Top 10 Albums Performed by a Single Musician

[@kenestrada7920]

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...

[@jgfirewall]

Tom's one smart cookie

[@Drchainsaw77]

He also did not play drums. Granted, it's still almost entirely a solo effort, but that is significant.

[@bud33345]

Ken Estrada yes...absolutely ridiculous that album and Tom isn't mentioned.

[@michaelfadian]

Yeah he didn't play drums but i agree he should be on this list for that first album.

[@neechee5150]

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.

[@darkbluebossa]

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

[@denrico777]

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.

[@filobloomz]

Jesus

[@daveidmarx8296]

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).

[@michaelvin8632]

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.

[@austinstyles6393]

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.

[@bustamoveorelse]

Beyonce took like 5 producers and 7 writers to write one song.... remember that when you watch this list

[@MrStylesp9]

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

[@oAlex95]

Overrated to fuck

[@rotanortan]

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.

[@CraigSmith1337]

MizzReyRey Who the fuck is beyonce?

[@josephbellamy1976]

***** 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.

[@TheFredFredric]

Todd Rundgren's solo albums are mostly just him. Something/ Anything or A Wizard, A True Star should have made the list.

[@siskokidd]

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.

[@calebramey]

Lenny Kravitz. He not only played every instrument on his first album but recorded the whole thing on 1” tape...

[@msminmichigan]

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.

[@herseem]

@@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

[@edrader]

I've done that because I was too lazy or kept forgetting

[@goldfische]

Todd Rundgren: "Hold my beer."

[@SgtMjr]

No F***ing S**t! How Todd got left off this list is unbelieveable.

[@jchis9852]

@goldfische Word! lol

[@stevenlonergan4042]

@@SgtMjr agree !!!

[@DarwinStearns]

So does Darwin! :-)

[@marcgunn2014]

Lenny Kravitz: "I got you, Todd."

[@racine09]

Todd Rundgren : Hermit of Mink Hollow . Bert Jansch : Bert Jansch (first album ) Don't miss !

[@roberthuges6783]

Michael Mahoney man you guys are nuts for this Todd guy. but he got no top 10 solo albums!

[@racine09]

I understand the "Top Ten" does not refer to the sales list but is intended to mean the ten best.

[@racine09]

See comment above

[@LearnAboutFlow]

The Bon Iver album sounds like something interrogators play to torture prisoners. Maybe it's just the clips you chose.

[@bigbrutus2525]

It's just the clip, but yea this comment cracked me up. Albums really good though!

[@crustyjusty7]

Glad it wasn’t just me that thought it was a horrible, whining mess. Surely there was a better artist for a top 10?

[@dreamweaver1603]

David Weber I was thinking the same thing! I’ve never heard of him, and I guess that’s why lol

[@planpitz4190]

So true!

[@sydepipez]

Seriously. The clip they ended with sounds like deaf people having an audible argument.

[@russbroda2535]

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 😟

[@matthewcassar1395]

The album is number one on this list!

[@AnxInko]

The thumbnail brought me here~

[@therealjerryseinfeld4321]

Alone + Easy Target is such a good song

[@nathannguyen4440]

Foo Fighters FTW

[@riquediz]

Camila Flores Flores Yup same. Best album from Foos

[@OpaqueVisions47]

That Guy on the Right No it's a new band called "The Thumbnail"

[@meltyjr.7040]

Same! I play drums, and know pretty much every foo fighters song!

[@docweasel]

The main problem with this list of "Top 10 Albums performed by a single musician" is most of them are not performed by a single musician. "With the exception of some guitar parts" is not performed solo. McCartney is a good pick, Emmitt Rhoads did a stellar job with his first album. Todd Rundgren did 3 of 4 sides of "Something Anything" solo, that should count as at least one album done solo.

[@thomasmark9202]

hermit of mink hollow, acapella, the tortured artist effect was all todd

[@antonposter7575]

I second (and third, fourth...) dw gmail. Truth be told, though, Emitt Rhodes actually created three albums and outdid EVERYBODY on this list by also being his own recorder and engineer.

[@miser42]

For one, nobody has heart of Emmitt Rhoads, Secondly, Rundgren is a sad miss here for sure. Thirdly, Most of these are done by singular musicians. In fact, Pretty Hate Machine is among the absolute pinnacle of a one man album. I have since lost interest in the NIN projects over the years but that first album stands out.

[@neildolinger6820]

Multiple albums by Todd Rundgren. Hard to pick a favorite, though "Hermit of Mink Hollow" is a good place to start.

[@SP_detector]

You guys didn’t even mention Steve Winwood’s album Arc of a Diver!!!!!

[@andycarter9117]

Epic album.

[@greatsilentwatcher]

Winwood was caught off-guard by it's success but didn't have musicians who knew the songs to take it on tour.

[@TheOnyxMage]

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...

[@seenhandleyept]

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.

[@jelmermiedema8892]

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

[@jonathanpcampbell]

OnyxBlackSmith Dave Grohl is our generation's Paul McCartney.

[@austindorf83]

Best rock band in history? Not even close buddy

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

You mean Dave was nice enough to let Kurt take all the credit.

[@RobHoughton]

I really like Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything (sides 1-3) and The League Of Instrument Owners - Mish Mosh Pit

[@macsnafu]

Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything or Hermit of Mink Hollow. Steve Winwood's Arc of a Diver.

[@stevepierce9436]

No Todd Rundgren? Mac Demarco? Hmmmmmmmm

[@MauriceCobb]

No Todd Rundgren?

[@houstongalloway6380]

Switched on Bach, by Wendy Carlos should be on this list.

[@BigWallyFilms]

But that was made by Walter and Wendy Carlos... wait... what?

[@Chelaxim]

BigWallyFilms Um yeah Wendy Carlos is transgender.

[@ericwobschall8410]

My favorite, but only one instrument.

[@jb888888888]

Paul McCartney followed up _McCartney_ with _McCartney II_ 10 years later, wherein he again did all the music and singing except for backing by Linda. See also "Coming Up" from the same album where he plays everyone in the music video.

[@markmckinney6129]

I always figured he must have been listening to Talking Heads at the time he recorded "Coming Up" and "Dark Room".

[@BigWallyFilms]

Actually, he was inspired by the band 10cc.

[@McDouchebag22]

Where is Burzum? He should have been an honorable mention at least

[@bartman174]

What about Todd Rundgren's Hermit of Mink Hollow? Great album.

[@roberthuges6783]

danny stillinger zzzzzzzzzz

[@judcitizen706]

Rundgren never gets any respect in lists, awards, HOF, etc

[@TonVenhuizen]

What about Hermit of Mink Hollow or Something/Anything from Todd Rundgren, or Hot Rats from Frank Zappa...

[@callmejeffbob]

Hot Rats is a great record by F.Z., one of his very best. He wrote and arranged everything of course as well playing guitar and some keyboard, bass and percussion parts. However there are lots of other musicians on the record. Ian Underwood is a major contributor, doing all the saxophone, clarinet and flute parts as well as some of the piano and organ parts. Various drummers including Paul Humphries, Ron Selico, & John Guerin play on various cuts on the album. Jean Luc Ponty plays violin on one cut and Sugarcane Harris plays violin on two cuts. Bass parts on most cuts are played by Max Bennett and Shuggie Otis plays bass on one cut. Captain Beefheart provides the only vocal track (on "Willie the Pimp"). Allegedly Lowell George plays some guitar on the record but he's not credited in the liner notes so I'm not sure.

[@sheerkhanful]

What about Todd Rundgren? Did something anything as a young man

[@sheerkhanful]

And Phil Collins and Mike Oldfield are? Nuts

[@vibefrequencyable]

Todd Rundgren? Winwood..?

[@GasCityGuy]

Enya.... Has done most of her albums solo, sold 80 million of them world wide and can't get an honorable mention?

[@miser42]

No she has not.

[@edjones8039]

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.

[@jchis9852]

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.

[@multilegolover]

Siamese dream shouldn't be here. Jimmy Chamberlain played ALL of the drums.

[@Duncan_Idaho_Potato]

Agreed. Jimmy's playing is absolutely inimitable, at least not by Billy Corgan. The only thing I know for sure is that Corgan performed all of the bass tracks. D'arcy didn't play a note on the album, she's confirmed that herself. I'm not sure about James Iha, but I've never heard anything to suggest that he didn't play on the album.

[@JohnEDepth752]

I remember reading that James would lay down his tracks, and then Corgan would routinely come in at night by himself to the studio, and redo his parts. Apparently this was one of the big catalysts in why there was so much turmoil in the band.

[@JohnEDepth752]

I was talking about James Iha.

[@smalllhank]

Chamberlain is the best part of the pumpkins

[@michaelnewbill3438]

The whole band played the album.what are y'all talking about.not sure what y'all heard but yes every member played their instrument

[@keitha.9922]

Paul Mccartney's debut solo album is the ultimate one.

[@drewagoosa68]

didn't expect it, but was hoping to see some Devin Townsend

[@strazburg]

drewagoosa68 we can dream

[@guitarwhores753]

Maybe eventually. DT is still relatively unknown outside of musicians, and the honorable mentions seemed hipster driven. Another 10 years and DT will be appreciated for the all around talent he is on a grand scale.

[@FeelingShred]

Ziltoid is a must-have (just listen to Solar Winds and tell me how can it be made by a single dude)... as many of Buckethead's albums (Pepper's Ghost, Albino Slug) Many on this list have strong taurus influence (Trent reznor, devin, bucket...), voluntarily reclusive, workaholic, realist subjects, my way or the highway

[@lalakuma9]

Devin did a better metal/shoegaze than the Smashing Pumpkins without being called shoegaze and without many people even knowing about it.

[@jannathan843]

I feel like Elliott Smith kinda deserved a spot. If not in the top 10 itself at least in the honorable mentions (I'd pick Either/Or over any Sufjan Stevens album).

[@humanfilth7331]

why the fuck isnt burzum on here

[@johnsears8881]

Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything would make a great candidate.

[@geraldherrmann787]

tubular bells #1 anytime

[@2112earl]

No Todd Rundgren

[@robbiej2734]

Where's Burzum?

[@thomasaquinas1025]

ridiculous that Todd Rundgren's "Something/Anything" is not on this list, let alone near the top of it. I know they had Stevie Wonder's album on here, but surely "Songs in the Key of Life" is better than most of these as well. There was a world before the 90's guys.

[@UCS0608]

We have to get used to this, people.... But, Todd rules!!!

[@GenesisFan01]

Songs in the Key of Life had only a few songs on there that Stevie was the only one on. Most of the album was with his band and even a few other people. Secret Life of Plants was an album he did all by himself as well and is vastly underrated as well.

[@nicksimms3771]

It’s a great album, but it has plenty of other people on the album

[@irishbuckeye71]

Are You Gonna Go My Way? by Lenny Kravitz

[@epsohapshiro]

Yes

[@rbnh9827]

Early Porcupine Tree Albums ?? Devin Townsend ?

[@davidviescas1695]

Josh Homme self performed and produced Queens of the Stone Age first album. Though they wouldn't achieve commercial success till their 3rd album, it's a wonderful piece of art.

[@grtflmark]

Something/Anything by Todd Rundgren........all else Pales next to this one......

[@austinstyles6393]

grtflmark I don’t know about all that. But Todd should have been on list for sure.

[@edjohnson3054]

Plus he was practically an infant when he did Something/Anything.

[@jmarty1000]

Elliott Smith's "From a Basement on the Hill" is a masterpiece, and deserves an honorable mention. P.S. I like Paul McCartney's "Ram" a lot also (glad to see his album at #1). Is Ram disqualified for having too many other musicians?

[@NephilimFree]

You left out Arc of a Diver by Steve Winwood. He wrote every song, played all instruments, and recorded it all himself. It was also a commercial success and had two hit songs on it: "While You See a Chance" and "Arc of a Diver".

[@johnknox3282]

The first one was whiny af.

[@haplol7]

. (Sorry for my bad English)

[@skibadibapmbapdap]

Apology accepted.

[@dfm6868]

😂

[@MartiniSaysNo]

Can someone translate this to English for me?

[@roberthuges6783]

John Doge Atlas i don't speak English i. speak American.!

[@paultomaszewski1964]

Not saying it's a great album, but Aldo Nova's debut was all him.

[@vaporman442]

Bobby McFerrin and Stanley Jordan would have both made great additions to this list. Not only did they record solo on most albums, they also each recorded several albums without overdubs-so what you hear on the album is exactly what they are capable of doing solo. Dozens of early blues recordings would also qualify, but many of them happened before the idea of an ‘album’ was solidified.

[@glennwlove]

What! No Todd Rundgren ‘Something Anything’

[@chrisevans9553]

That should be No. 1!

[@villageelliott]

Pete Townshend, "Who Came First"

[@marcosramos9081]

It should be a top 10 of Oldfield albums

[@quasarsphere]

Amarok is his best by far

[@briandumont4349]

Where is Boston? He wrote and recorded the album at his house.

[@thatmatt41]

Even though the album was Tom Scholz's baby, Brad Delp sang and Sid Hashian played drums, plus some other collaborators were involved.

[@Airakobra]

Steven Wilson Alexander 'Skip' Spence

[@kahafa7406]

Todd Rundgren should be #1!!!

[@bobbyslater1198]

Saw Todd Rundgren in concert with only a piano. It was awesome.

[@newspapertaxis1]

Hmmm........3-sides Todd solo....side 4 live studio with musicians...could be the drawback??? But YES a GREAT album...McCartney kicks ass tho"

[@bobbyslater1198]

Didn't Emmett Rhodes record an album by himself, playing all instruments as well as vocals?

[@chipgaasche4933]

Todd IS #1...#1 asshole.

[@Lamarrprodzzz]

Shelby Lynne sings lead and all back up vocals on her albums. For her album, Revelation Road, she played all instruments in addition to singing all vocal parts.

[@mdelaubergine8930]

Todd Rundgren "Something/Anything" 1972. Three sides out of four all TR. Back when it was all on on 2 inch tape. Amazing performances on drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion and brilliantly overlaid vocals. Fantastic songwriting too.

[@bahb00]

Have you ever heard of a band called "Boston" and musician Tom Sholz?

[@MrAdamloring1985]

Didn't Ben Folds do Rockin the Suburbs by himself?

[@micahreyes5987]

Adam Loring I'm pretty sure he did. FUCKING CLASSIC

[@coalhunt]

No Iggy Pop or David Bowie? But im glad paul mccartney is at 1

[@hisbean]

+Aaron Schmidt I believe they always wrote, and played with others.

[@funwillfunwill]

+Aaron Schmidt Bowie had the Spiders from Mars. Iggy Pop did most of it himself though yeah

[@hisbean]

Vault 111 The Spiders were only with Bowie, for a short time. He was constantly changing what musicians he played with. Iggy also played with others. They were both great, and found wonderful musicians to work with.

[@Grrizo]

Iggy has always someone supporting him. Nothing bad on that, though.

[@arthurabbott4792]

Burzum is missing in the honorable mentions. Filosofem or the self titled album was all done by the very talented great knight known as Varg aka. Burzum aka. Count grishnack aka. Christian aka. Thulean perspective aka. Vikernes aka. the guy who stabbed Øystein Arseth 23 times.

[@InkAndPoet]

I feel that "Disgusting" by Beartooth should've at least had an honorable mention. Caleb Shomo did EVERYTHING, including the mixing and mastering.

[@AleksandrePertaia]

Filosofem by Burzum is missing definitely

[@myworms]

Jimmy Chamberlain was all over Siamese Dream. He wasn’t off somewhere else. I mean, he was, but he laid down the tracks. As for the others, it’s pretty well known that Corgan would just overdub their parts if he thought he could play them better (which he often did)

[@stuarthouselander4215]

man that sucked .

[@lumix2477]

best comment

[@andrewenglish4559]

best comment

[@converginguniverses4057]

best comment

[@slaughteryourgrandma]

Best comment

[@aidanmcilhenney6101]

how

[@IndigoJo]

"Now record mogul Virgin Records"? The 'mogul' I think you are talking about is Richard Branson. Virgin was the label.

[@poorsweatybastard]

I know that album sales don't tell the entire story but: McCartney album sales estimated around 3.4 Million. Tubular Bells album sales estimated between 16 to 20 million.

[@lapelcelery42]

Tubular bells shouldn't technically be on the list at all, since Mike didn't quite play everything himself.

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

"McCartney wanted to record a darker album" [immediately follows: "Teddy Boy", the silliest song any Beatle ever recorded.]

[@trevorkinzie4267]

definitely up there with the silliest

[@SoulDeathCheated]

😂

[@pbelancsik]

No Todd Rundgren or Joni Mitchell? Weird

[@stevelibby6852]

Todd Rundgren. Any number of albums. Christ, one of the fathers of modern production/engineering.

[@Toppradd]

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

[@timgeary4550]

"A Capella": One musician, NO instruments! Only Todd, the original emperor or the highway.

[@cooldude123817]

I was actually expecting a Burzum album. :(

[@sirajdevil]

me too man ! talk about let downs

[@cooldude123817]

sirajdevil It's ok though. Don't worry as we all know Watchmojo are clueless.

[@sirajdevil]

+Oliwally Amen

[@cooldude123817]

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...

[@trystonallen4606]

Oliwally you ever listened to bathory

[@CentipedeMKDS]

Where's a Todd Rundgren's album? He's one of the greatest multi-instrumentalists of all time!

[@robertnorris3782]

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!!

[@jackninety6]

Definitely surprised Tame Impala didn't make the actual list

[@nicogularte]

this is before currents was released but either way lonerism is better than any album on this list

[@thefirs2334]

Was literally about to comment the same thing

[@boiboiboiboi5216]

Nicolas Gularte you’re fucking high

[@the72u7h4]

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.

[@farazhaider93]

The 72u7H how did it go? ;)

[@silentnoah]

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!

[@blodwynswayze1531]

+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.

[@belialbeetz1250]

+Noah Harned also darcy recorded back ups that are clearly audible. And lets not forget the producer

[@ginaanzalone7652]

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..

[@micael2222]

+Noah Harned Lets just call "James" Jimmy please...

[@Tubenesser]

Jimmy's REAL name is JAMES too...

[@seangholland3055]

No Vangelis, Jean Michael Jarre, Todd Run. Mike Oldfield not no.1?

[@mel124177]

good call on Vangelis! The guy is a fn genius who made epical music.

[@sbesbesbe]

GTFO, as long as the albums McCartney or 1999 exist, Mike Oldfield will never ever be number one.

[@humandroid53]

Eno

[@josephlicht5114]

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.

[@nunyabusiness8000]

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

[@uadimwit]

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...

[@thehorror7135]

That Tori info is not true at all. They didn't meet until a few years after PHM was released.

[@tmilwy]

Totally agree with you NIN Pretty Hate Machine is truly Epic and Trent deserves to be high on this list.

[@johncarter665]

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.

[@dinopappous6639]

Beatles ...McCartney....just like BMW ....OVER RATED !!!!

[@dinopappous6639]

@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.....

[@dinopappous6639]

@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 .....

[@dinopappous6639]

@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 !!!!

[@dinopappous6639]

@Joel Banning "I am the EGG MAN" .....WTF ????

[@mrjpb23]

Where is Ben Folds? Elliott Smith? Todd Rundgren?

[@marlasinger1089]

And Jason Falkner!

[@altonlee103]

Prince. Hands down. He wrote, produced, sang all vocals, played all instruments. No one on this list can claim that.

[@imvandenh]

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.

[@zorro5280]

TODD RUNDGREN! Something/Anything

[@martinpitts3861]

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.

[@martinpitts3861]

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.

[@martinpitts3861]

Anyway, I doubt that WatchMojo even knows this album exists.

[@marlasinger1089]

LIARS {2004}. Mojo is sooooo lame!

[@martinpitts3861]

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.

[@timothyhaupt4987]

I think illinois shoulda been in the top 10. Not just an honorable mention

[@SuperTheawesomness]

True that

[@Frijolero18]

Timothy Haupt Yeah and same for Lonerism.

[@R0DisG0D]

Timothy Haupt Bob Dylan should have been in here instead of not being mentioned at all.

[@timothyhaupt4987]

Yeah... Bob Dylan is awesome

[@forestcochran4196]

Have you seen the liner notes for Illinois though? There's like 20 people on it.

[@jenhasken]

Sign O’ The Times is the better album completely done by Prince. Many consider it his best.

[@johnmcdermott2551]

Jennifer H20 totally agree with that and it was a double album to boot!

[@KurtisC93]

Sign o' the Times is an amazing album, but I'm a bit biased towards 1999. It's my favorite Prince record.

[@destiny-theseries]

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 ;)

[@LdyVder]

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

[@jenhasken]

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.

[@violentaftervisions3849]

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.

[@johnmcdermott2551]

Violent After Visions yes you are correct, “Gish” was Cortana et al.

[@imvandenh]

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!

[@rome8180]

@@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.

[@ZaneMcFate]

Yeah, this is a good example of not properly researching your stuff.

[@joefarang]

why did he re-record the parts by iha and d'arcy?

[@ericmichalowski9582]

Todd Rundgren double album Something Anything (1972), Emitt Rhodes-Smith Rhodes

[@pattivandale1560]

Thought this would be number 1!

[@TheFredFredric]

Me too! Rundgren not even making honorable mentions?

[@douglasdahlstrom949]

Yeah, especially impressive since S/A is a DOUBLE album.

[@jchis9852]

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".

[@cremetangerine82]

Emitt Rhodes doesn’t get enough love.

[@kweinkauf]

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.

[@farmasyst]

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.

[@kweinkauf]

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.

[@michaelmiller5328]

Yep. Todd was the first artist that came to mind. He kind of invented this category.

[@tonybates7870]

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.

[@hogmelon]

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."

[@ianrangers]

Seriously that first guy sounded like someone swinging a bag of cats against the wall!

[@meepandzachgaminginc7291]

Ha. The wall. Cause you know, your profile pic. Is the wall. Ha.

[@Dan-oo6ot]

***** Nearly but no

[@The_Deaf_Aussie]

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

[@WrenFaithBridger]

***** Um, that's "Dark Side of the Moon", not "The Wall"...and I agree with Ian about #10.

[@0532MOET]

ian mcgrath More like 2 cats wailing before they fight

[@BP-or2iu]

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.

[@SaintMartins]

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.

[@RolandDuke]

I know!! this channel is for retarded 12 year olds.

[@Tyrannosaurine]

Raul Duke I feel like you must be 12 or younger to still use the word “retarded” in the sense you do, so...

[@imvandenh]

@@Tyrannosaurine Agreed. Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way.

[@werideatdusk]

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.

[@marlasinger1089]

I need to go listen to Todd Rundgren for about 10 hours now.

[@toastycabbagewaffles2115]

elliott smith

[@narnball]

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.

[@thelasticonoclast9467]

I bet he was really depressed because he didn’t make this list.

[@JBuck-lu1st]

deftones tho

[@jmarty1000]

"From a Basement on the Hill" is a powerful statement, and deserves notoriety.

[@sun_catchers_music]

Absolutely true, "From a Basement on the Hill"!

[@sydfloyd7547]

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]

Boston

[@nox4298]

You do understand it’s their opinion?

[@thatmatt41]

@@larrydavenport9667 Wasn't fully Scholz. Delp sang, Hashian played drums, and various other collaborators were involved even if the album was Scholz's baby.

[@hottestofhotpockets1316]

What about John Frusciante? Him in Ataxia?

[@ifyourequiet]

oh my god yes

[@OpaqueVisions47]

HOTTESTOFHOTPOCKETS131 Yes, Frusciante should be on there. His music hits my soul!!!

[@MrCoosmiyn2]

Yas, Frusciante. Music for the soul.

[@bobbyslater1198]

Going back further in time: "Jose He Say" by Linda Laurie. She sang, played guitar and provided the occasional male voice as well.

[@WatchMojo]

Did you know that all of the newest WatchMojo clips are available for subtitling and captioning? Once English language captions have been added then videos become open to subtitling for over 160 languages! So if you want to make WatchMojo content available to your fellow country people then get started by clicking the settings button on the video and selecting "add subtitles/CC" under the subtitles/CC menu. If you need help getting started, email us at watch [at] watchmojo.com and Check out other videos available for subtitling here: kzbin.info/aero/PLmZTDWJGfRq04Igqy81cxkIHd9Pa_tL8V

[@Rob-ql2wf]

What about making a Top 10 For The Most Famous Star Wars Characters ? :) That'll be AWESOME !!!!!

[@WatchMojo]

Muriel Pinkston On which album did P!ink play all of the instruments?

[@WatchMojo]

Kyle Aslanian You need to learn how to express yourself without flying off the handle, insulting people and being crude. Signed, KG

[@GroverDuffield]

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.

[@joelsweet99]

MOBY - play

[@FooBarr1]

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.

[@curtisthomas2670]

This list could've been five albums by Todd Rundgren and five by Prince and be complete

[@maneatfoot8693]

BURZUM

[@mr.anonymous5501]

Why was Burzum not included on this list? Let's find out!

[@dlc435]

ManEatFoot lmao YES!

[@Reelphresh]

Lol my thought and comment before I started scrolling through the comments. Geez no Burzum . . . pretty influential "Band" for the genre.

[@noneofyourbeeswax01]

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!

[@johnstanley1657]

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

[@piratealleyvideo5072]

Yeah..no Todd no Steve...must be the creators of this sight are 19 or younger....Beck is boring

[@andreasandremyrvold]

Never heard of him, that`s why.

[@marklydston90]

First thing i thought was Steve Winwood better be in the top 3 or 4. I'm surprised Tubular Bells wasn't higher.

[@patdoyle5174]

@@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.

[@andreasandremyrvold]

@@patdoyle5174 Stating facts never made anyone a fool.

[@Charlesb88]

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. .

[@frannyquacks]

Thom Yorke's The Eraser?

[@SuperTheawesomness]

Goddammit you're right

[@Jburneyjr]

Prince debut album should have been number 1. Playing 17 instruments by his self before the age of 20.

[@rickk1826]

They missed Steve Winwoods Arc Of A Diver Todd Rundgren Something Anything, other Stevie Wonder and Prince albums.