from Athens Georgia. On the self titled "Theocracy" he wrote all the songs, played all instruments, sang all vocals and did the recording and engineering in his basement, by himself! Yes, it is a Christian Metal album, BUT, once you give it a listen you will be blown away!!
A Wizard A True Star has numerous musicians throughout. One side of Something Anything is a live studio effort. Side two of Faithful would qualify, as would the entirety of Mink Hollow, Healer, Tortured Artist Effect and A Cappella.
Hold up. Siamese Dream wasn't only recorded by Billy Corgan. He only re-recorded James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky's parts, and even then, few tracks do still have those original parts. Jimmy Chamberlin's drum parts are all intact on the final product.
You are mostly correct. Billy Corgan wrote the songs but he and producer Butch Vig realized that it would just be faster for Billy to play all the parts himself for the purposes of recording rather than coach and teach the rest of the band how to play their parts as he wrote them. It really had nothing to do with people's breakups or substance abuse problems. This video also doesn't mention that Jimmy Chamberlin played all the drums on the record. Like a boss I might add. No way Billy could have ever played drums like that!
@@imvandenh Yep. Chamberlain is one of the best rock drummers ever. There's no one who plays like him, and his parts are as much a part of Smashing Pumpkins' sound as the guitars. That album shouldn't have been on the list.
Never heard of them, but I'm not going to be silly and not check them out, because when I find obscure references I don't know of I will check them out as Iv'e found some cool music that way :). I'll be back.
Side four probably got it disqualified since it featured other musicians, but he should have made the HM list with "The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect".
Boston's first album, Boston. Tom Schultz wrote and recorded the entire album except for the vocals. Once it was ready, Tom found Brad Delph to come in to do the vocals. Sure, Tom didn't sing, but if ever there was a massive freshman release that dominated the radio at the time, this was it.
I can't believe Steve Winwood - Arc of a Diver did not make this list ?? He has to be the most underrated musician / vocalist ever - he is a musical genius
Thank you!! I can’t belive this isn’t mentioned more often. Not only did he record all the guitars, bass, drums, lead and harmony vocals, but the parts are well composed, sit tastefully in the mix and stand on their own.
Nun Yabusiness the first time I heard "Pretty Hate Machine" I was hooked, finding out he laid down virtually every track by himself, I was awestruck. Supposedly written to Tori Amos after a bad breakup. I actually saw them in a club (500 people) circa 1996. amazing show...
Siamese Dream wasn't just Billy Corgan, he only played all the guitar and bass parts. James Chamberlin, played all the drums on the album. FYI The Smashing Pumpkins are very influenced by Shoegaze and Dream Pop, but they are not the standard or best example of those genres. This was a legit list!
Technically, It's not all 100% Prince. He doesn't play any of the horn parts, "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is recorded live with The Revolution. Also, Wendy and Lisa's vocals are on a "Slow Love" along with Susannah. Sheila E. Plays drums on "U Got the Look"... and of course Sheena Easton's lead vocal on U Got the Look ;)
Here's a list of everyone who had a part in that album. In no way did Prince do it on his own like this video wants you to think. Which is true for most of the artists they listed. Prince - lead vocals and various instruments Wendy Melvoin - guitar and backing vocals (7), tambourine and congas (12, 15) Lisa Coleman - backing vocals (7), Fairlight sitar and wooden flute (12), keyboards and backing vocals (15) Sheila E. - drums and percussion (10), percussion and rap (15) Dr. Fink - keyboards (15) Miko Weaver - guitar (15) Brown Mark - bass (15) Bobby Z. - drums (15) Eric Leeds - saxophone (3, 7, 8, 15, 16) Atlanta Bliss - trumpet (3, 7, 15, 16) Susannah Melvoin - backing vocals (2, 4, 6), vocals (15) Jill Jones - vocals (15) Sheena Easton - contributing artist (10) Clare Fischer - string arrangements
LdyVder Right. Track 15 is live with the Revolution. He had help with horns and back up vocals on a couple of tracks, e.g. “Slow Love” primarily which IMO is the weakest track on the album (and “Starfish and Coffee” which is a good one but not amongst the strongest half dozen). He was separating from the Revolution at this time and I saw an interview where Wendy & Lisa (w/ the other band members but they did most of the talking) remembered that Prince was full-on prolific at this time and went off to do his own thing. This album and lots of other material is the result. IMO the best tracks on the album were 100% done by Prince - most of the tracks were, and the album is considered to be done by Prince.
@Joel Banning HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...."I want to hold your hand"....GENIUS !!!! PLEASE ....As a musician McCartney is AVERAGE AT BEST and as a vocalist ....HAHAHAHAHA...try listening to Paul Carrack.....I get their place in history because they were first...blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....that doesn't mean they and he are not OVER RATED !!!!!! The BMW of MUSICIANS !!!! Why resort to blasphemy FUCKFACE ? Oops, I guess it's ok.....
@Joel Banning Musicianship....Led Zep BLOWS THEM AWAY !!! So in the span of 30 years he managed to write a couple of decent tunes.....Difford and Tilbrook are way better song writers.... Call me ignorant if you want, but I don't drink the Kool AId....being first doesn't make you best and don't get me started on George Harrison and Ringo ....Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart ? No Comparison !!!! "We all live in a Yellow Submarine" ....Please .....
@Joel Banning ....here's a partial list of bands that blow the Beatles away... Led Zep The Stones The Who Pink Floyd Rush Squeeze (Difford and Tilbrook blow away Lennon and McCartney) The Police (esp 1st two albums) Dire Straits Oasis (Ripped off the Beatles completely but were better) ELO (Ripped off the Beatles but were better) Chicago Foreigner (in his prime and before his tumor Lou Gramm's voice was untouchable) Boston (all they needed was one album to blow away The Beatles) I could go on all night !!!!
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) can. He has done the same on almost all his records. Writes all the songs, plays all the instruments , produces records engineers. Probably gets his own coffee as well. I don't think he sets up the manufacturing lines that produce the actual physical albums they sell in stores but that's not what they were going after on this list anyway. But I must say, Trent Reznor isn't even a fraction of the incredible musician that Prince was. Prince could play so many different instruments like a boss, I wonder how he could have ever even found time to sleep or do anything else. And for going to. And if we believe Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood stories, he can ball like a champ as well. The man was so incredible in so many ways and just didn't get the props he deserved for his genius and talent. Prince is truly unmatched in popular music when it comes to instrumental talents alone.
The first Boston album was all Tom Scholz with Brad Delp doing the vocals. Sure, that's TWO musicians, but Scholz did guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums, and STILL had time to invent the Rockman portable amp.
Boston deserved mention in this because of the huge percentage of that album done by just one person, with Scholz also producing it. What he made was a "greatest hits" album all packed into the debut album. And it is the spectacular success of it that sets it apart from all other albums that were done all or mostly all by one person. No list on this topic is complete without mentioning what Tom Scholz achieved.
All art is subjective. But there are certain objective measurements that can be examined. One such measure is how well an album sells. Here's the list of all-time best selling albums: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums I count 69 albums in that list. How many are the work of just one person? I don't see a single one. Now look again. How many are the work of _mostly_ just one person. I see one. Boston. This is a HUGE reason why this video is grossly incomplete for not having mentioned Tom Scholz. Now consider how many albums on that list are _debut_ albums. You're left with a VERY SHORT list. Take that into account and Tom Scholz's achievement jumps out even more. This guy worked in his basement all by himself and created a masterpiece. If it were only white teen boys from the 70s, that would not fully account for this objective measure we have which says that the album was an amazing success. Now compare to someone like Dave Grohl. The Foo Fighters sprung out of the heels of a superband. Scholz came out of nowhere, working his full time job as an engineer at Polaroid, a camera company. Take all of this into account, and you can see that a strong argument can be made that this video done properly would have _included_ Boston, not just mentioned it. Of course this would require an asterisk to show that Scholz brought in a singer at the last moment to give another go at the vocal tracks. What Tom Scholz accomplished all by himself is unparalleled in the entire history of modern music, as far as I know. Someone should make a movie about him.
This was the first album I thought of. He made the complete album in his house. Got Brad to do the vocals and sent it complete to the record companies who had no idea when they signed him that he had no group or other band members.
Vangelis, Kitaro are both great artists that write, perform, produce their own music by doing each instrument themselves. Honorary mention should go to Wendy Carlos’ 1968 Switch on Bach album-Bach music on a moog synthesizer. Carlos had to play each section by over layering each section over and over to get one complete piece.
Something/Anything, by Todd Rundgren. Had a couple big hit singles, and Todd did everything on it, and produced it as well. The rest of these are nothing like that.
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WatchMojo.com In his defense you seemed to have a narrow focus on your music. You seemed to ignore a lot of musicians and instead put bands up there with other people playing along. Hunter Hayes rocks the house especially "Storm Warning" You did miss a lot of musicians, Tom Sholz, Seal, Alan Parsons, who all have single musician albums and instead replaced them with modern noise makers who have other people sit in with them. Especially if they do not have to credit them.
I was wondering the same thing, then I remembered that the entire fourth side was recorded live in the studio with numerous session musicians. Still, an entire record and a half by himself. And one of the greatest examples of this sort of thing. They could've given it an honorable mention.
He did use other musicians on some songs on Wizard, Todd and on side one of Initiation, then used a version of Utopia on Faithful. But after that his next three solo albums, Hermit, Healing and Tortured Artist, he recorded by himself. Then came A Capella where he didn't even use instruments! From the mid '90's onward he has very rarely used other musicians.
I need to get that album. I've heard it's really great. I have all of his solo/Utopia studio albums (and one Nazz album) up to One Long Year and then... well I've got some catching up to do.
I don’t have time to watch this - but hopefully McCartney’s “ cherry “ album is on the list. He recorded it in his living room in the London suburb of St. John’s Wood , three blocks from Abbey Road ( the street ) for goodness sake. I visited this house in 1971 ! Petted Paul’s cat. Talked to Paul’s butler. Took two empty milk bottles and twigs from the tree in the front lawn. Paul was not home 😟
You left out the seminal musician that consistently performs all the instruments, all the vocals and, in the case of his break out album, A Wizard, a True Star, actually produced all the album art, all the photography, and hand wrote all the liner notes and the label on the vinyl record. In addition, he also produced it, and released it on his own record company, Bearsville Records. I am talking about the one, the only Todd Rundgren.
I honestly think that WatchMojo lists are comprised of voters who might each own 40 albums, at the most. Most of Rundgren's albums in the 70's were individual performances.
Absolutely. I mentioned A Wizard, A True Star because he did EVERYTHING himself, even seemingly mundane things such as hand writing the liner notes on the album. I don't think any other musician has ever done that. That's why, for a top 10 list of albums performed by a single musician, his omission seems so huge to me.
Kenneth P. Weinkauf Rundgren should be here, agreed. It depends on how much instrumentation is used when talking about this sort of thing - it could be argued that The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan should be here as he performed it all and it contains a lot of classic songs - but the only instruments used on it is acoustic guitar, harmonica and Dylan's vocals, which doesn't really compare to what, say, Prince or Todd Rundgren used to do.
Michael Miller hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "Todd was the first artist that came to mind. He kind of invented this category." If the conversation is really about "one-person-playing-all-instruments-on-a-music-album," then Todd Rundgren is the hands-down, slam-dunk winner both in quality and quantity, on top of the fact that he did it in a more technologically "primitive" era (i.e., BEFORE the artists featured in this youtube clip). Todd played EVERY instrument and sang ALL vocals (lead and multi-part harmony) [sixteen-track recording on each song] on the first three sides [seventeen songs] of his double album Something/Anything? [which he recorded in late 1971 and released in February of 1972 (fifteen months before Mike Oldfield released his "Tubular Bells" album)]. He repeated this feat on many other occasions through the years, proving over and over that he is truly "A Wizard, A True Star."
Prince's first five albums should be here, ran the gamut of genres from r&b, soul, disco, pop, blues, jazz, funk, ballads, hard rock, new wave, and he wrote, composed, arranged, produced virtually everything...plus played about 30 instruments over all the albums, did lead and backing vocals
@@kevinherd3437 true, he was creating way more than his label was willing to let him release, he felt his creativity was being stifled, this led to his "Slave" and "Symbol" stance against WBros
You're right, it was actually the 1998 "Adore" album that was recorded by Corgan alone. (though the others were credited) This was the reason D'arcy left in 1999. She felt like she was just a "for-hire" touring musician & not an artistic contributor to the music.
Half true. There is actually almost no james and Darcy on the album. But its disingenous to include it when jimmy played all drums. Even adore had a lot of input from James, Darcy and a number of drummers and programmers.
You missed the Frank Zappa's album "Jazz From Hell" (1988), an instrumental album which he recorded all by himself on the Synclavier DMS (an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation). Since you didn't exclude strictly instrumental albums and nor limit the list to any specific genre in your criteria fro inclusion,, it's qualifies. As for whether it's in the top ten, well Zappa did win a 1988 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for this album, so I would argue it also would subjectively qualify. .
Patrick Stump's Soul Punk saw him playing synths, drums, bass, guitar, trumpet, writing lyrics, and singing. On a technical level (if you listen to the songs), it's pretty astounding regardless if you like him as a musician or not. The skill that went into the album is impeccable.
I find that very surprising. I remember when it first came out and the FOB fans found themselves alienated because of the more electronic/dance/R&B stylings of it, while the more hardcore fans of those respective genres probably scoffed at the idea of it; but for what it's worth, it's an incredibly enjoyable, fun, catchy excursion through some of the finest pop music around. Greed is one of my favorite songs.
Don't get me wrong Kravitz is talented but that album is not one of the best records made by just one artists. Honestly I don't even think Foo Fighters or Pretty Hate Machine belong on this list.
Another Top Ten Albums Performed by a Single Musician Boston "Boston" Brian Eno "Another Green World" Paul McCartney "McCartney II" Emitt Rhodes "Emitt Rhodes" Todd Rundgren "A Wizard A True Star" Todd Rundgren "Something/Anything" Elliott Smith "EitherOr" Elliott Smith "Figure 8" Vangelis "Blade Runner" [Original Soundtrack] Steve Winwood "Arc of a Diver"
True, but I'm basing this on the criterion as given at the start of the video: "In order to qualify, though, the album's individual instruments have to majorly be performed by one person." (0:35) In the case of Boston's debut album, that one person is Tom Scholz, who played electric & acoustic guitars, lead guitar, clavinet, organ & bass guitar. While four other musicians took part (a couple of them just played on one or two songs), only Scholz qualifies as having "majorly" played the instruments. Not a total one-man show, but close enough for WatchMojo wants (please note that its top ten has albums where the principal musician had a bit of help).
Yes, there are other musicians on the album, but I'm appealing specifically to how WatchMojo's approach the subject: "In order to qualify, though, the album's individual instruments have to majorly be performed by one person." (0:35) Certainly, this album meets that criterion. Eno's listed as playing farfisa organ, guitar, desert guitar (whatever that is), bass guitar, organ, piano, grand piano, prepared piano, synthesizer, treated rhythm generator, synthetic & Peruvian percussion, tapes, etc. Of Another Green World's 14 cuts, Eno is the only person playing on seven of them, while on others, he's doing most of the heavy lifting, such as "St. Elmo's Fire", where Fripp is listed for wimshurst guitar (on which he is flat out amazing), but that searing solo emerges from an aural landscape that's 100% Eno: vocals, organ, piano, yamaha bass pedals, synthetic percussion and desert guitars.
I have a strange feeling inside telling me that the headquarter of watch mojo will be burned and everyone in there getting slayed by the mighty and honorable Knight called Count grishnack.
1978 album, Equinoxe by Jean Michel Jarre. He composed and produced it, as well as playing all the instruments, including the following: ARP 2600, EMS Synthi AKS, VCS 3, Yamaha CS-60, Oberheim TVS-1A, RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, RMI Keyboard Computer, ELKA 707, Korg Polyphonic Ensemble 2000, Eminent 310U, Mellotron, ARP Sequencer, Oberheim Digital, Sequencer, Matrisequencer 250, Geiss Rhythmicomputer (a custom designed programmable rhythm box), and EMS Vocoder and vox humana.
watch mojo boy did you miss the target here. You left out Todd Rundgren, Gary Wright, Steve Winwood, etc....come on man do some research before you post
@@larrydavenport9667 Wasn't fully Scholz. Delp sang, Hashian played drums, and various other collaborators were involved even if the album was Scholz's baby.
@@10jonchannel y'all may be relieved to know that the album doesn't really sound anything like that, besides Justin Vernon using his usual high falsetto. I really do encourage you to listen to the album version of either The Wolves or Skinny Love, because with his vocal layering and production skills (he's produced for Kanye, among others) he really creates something incredible. I know I sound like a fanboy, but For Emma, Forever Ago really is my favorite album of all time and even I didn't like the clip y'all are talking about, so I encourage y'all to give my boy Justin another shot :)
@@davidfaustino4476 and i'm sorry that you found something wrong with my completely respectful comment, as if i were talking to you anyway lmao you're not changing my mind but you do you i guess
plus he did all instruments, vocals, songwriting and engineering/recording on albums Healing, Hermit Of Mink Hollow, and The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect. Go Todd!
It can't be repeated enough! Rundgren not only should be on this list, he should be #1. "Something/Anything", "Hermit of Mink Hollow", Pretty much anything by Rundgren.
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard A True Star is a must. Electronic, hard rock, soul, and just generally a lovingly put together mish-mash that still sounds as fresh and mind-blowing today as when I purchased it in 1973. Highly recommended.
I am quite pleased Pretty Hate Machine ranked as high as it did. One of the greatest albums bridging the 80's and 90's industrial sound. It is one of those albums I can listen to front to back and enjoy every second of it still all these years later. Yes Downward Spiral maybe be more raw and gritty, but PHM will always be my favorite NIN album.
I have been a Michael Oldfield fan for over 45 years. I even saw him in concert three times while I was stationed in Germany with the US Army in the 80s. Tubular Bells was the tip of the iceberg for this man...he pretty much produced most of his studio albums Oldfield has played over 40 individual instruments, often holing himself up in a recording studio high in the Alps for months crafting sweeping multi-track recordings. His music is still in regular rotation in my devices. He has a highly distinct guitar signature. It's Pavlovian. Another astonishing "non-mention" is the work of Jon Crosby as V.A.S.T. (Visual Audio Sensory Theater) with two self-produced albums; "VAST" & "Music For The People." I absolutely love both his albums. They are part of my DNA now. Assimilated, you will be.
The Foo Fighters is the rebirth of a broken man. Its the beginning of the best rock band in history, and the best years of my life. Thanks Dave from the bottom of my heart...
OnyxBlackSmith I hate it how people just think of Kurt Cobain when they hear Nirvana. Nirvana might be my favorite band but Kurt Cobain wasn't the only one who did anything in nirvana. Dave growl really knew music much more than Kurt Cobain. I do like Kurt Cobain but my favorite is Dave grohl. He might have struggled with the death of Kurt but he rose back up and started a new band that received greatness. Thank you for appreciating Dave grohl.
dave and nirvana is amazing but cobain wrote almost every nirvana song and dave wrote nothing that why kurt cobain is always linked with nirvana and dave with the ff
At that Time it was McCartney! Now, I would say ''McCartney 3'' Again this time at 78, he did an album by himself where he played all The instruments!!! I even prefer McCartney 3 to the first one of 1970!!!
Hands Down - Greatest Album by Single Musician - Ever... Todd Rundgren - A Wizard a True A Star. Produced, Played Every Instrument- ( 7 ), Created Every Lyric/all Vocals, Totally Self-Mixed- 24 Track ...In 1972 Mind You ......If you haven’t ever listened to it, in it’s entirety, one session? Do Yourself a Favor ... ... Long Live Runt...
I was about to mention the mofo (i dun like him as person). "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" and "Filosfem" (yea, it's BM/ABM but ALL GENRES is all genres) are masterpieces that shit half of the albums on this list! And he did it while inside prison too! If that isn't genius, i dunno what is.
When I first heard Head Like a Hole, it got in my blood and stayed there. Pretty Hate Machine was the first CD I ever bought and I STILL have it (and yes it still plays)
Great list. I think I would only comment Tubular Bells should have been higher in the list. This album was extremely influential on the entire Music industry. Oldfield was having trouble getting work and he out of necessity did all the work and he struggled to put this album out. It launched one of the biggest labels Virgin and also showed that music without pop singles and vocals could be successful. The number of instruments Oldfield played on this recording is large compared to any other mentioned here and a lot of the instruments were classical in nature. All in all this was a huge departure from what the music industry had been releasing for decades.
My favorite solo album is "Hermit of Mink Hollow" by Todd Rundgren. On it is the hit "Can we Still be Friends?", but there is not a bad song on the album.
Rundgren should have at least made the HM list. Most of the artists that made the TT list did one, maybe two albums where they played all the instrument themselves. By comparison, Rundgren did it all on four albums; Hermit, Healing, Tortured Artist, and A Cappella.
In the 70s the multi-instrumentalists or one man band (Todd Rundgren. Mike Oldfield ....) they were admired as a novelty and respected, later it became normal, like Howard Jones solo performance.
Tom scholz of Boston wrote produced engineered and invented new gear and played every instrument on his first masterpiece album. Yea he didn't sing the vocal tracks but he should have an honorable mention here...
Tom's one smart cookie
He also did not play drums. Granted, it's still almost entirely a solo effort, but that is significant.
Ken Estrada yes...absolutely ridiculous that album and Tom isn't mentioned.
Yeah he didn't play drums but i agree he should be on this list for that first album.
Ken Estrada--Tom did not do all the production work on the 1976 Boston debut album. Google John Boylan and read his account of how this album came together and who else contributed to this album. John did production work on the tracks that Tom brought him, and Boylan had to clean up Toms tracks before they could be mixed. John also had to hire LA engineer Paul Grupp to come to Toms studio to teach him how to record acoustic instruments such as acoustic guitars and drums because Toms tracks were so "amateurish" to quote Boylan. Engineer Warren Dewey also contributed to this album. John Boylan does not get the credit he deserves for all that he did to get this album to the market and for the way this record sounds.
Tom did not play every instrument on every track of this album. Sib Hashian plays the drums on every song but one. Jim Masdea plays drums on Rock and Roll Band. Barry Goudreau plays guitars on Foreplay and Long Time. The "monster guitar" and the lead solo on Long time are played by Barry. Barry also plays guitars on Let me Take You Home Tonight. Brad plays acoustic guitar on Let Me Take You Home. Fran Sheehan plays bass on Foreplay and Let Me Take You Home. Let Me Take You Home and all of Brads vocals were recorded by Boylan at fully furnished big name recording studios. There are multiple engineers who played a major role in how this album sounds-Warren Dewey and Paul Grupp are two of the biggest contributors.
Brad Delp helped a great deal with the song arrangements and Jim Masdea made major contributions to the arrangements as well.
The liner notes on the 2006 Scholz remaster of this album and various interviews with John Boylan are my sources and can be verified with a little research. Google the Mix Magazine interview of John Boylan to read it for yourself.
Beyonce took like 5 producers and 7 writers to write one song.... remember that when you watch this list
Lol she used 21 writers in her latest album. She just waltzes into the studio and gets told what to do. she doesn't add any creative input to her music
Overrated to fuck
To be fair, Beyonce's latest album in 2013 was actually much more creative and sophisticated then anything she had released anything up to that point. Mainstream music is a much more collaborative effort then independent artists because of the money involved.
Even if Beyonce didn't write or produce much of the album, her melodies and vocals are incredible. Gotta give her props for at least trying, even if it took alot of help.
MizzReyRey Who the fuck is beyonce?
*****
Agreed. And also an unpopular opinion. I actually agree with Kanye. Beyonce should have won over Morning Phase. Sure, Beck wrote his whole album and Beyonce used 13123257769 writers and producers and Beck probably took more effort into producing his album. However, when judging an album, I do not care about the process that went into making it. I care about the actual quality of the album and when it comes down to the line, Beyonce's record is just more interesting, creative, and better than Beck's Morning Phase.
Prince - For You (79)
EVERYTHING by him: Produced, arranged, performed all instruments and vocals and wrote all the songs
And he was only 19 years old
Gustavo P
Not only that but fucking listen to "I'm yours" from that album. There are very few people anywhere on this video that could play any single instrument as well as the showcase of skill that is in that song on all the instruments. It's ridiculous.
Jesus
Jason Duncan Wendy didn't join the band till '83, and no one but Prince was on those first few records (through Dirty Mind or Controversy).
I think this list got it right with 1999. Prince's first album, while showcasing his amazing talent, was nowhere near as good. Like you said, he was only 19 years old. You really hadn't found himself yet. I'd put 'Something in the Water' up against any song on 'For You.' Hell, The 'Dirty Mind' album blows that in out of the water.
Michael Vin Wrong...or to be more accurate kinda wrong. Viccaro said he did very little and interestingly enough he said he wasn’t overly impressed with Prince’s guitar playing, he thought Prince was an exceptional drummer. That really stuck with me.
No Todd Rundgren or Joni Mitchell? Weird
I was actually expecting a Burzum album. :(
me too man ! talk about let downs
sirajdevil It's ok though. Don't worry as we all know Watchmojo are clueless.
+Oliwally Amen
sirajdevil You into black metal dude? If so any bands you recommend. I haven't heard a lot of bands but I like Mayhem, Venom, Darkthrone, Immortal and Burzum. Would be awesome haha...
Oliwally you ever listened to bathory
Todd Rundgren: "Hold my beer."
No F***ing S**t! How Todd got left off this list is unbelieveable.
@goldfische Word! lol
@@SgtMjr agree !!!
So does Darwin! :-)
Lenny Kravitz: "I got you, Todd."
"McCartney wanted to record a darker album" [immediately follows: "Teddy Boy", the silliest song any Beatle ever recorded.]
definitely up there with the silliest
😂
Todd Rundgren. Any number of albums. Christ, one of the fathers of modern production/engineering.
Steve Libby - 100% ...throughout most of the late 60s and 70s, state of the art, cutting edge, 24 track recording/mixing was Gold Standard....but yet the only place for musicians to access was via big name labeled recording studios....”Except One” - in the basement of Todd Rundgren ! The Only Musician to personally own one for his own recordings n albums....fact. Long Live Runt
"A Capella": One musician, NO instruments! Only Todd, the original emperor or the highway.
Where's a Todd Rundgren's album?
He's one of the greatest multi-instrumentalists of all time!
Theocracy, by Matt Smith, a song writer, multi-instrumentalist from Athens Georgia. On the self titled "Theocracy" he wrote all the songs, played all instruments, sang all vocals and did the recording and engineering in his basement, by himself! Yes, it is a Christian Metal album, BUT, once you give it a listen you will be blown away!!
Todd Rundgren's solo albums are mostly just him. Something/ Anything or A Wizard, A True Star should have made the list.
A Wizard A True Star has numerous musicians throughout. One side of Something Anything is a live studio effort. Side two of Faithful would qualify, as would the entirety of Mink Hollow, Healer, Tortured Artist Effect and A Cappella.
Hold up. Siamese Dream wasn't only recorded by Billy Corgan. He only re-recorded James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky's parts, and even then, few tracks do still have those original parts. Jimmy Chamberlin's drum parts are all intact on the final product.
Violent After Visions yes you are correct, “Gish” was Cortana et al.
You are mostly correct. Billy Corgan wrote the songs but he and producer Butch Vig realized that it would just be faster for Billy to play all the parts himself for the purposes of recording rather than coach and teach the rest of the band how to play their parts as he wrote them. It really had nothing to do with people's breakups or substance abuse problems. This video also doesn't mention that Jimmy Chamberlin played all the drums on the record. Like a boss I might add. No way Billy could have ever played drums like that!
@@imvandenh Yep. Chamberlain is one of the best rock drummers ever. There's no one who plays like him, and his parts are as much a part of Smashing Pumpkins' sound as the guitars. That album shouldn't have been on the list.
Yeah, this is a good example of not properly researching your stuff.
why did he re-record the parts by iha and d'arcy?
Definitely surprised Tame Impala didn't make the actual list
this is before currents was released but either way lonerism is better than any album on this list
Was literally about to comment the same thing
Nicolas Gularte you’re fucking high
Never heard of them, but I'm not going to be silly and not check them out, because when I find obscure references I don't know of I will check them out as Iv'e found some cool music that way :). I'll be back.
The 72u7H how did it go? ;)
No Vangelis, Jean Michael Jarre, Todd Run. Mike Oldfield not no.1?
good call on Vangelis! The guy is a fn genius who made epical music.
GTFO, as long as the albums McCartney or 1999 exist, Mike Oldfield will never ever be number one.
Eno
Todd Rundgren double album Something Anything (1972),
Emitt Rhodes-Smith Rhodes
Thought this would be number 1!
Me too! Rundgren not even making honorable mentions?
Yeah, especially impressive since S/A is a DOUBLE album.
Side four probably got it disqualified since it featured other musicians, but he should have made the HM list with "The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect".
Emitt Rhodes doesn’t get enough love.
Boston's first album, Boston. Tom Schultz wrote and recorded the entire album except for the vocals. Once it was ready, Tom found Brad Delph to come in to do the vocals. Sure, Tom didn't sing, but if ever there was a massive freshman release that dominated the radio at the time, this was it.
I can't believe Steve Winwood - Arc of a Diver did not make this list ?? He has to be the most underrated musician / vocalist ever - he is a musical genius
Yeah..no Todd no Steve...must be the creators of this sight are 19 or younger....Beck is boring
Never heard of him, that`s why.
First thing i thought was Steve Winwood better be in the top 3 or 4. I'm surprised Tubular Bells wasn't higher.
@@andreasandremyrvold Better to keep your mouth shut and have the world wonder if you're the fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.
@@patdoyle5174 Stating facts never made anyone a fool.
elliott smith
Thank you!! I can’t belive this isn’t mentioned more often. Not only did he record all the guitars, bass, drums, lead and harmony vocals, but the parts are well composed, sit tastefully in the mix and stand on their own.
I bet he was really depressed because he didn’t make this list.
deftones tho
"From a Basement on the Hill" is a powerful statement, and deserves notoriety.
Absolutely true, "From a Basement on the Hill"!
Where is Burzum? He should have been an honorable mention at least
I'm so happy a nine inch nails album is so high on the list, Trent's ability to combine so many different elements and still sound good is amazing
Nun Yabusiness the first time I heard "Pretty Hate Machine" I was hooked, finding out he laid down virtually every track by himself, I was awestruck. Supposedly written to Tori Amos after a bad breakup. I actually saw them in a club (500 people) circa 1996. amazing show...
That Tori info is not true at all. They didn't meet until a few years after PHM was released.
Totally agree with you NIN Pretty Hate Machine is truly Epic and Trent deserves to be high on this list.
The Bon Iver album sounds like something interrogators play to torture prisoners. Maybe it's just the clips you chose.
It's just the clip, but yea this comment cracked me up. Albums really good though!
Glad it wasn’t just me that thought it was a horrible, whining mess. Surely there was a better artist for a top 10?
David Weber I was thinking the same thing! I’ve never heard of him, and I guess that’s why lol
So true!
Seriously. The clip they ended with sounds like deaf people having an audible argument.
Siamese Dream wasn't just Billy Corgan, he only played all the guitar and bass parts. James Chamberlin, played all the drums on the album. FYI The Smashing Pumpkins are very influenced by Shoegaze and Dream Pop, but they are not the standard or best example of those genres. This was a legit list!
+Noah Harned I'd love to hear Siamese Dream with Billy playing all the drum parts! Not a legitimate selection for this list I'm afraid.
+Noah Harned also darcy recorded back ups that are clearly audible. And lets not forget the producer
Agreed. Love Pumpkin's too. Corgan does write the song's. Almost laughed when it was said only the other band mates were having the issues..
+Noah Harned Lets just call "James" Jimmy please...
Jimmy's REAL name is JAMES too...
Sign O’ The Times is the better album completely done by Prince. Many consider it his best.
Jennifer H20 totally agree with that and it was a double album to boot!
Sign o' the Times is an amazing album, but I'm a bit biased towards 1999. It's my favorite Prince record.
Technically, It's not all 100% Prince. He doesn't play any of the horn parts, "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is recorded live with The Revolution. Also, Wendy and Lisa's vocals are on a "Slow Love" along with Susannah. Sheila E. Plays drums on "U Got the Look"... and of course Sheena Easton's lead vocal on U Got the Look ;)
Here's a list of everyone who had a part in that album.
In no way did Prince do it on his own like this video wants you to think. Which is true for most of the artists they listed.
Prince - lead vocals and various instruments
Wendy Melvoin - guitar and backing vocals (7), tambourine and congas (12, 15)
Lisa Coleman - backing vocals (7), Fairlight sitar and wooden flute (12), keyboards and backing vocals (15)
Sheila E. - drums and percussion (10), percussion and rap (15)
Dr. Fink - keyboards (15)
Miko Weaver - guitar (15)
Brown Mark - bass (15)
Bobby Z. - drums (15)
Eric Leeds - saxophone (3, 7, 8, 15, 16)
Atlanta Bliss - trumpet (3, 7, 15, 16)
Susannah Melvoin - backing vocals (2, 4, 6), vocals (15)
Jill Jones - vocals (15)
Sheena Easton - contributing artist (10)
Clare Fischer - string arrangements
LdyVder Right. Track 15 is live with the Revolution. He had help with horns and back up vocals on a couple of tracks, e.g. “Slow Love” primarily which IMO is the weakest track on the album (and “Starfish and Coffee” which is a good one but not amongst the strongest half dozen). He was separating from the Revolution at this time and I saw an interview where Wendy & Lisa (w/ the other band members but they did most of the talking) remembered that Prince was full-on prolific at this time and went off to do his own thing. This album and lots of other material is the result. IMO the best tracks on the album were 100% done by Prince - most of the tracks were, and the album is considered to be done by Prince.
It had to be McCartney. Fresh off the breakup of the Beatles, he goes into the studio and comes out with a mellow, intimate (not dark!) masterpiece.
Beatles ...McCartney....just like BMW ....OVER RATED !!!!
@Joel Banning HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...."I want to hold your hand"....GENIUS !!!! PLEASE ....As a musician McCartney is AVERAGE AT BEST and as a vocalist ....HAHAHAHAHA...try listening to Paul Carrack.....I get their place in history because they were first...blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....that doesn't mean they and he are not OVER RATED !!!!!! The BMW of MUSICIANS !!!! Why resort to blasphemy FUCKFACE ? Oops, I guess it's ok.....
@Joel Banning Musicianship....Led Zep BLOWS THEM AWAY !!! So in the span of 30 years he managed to write a couple of decent tunes.....Difford and Tilbrook are way better song writers....
Call me ignorant if you want, but I don't drink the Kool AId....being first doesn't make you best and don't get me started on George Harrison and Ringo ....Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart ? No Comparison !!!!
"We all live in a Yellow Submarine" ....Please .....
@Joel Banning ....here's a partial list of bands that blow the Beatles away...
Led Zep
The Stones
The Who
Pink Floyd
Rush
Squeeze (Difford and Tilbrook blow away Lennon and McCartney)
The Police (esp 1st two albums)
Dire Straits
Oasis (Ripped off the Beatles completely but were better)
ELO (Ripped off the Beatles but were better)
Chicago
Foreigner (in his prime and before his tumor Lou Gramm's voice was untouchable)
Boston (all they needed was one album to blow away The Beatles)
I could go on all night !!!!
@Joel Banning "I am the EGG MAN" .....WTF ????
Prince. Hands down. He wrote, produced, sang all vocals, played all instruments. No one on this list can claim that.
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) can. He has done the same on almost all his records. Writes all the songs, plays all the instruments , produces records engineers. Probably gets his own coffee as well. I don't think he sets up the manufacturing lines that produce the actual physical albums they sell in stores but that's not what they were going after on this list anyway.
But I must say, Trent Reznor isn't even a fraction of the incredible musician that Prince was. Prince could play so many different instruments like a boss, I wonder how he could have ever even found time to sleep or do anything else. And for going to. And if we believe Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood stories, he can ball like a champ as well. The man was so incredible in so many ways and just didn't get the props he deserved for his genius and talent. Prince is truly unmatched in popular music when it comes to instrumental talents alone.
Where is Ben Folds? Elliott Smith? Todd Rundgren?
And Jason Falkner!
The first Boston album was all Tom Scholz with Brad Delp doing the vocals. Sure, that's TWO musicians, but Scholz did guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums, and STILL had time to invent the Rockman portable amp.
chrisjaybecker ok this is about solo albums! one person! not two or three! remember( solo)
Boston deserved mention in this because of the huge percentage of that album done by just one person, with Scholz also producing it. What he made was a "greatest hits" album all packed into the debut album. And it is the spectacular success of it that sets it apart from all other albums that were done all or mostly all by one person. No list on this topic is complete without mentioning what Tom Scholz achieved.
Boston is for old white guys who peaked in high school
All art is subjective. But there are certain objective measurements that can be examined. One such measure is how well an album sells. Here's the list of all-time best selling albums:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums
I count 69 albums in that list. How many are the work of just one person? I don't see a single one. Now look again. How many are the work of _mostly_ just one person. I see one. Boston.
This is a HUGE reason why this video is grossly incomplete for not having mentioned Tom Scholz. Now consider how many albums on that list are _debut_ albums. You're left with a VERY SHORT list. Take that into account and Tom Scholz's achievement jumps out even more. This guy worked in his basement all by himself and created a masterpiece.
If it were only white teen boys from the 70s, that would not fully account for this objective measure we have which says that the album was an amazing success. Now compare to someone like Dave Grohl. The Foo Fighters sprung out of the heels of a superband. Scholz came out of nowhere, working his full time job as an engineer at Polaroid, a camera company.
Take all of this into account, and you can see that a strong argument can be made that this video done properly would have _included_ Boston, not just mentioned it. Of course this would require an asterisk to show that Scholz brought in a singer at the last moment to give another go at the vocal tracks.
What Tom Scholz accomplished all by himself is unparalleled in the entire history of modern music, as far as I know. Someone should make a movie about him.
This was the first album I thought of. He made the complete album in his house. Got Brad to do the vocals and sent it complete to the record companies who had no idea when they signed him that he had no group or other band members.
It's nice to see Phil Collins get a mention. It's become a thing to make fun of the guy, but dude had some awesome songs.
Vangelis, Kitaro are both great artists that write, perform, produce their own music by doing each instrument themselves.
Honorary mention should go to Wendy Carlos’ 1968 Switch on Bach album-Bach music on a moog synthesizer. Carlos had to play each section by over layering each section over and over to get one complete piece.
Something/Anything, by Todd Rundgren. Had a couple big hit singles, and Todd did everything on it, and produced it as well. The rest of these are nothing like that.
This list could've been five albums by Todd Rundgren and five by Prince and be complete
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What about making a Top 10 For The Most Famous Star Wars Characters ? :)
That'll be AWESOME !!!!!
Muriel Pinkston On which album did P!ink play all of the instruments?
Kyle Aslanian You need to learn how to express yourself without flying off the handle, insulting people and being crude.
Signed,
KG
WatchMojo.com In his defense you seemed to have a narrow focus on your music. You seemed to ignore a lot of musicians and instead put bands up there with other people playing along. Hunter Hayes rocks the house especially "Storm Warning"
You did miss a lot of musicians, Tom Sholz, Seal, Alan Parsons, who all have single musician albums and instead replaced them with modern noise makers who have other people sit in with them. Especially if they do not have to credit them.
MOBY - play
TODD RUNDGREN! Something/Anything
I was wondering the same thing, then I remembered that the entire fourth side was recorded live in the studio with numerous session musicians. Still, an entire record and a half by himself. And one of the greatest examples of this sort of thing. They could've given it an honorable mention.
He did use other musicians on some songs on Wizard, Todd and on side one of Initiation, then used a version of Utopia on Faithful. But after that his next three solo albums, Hermit, Healing and Tortured Artist, he recorded by himself. Then came A Capella where he didn't even use instruments! From the mid '90's onward he has very rarely used other musicians.
Anyway, I doubt that WatchMojo even knows this album exists.
LIARS {2004}. Mojo is sooooo lame!
I need to get that album. I've heard it's really great. I have all of his solo/Utopia studio albums (and one Nazz album) up to One Long Year and then... well I've got some catching up to do.
I don’t have time to watch this - but hopefully McCartney’s “ cherry “ album is on the list. He recorded it in his living room in the London suburb of St. John’s Wood , three blocks from Abbey Road ( the street ) for goodness sake. I visited this house in 1971 ! Petted Paul’s cat. Talked to Paul’s butler. Took two empty milk bottles and twigs from the tree in the front lawn. Paul was not home 😟
The album is number one on this list!
You left out the seminal musician that consistently performs all the instruments, all the vocals and, in the case of his break out album, A Wizard, a True Star, actually produced all the album art, all the photography, and hand wrote all the liner notes and the label on the vinyl record. In addition, he also produced it, and released it on his own record company, Bearsville Records. I am talking about the one, the only Todd Rundgren.
I honestly think that WatchMojo lists are comprised of voters who might each own 40 albums, at the most. Most of Rundgren's albums in the 70's were individual performances.
Absolutely. I mentioned A Wizard, A True Star because he did EVERYTHING himself, even seemingly mundane things such as hand writing the liner notes on the album. I don't think any other musician has ever done that. That's why, for a top 10 list of albums performed by a single musician, his omission seems so huge to me.
Yep. Todd was the first artist that came to mind. He kind of invented this category.
Kenneth P. Weinkauf
Rundgren should be here, agreed.
It depends on how much instrumentation is used when talking about this sort of thing - it could be argued that The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan should be here as he performed it all and it contains a lot of classic songs - but the only instruments used on it is acoustic guitar, harmonica and Dylan's vocals, which doesn't really compare to what, say, Prince or Todd Rundgren used to do.
Michael Miller hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "Todd was the first artist that came to mind. He kind of invented this category."
If the conversation is really about "one-person-playing-all-instruments-on-a-music-album," then Todd Rundgren is the hands-down, slam-dunk winner both in quality and quantity, on top of the fact that he did it in a more technologically "primitive" era (i.e., BEFORE the artists featured in this youtube clip).
Todd played EVERY instrument and sang ALL vocals (lead and multi-part harmony) [sixteen-track recording on each song] on the first three sides [seventeen songs] of his double album Something/Anything? [which he recorded in late 1971 and released in February of 1972 (fifteen months before Mike Oldfield released his "Tubular Bells" album)]. He repeated this feat on many other occasions through the years, proving over and over that he is truly "A Wizard, A True Star."
I think illinois shoulda been in the top 10. Not just an honorable mention
True that
Timothy Haupt Yeah and same for Lonerism.
Timothy Haupt Bob Dylan should have been in here instead of not being mentioned at all.
Yeah... Bob Dylan is awesome
Have you seen the liner notes for Illinois though? There's like 20 people on it.
Prince's first five albums should be here, ran the gamut of genres from r&b, soul, disco, pop, blues, jazz, funk, ballads, hard rock, new wave, and he wrote, composed, arranged, produced virtually everything...plus played about 30 instruments over all the albums, did lead and backing vocals
PRINCE even created bands so he could release more music because Warner Bros would not, He should not #5 on any list EVER!!!
@@kevinherd3437 true, he was creating way more than his label was willing to let him release, he felt his creativity was being stifled, this led to his "Slave" and "Symbol" stance against WBros
Hard Rock, Hahaha Hahaha.
The The's debut album, Burning Blue Soul, is actually a Matt Johnson album, completely written and recorded by himself. And he was a teenager.
@dread true my fave album of all time!
Dude, Billy Corgan didn’t do Siamese Dream by himself. Chamberlain played all the drums and he only overdubbed some of James and Darcy’s tracks.
You're right, it was actually the 1998 "Adore" album that was recorded by Corgan alone. (though the others were credited) This was the reason D'arcy left in 1999. She felt like she was just a "for-hire" touring musician & not an artistic contributor to the music.
I know!! this channel is for retarded 12 year olds.
Raul Duke I feel like you must be 12 or younger to still use the word “retarded” in the sense you do, so...
@@Tyrannosaurine Agreed. Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Half true. There is actually almost no james and Darcy on the album. But its disingenous to include it when jimmy played all drums. Even adore had a lot of input from James, Darcy and a number of drummers and programmers.
I need to go listen to Todd Rundgren for about 10 hours now.
Todd Rundgren : Hermit of Mink Hollow . Bert Jansch : Bert Jansch (first album ) Don't miss !
Michael Mahoney man you guys are nuts for this Todd guy. but he got no top 10 solo albums!
I understand the "Top Ten" does not refer to the sales list but is intended to mean the ten best.
See comment above
I think Kevin Parker deserves more than just a honorable mention. The man is a beast.
Not Anymore if the list was done more recently ; list would def be different
I couldn't agree more. However I'm still happy Paul McCartney took the top spot.
@@beatle2064 of course i also agree with Paul being 1st
tubular bells #1 anytime
Kevin Parker
Brian Wilson
Mac Demarco
Meatwood Flac so bummed that Mac didn't make the list.
+Emma P to be fair this was made in2015 and while he was getting big then he wasn't as big as he is now
Brian didnt perform most of the instruments. he just wrote and arranged everything
MAC
Meatwood Flac are you really putting Mac DeMarco at the level of Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Prince or Dave Grohl?, okaaaay...
I'm glad Tame Impala at least got a mention.
Prince definitely deserved to be on the list!💜 A true music virtuoso
I missed Burzum in the list
I’m glad to see my favorite artist, Todd Rundgren, getting lots of love here, so instead I’ll proffer Gary Wright’s “Dream Weaver”
You missed the Frank Zappa's album "Jazz From Hell" (1988), an instrumental album which he recorded all by himself on the Synclavier DMS (an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation). Since you didn't exclude strictly instrumental albums and nor limit the list to any specific genre in your criteria fro inclusion,, it's qualifies. As for whether it's in the top ten, well Zappa did win a 1988 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for this album, so I would argue it also would subjectively qualify. .
I really like Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything (sides 1-3) and The League Of Instrument Owners - Mish Mosh Pit
Patrick Stump's Soul Punk saw him playing synths, drums, bass, guitar, trumpet, writing lyrics, and singing. On a technical level (if you listen to the songs), it's pretty astounding regardless if you like him as a musician or not. The skill that went into the album is impeccable.
Daniel Plainview He even produced the album himself. Sadly not everyone enjoys or has even heard of Stumps solo album.
I find that very surprising. I remember when it first came out and the FOB fans found themselves alienated because of the more electronic/dance/R&B stylings of it, while the more hardcore fans of those respective genres probably scoffed at the idea of it; but for what it's worth, it's an incredibly enjoyable, fun, catchy excursion through some of the finest pop music around. Greed is one of my favorite songs.
Daniel Plainview THANK YOU. Soul Punk is absolutely incredible. Patrick Stump is easily one of the best musicians I have ever heard.
What about Death of a Bachelor?
It was ok at best
look at the upload date of this video
Erica Simpson PATD used to be good but now they are pop
ethan pyle Panic at the Disco were always pop.
that album sucks dick
The thumbnail brought me here~
Alone + Easy Target is such a good song
Foo Fighters FTW
Camila Flores Flores Yup same. Best album from Foos
That Guy on the Right No it's a new band called "The Thumbnail"
Same! I play drums, and know pretty much every foo fighters song!
Lenny Kravitz. He not only played every instrument on his first album but recorded the whole thing on 1” tape...
Don't get me wrong Kravitz is talented but that album is not one of the best records made by just one artists. Honestly I don't even think Foo Fighters or Pretty Hate Machine belong on this list.
@@msminmichigan Well, I'm afraid I agree with Caleb Ramey - when I bought it I had the CD in my car stereo for a couple of weeks without taking it out
I've done that because I was too lazy or kept forgetting
Seriously? No Todd Rundgren? He plays all instrument on his solo albums and played on and produced every just aboutother band/artiste under the sun!
I was expecting Something/Anything? by Todd Rundgren
Another Top Ten Albums Performed by a Single Musician
Boston "Boston"
Brian Eno "Another Green World"
Paul McCartney "McCartney II"
Emitt Rhodes "Emitt Rhodes"
Todd Rundgren "A Wizard A True Star"
Todd Rundgren "Something/Anything"
Elliott Smith "EitherOr"
Elliott Smith "Figure 8"
Vangelis "Blade Runner" [Original Soundtrack]
Steve Winwood "Arc of a Diver"
another green world has ,among others, Robert Fripp , Phil Collins, john Cale
Galantski and the first Boston album has at least four other musicians performing on it
True, but I'm basing this on the criterion as given at the start of the video: "In order to qualify, though, the album's individual instruments have to majorly be performed by one person." (0:35) In the case of Boston's debut album, that one person is Tom Scholz, who played electric & acoustic guitars, lead guitar, clavinet, organ & bass guitar.
While four other musicians took part (a couple of them just played on one or two songs), only Scholz qualifies as having "majorly" played the instruments. Not a total one-man show, but close enough for WatchMojo wants (please note that its top ten has albums where the principal musician had a bit of help).
Galantski I suppose "majorly" is a little subjective so fair enough.
It's certainly BETTER than most of these :)
Yes, there are other musicians on the album, but I'm appealing specifically to how WatchMojo's approach the subject: "In order to qualify, though, the album's individual instruments have to majorly be performed by one person." (0:35)
Certainly, this album meets that criterion. Eno's listed as playing farfisa organ, guitar, desert guitar (whatever that is), bass guitar, organ, piano, grand piano, prepared piano, synthesizer, treated rhythm generator, synthetic & Peruvian percussion, tapes, etc.
Of Another Green World's 14 cuts, Eno is the only person playing on seven of them, while on others, he's doing most of the heavy lifting, such as "St. Elmo's Fire", where Fripp is listed for wimshurst guitar (on which he is flat out amazing), but that searing solo emerges from an aural landscape that's 100% Eno: vocals, organ, piano, yamaha bass pedals, synthetic percussion and desert guitars.
Pretty Hate Machine by NIN is a freakin Masterpiece!!!!
NIN is kinda niche
Seriously that first guy sounded like someone swinging a bag of cats against the wall!
Ha. The wall. Cause you know, your profile pic. Is the wall. Ha.
***** Nearly but no
ian mcgrath Totally agree.. his so bad.. that I never heard of him toll i saw this video.. and now i wished i didnt.. O.o
***** Um, that's "Dark Side of the Moon", not "The Wall"...and I agree with Ian about #10.
ian mcgrath More like 2 cats wailing before they fight
Mike Oldfield at the 6th place is almost insulting, as it's one of the album that made the history of rock&roll, and music in general.
No Burzum!?!
I have a strange feeling inside telling me that the headquarter of watch mojo will be burned and everyone in there getting slayed by the mighty and honorable Knight called Count grishnack.
Aldo Nova. Played every instrument and produced the album. Had the hit Fantasy. A GREAT album.
Would have been pretty cool to see Varg Vikernes of Burzum on the list.
Too bad Burzum is garbage.
Piss off. Fucking Metal elitists like you ruin the entire metalhead community.
I was thinking the same thing.
Nicholas Goripow Who was that aimed at?
Zeke Mcllvain.
1978 album, Equinoxe by Jean Michel Jarre. He composed and produced it, as well as playing all the instruments, including the following: ARP 2600, EMS Synthi AKS, VCS 3, Yamaha CS-60, Oberheim TVS-1A, RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, RMI Keyboard Computer, ELKA 707, Korg Polyphonic Ensemble 2000, Eminent 310U, Mellotron, ARP Sequencer, Oberheim Digital, Sequencer, Matrisequencer 250, Geiss Rhythmicomputer (a custom designed programmable rhythm box), and EMS Vocoder and vox humana.
watch mojo boy did you miss the target here. You left out Todd Rundgren, Gary Wright, Steve Winwood, etc....come on man do some research before you post
Boston
You do understand it’s their opinion?
@@larrydavenport9667 Wasn't fully Scholz. Delp sang, Hashian played drums, and various other collaborators were involved even if the album was Scholz's baby.
1:50 - Sounds like 2 angry (or sad) cats are about to fight over catnip.
Literally, how can people listen to that
@@10jonchannel y'all may be relieved to know that the album doesn't really sound anything like that, besides Justin Vernon using his usual high falsetto. I really do encourage you to listen to the album version of either The Wolves or Skinny Love, because with his vocal layering and production skills (he's produced for Kanye, among others) he really creates something incredible. I know I sound like a fanboy, but For Emma, Forever Ago really is my favorite album of all time and even I didn't like the clip y'all are talking about, so I encourage y'all to give my boy Justin another shot :)
@@davidfaustino4476 and i'm sorry that you found something wrong with my completely respectful comment, as if i were talking to you anyway lmao
you're not changing my mind but you do you i guess
😊
Pretentious, hipster, white boy, falsetto pissing contest.
Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything
Where's Burzum?
How can Joni Mitchell not even be an honourable mention
I would say Something Anything by Todd Rundgren would be high on this list.
RZLAND totally agree, I think he was the first with that album to do everything himself
Todd Rundgren lol 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
plus he did all instruments, vocals, songwriting and engineering/recording on albums Healing, Hermit Of Mink Hollow, and The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect. Go Todd!
Well side 4 was recorded live and includes a full band, but the rest was all him.
@@paulmorrison4338 and A Cappella.
I was going to mention Todd Rundgren but from the look of things that point has already been covered.
It can't be repeated enough! Rundgren not only should be on this list, he should be #1. "Something/Anything", "Hermit of Mink Hollow", Pretty much anything by Rundgren.
I really dig him. Been listening to him since the early seventies. He is a pioneer.
I also can't believe "Arc of a Diver" or "Something/Anything" didn't make the list. They were both very successful albums.
I have to say Arc of a Diver Stevie Winwood should have made the list
Or his first solo album, which had a few session folks sprinkled through, but he played most of the keyboards and did the drum programming.
My 2 favorite solo albums:
All things must pass - George Harrison
Lonerism - Tame Impala
oh boy i feel you ;-)
Prince debut album should have been number 1. Playing 17 instruments by his self before the age of 20.
Elliott Smith - Either/Or
Came here to say that...
"Centerfield" is one of three albums Fogerty recorded by himself (four if you count the one he didn't release).
Every ccr album but 1 were basically fogertys solo projects though.
@@bombercountyblues but all the band members really did play all the tunes. I know what you"re saying though.
You guys didn’t even mention Steve Winwood’s album Arc of a Diver!!!!!
Epic album.
Winwood was caught off-guard by it's success but didn't have musicians who knew the songs to take it on tour.
WHERE'S *PINK GUY* ALBUM?
I love you.
I love you too.
Same
Fuck yous all
I hope you all get CANCER
Gary Soto U habe de cancer man
Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
Should be on this list.
Todd Rundgren "Something / Anything " shoulda been on this list. And then "Hermit of Mink Hollow
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard A True Star is a must. Electronic, hard rock, soul, and just generally a lovingly put together mish-mash that still sounds as fresh and mind-blowing today as when I purchased it in 1973. Highly recommended.
sufjan deserves more than just an honorable mention
i came here just to see if sufjan would even get a mention lol. dude plays everything idk how he's not number 1.
slightly better than NIN :)
He's not mainstream enough
I totally agree. One of the finest examples of "one man playing all instruments"...
Thom Yorke's The Eraser?
Goddammit you're right
I am quite pleased Pretty Hate Machine ranked as high as it did. One of the greatest albums bridging the 80's and 90's industrial sound. It is one of those albums I can listen to front to back and enjoy every second of it still all these years later. Yes Downward Spiral maybe be more raw and gritty, but PHM will always be my favorite NIN album.
Brian Miville fragile always hits me pretty hard I love it.
I have been a Michael Oldfield fan for over 45 years. I even saw him in concert three times while I was stationed in Germany with the US Army in the 80s. Tubular Bells was the tip of the iceberg for this man...he pretty much produced most of his studio albums Oldfield has played over 40 individual instruments, often holing himself up in a recording studio high in the Alps for months crafting sweeping multi-track recordings. His music is still in regular rotation in my devices. He has a highly distinct guitar signature. It's Pavlovian.
Another astonishing "non-mention" is the work of Jon Crosby as V.A.S.T. (Visual Audio Sensory Theater) with two self-produced albums; "VAST" & "Music For The People." I absolutely love both his albums. They are part of my DNA now. Assimilated, you will be.
What about John Frusciante? Him in Ataxia?
oh my god yes
HOTTESTOFHOTPOCKETS131 Yes, Frusciante should be on there. His music hits my soul!!!
Yas, Frusciante. Music for the soul.
Going back further in time: "Jose He Say" by Linda Laurie. She sang, played guitar and provided the occasional male voice as well.
The Foo Fighters is the rebirth of a broken man. Its the beginning of the best rock band in history, and the best years of my life. Thanks Dave from the bottom of my heart...
OnyxBlackSmith I hate it how people just think of Kurt Cobain when they hear Nirvana. Nirvana might be my favorite band but Kurt Cobain wasn't the only one who did anything in nirvana. Dave growl really knew music much more than Kurt Cobain. I do like Kurt Cobain but my favorite is Dave grohl. He might have struggled with the death of Kurt but he rose back up and started a new band that received greatness. Thank you for appreciating Dave grohl.
dave and nirvana is amazing but cobain wrote almost every nirvana song and dave wrote nothing that why kurt cobain is always linked with nirvana and dave with the ff
OnyxBlackSmith Dave Grohl is our generation's Paul McCartney.
Best rock band in history? Not even close buddy
You mean Dave was nice enough to let Kurt take all the credit.
At that Time it was McCartney! Now, I would say ''McCartney 3'' Again this time at 78, he did an album by himself where he played all The instruments!!! I even prefer McCartney 3 to the first one of 1970!!!
BURZUM
Why was Burzum not included on this list? Let's find out!
ManEatFoot lmao YES!
Lol my thought and comment before I started scrolling through the comments. Geez no Burzum . . . pretty influential "Band" for the genre.
No Todd Rundgren?
I don't understand why no one's bringing up Todd Rundgren in the comments here.
Everybody and their mother already mentioned him. No offense to any one, but * barf
thatsthejoke.jpg
Everyone is bringing up Todd Rundgren....read the comments. I'm the only one to mention Ian Anderson.
Hands Down - Greatest Album by Single Musician - Ever... Todd Rundgren - A Wizard a True A Star. Produced, Played Every Instrument- ( 7 ), Created Every Lyric/all Vocals, Totally Self-Mixed- 24 Track ...In 1972 Mind You ......If you haven’t ever listened to it, in it’s entirety, one session? Do Yourself a Favor ... ... Long Live Runt...
What about Burzum ? 😂
European Leninist Devin Townsend, Dan Swano, Blakheim, etc. I guess the authors of this video haven’t discovered metal yet.
I was about to mention the mofo (i dun like him as person). "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" and "Filosfem" (yea, it's BM/ABM but ALL GENRES is all genres) are masterpieces that shit half of the albums on this list! And he did it while inside prison too! If that isn't genius, i dunno what is.
Hvi s it set far is a was awsome, I knew this list would not use Burzum
I just watched this vid to see if Varg is on the list. :-D
European Leninist - Not to mention another Black Metal legend, Alhambra-California’s *’Xasthur’* as well.
When I first heard Head Like a Hole, it got in my blood and stayed there. Pretty Hate Machine was the first CD I ever bought and I STILL have it (and yes it still plays)
Great list. I think I would only comment Tubular Bells should have been higher in the list. This album was extremely influential on the entire Music industry. Oldfield was having trouble getting work and he out of necessity did all the work and he struggled to put this album out. It launched one of the biggest labels Virgin and also showed that music without pop singles and vocals could be successful. The number of instruments Oldfield played on this recording is large compared to any other mentioned here and a lot of the instruments were classical in nature. All in all this was a huge departure from what the music industry had been releasing for decades.
My favorite solo album is "Hermit of Mink Hollow" by Todd Rundgren.
On it is the hit "Can we Still be Friends?", but there is not a bad song on the album.
Rundgren should have at least made the HM list. Most of the artists that made the TT list did one, maybe two albums where they played all the instrument themselves. By comparison, Rundgren did it all on four albums; Hermit, Healing, Tortured Artist, and A Cappella.
Springsteen - Nebraska
In the 70s the multi-instrumentalists or one man band
(Todd Rundgren. Mike Oldfield ....)
they were admired as a novelty and respected,
later it became normal, like Howard Jones solo performance.
Todd Rundgren, easily the top multi-instrumentalist!!!! Runt!
I totally agree with #1. Job well done in choosing McCartney.
They missed Steve Winwoods Arc Of A Diver Todd Rundgren Something Anything, other Stevie Wonder and Prince albums.