The best solo albums from singers of legendary bands

Paul McCartney wasn't the only prominent Beatles vocalists to put out a debut solo album in 1970. This was Lennon's debut project, complete with his own backing band and co-produced by his wife, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector. Filled with many deep, soul-searching, and somewhat dark moments, the record cracked the top 10 in Billboard's 200 album chart in the United States. The lead-off track and single "Mother" remains the album's most celebrated number among many worthy contenders.

The follow-up to John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Imagine has long been hailed as one of the great albums of all time. Lennon brilliantly covers a spectrum of topics — life, love, politics, and a rather honest hope for peace amid a turbulent time in America and the world. The title cut is simply beautiful and perhaps the defining musical moment to Lennon's legacy as a solo artist. 

Two years after the split with musical soulmate Art Garfunkel, and seven years removed from his debut solo The Paul Simon Songbook (1965), Simon delivered this self-titled gem. Paul Simon topped albums charts in five countries, which proved he could be successful on his own. Through classics such as "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," there's a joyful tone to the record. It's filled with powerful pop vibes that also back up the belief that Simon was always the more talented aspect of the famed duo. 

In 1972, the former Velvet Underground legend released his first two solo projects. The second, here, turned out to be one of the most influential records of the glam rock genre. Anchored by the classic "Walk on the Wild Side," but also the massively underrated "Satellite of Love," Transformer, co-produced by David Bowie, achieved chart success worldwide. However, the impression it made on listeners and bands like The Pretenders, Sex Pistols, Motley Crue, U2 and the Smiths can't be measured. 

When it comes to hard rock/heavy metal debuts, look no further than the debut solo album from the legendary Black Sabbath frontman. Having been booted from Sabbath, Osbourne was at a crossroads in his career. But he trudged forward to put out a blistering record from start to finish. He made metal classics such as "Crazy Train," I Don't Know," "Mr. Crowley" and "Steal Away (The Night)." It also made the late Randy Rhoads a guitar god, and it began a long and massively successful solo career for Osbourne.

When it was time for Nicks to push Fleetwood Mac aside and strike out on her own, she knocked it out of the park with this solo debut. Working with some of the biggest names in music (Waddy Wachtel, Don Felder, Roy Bitten), including collaborations with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Leather and Lace" with Don Henley, Bella Donna reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. "Edge of Seventeen" remains the signature moment of Nicks' solo career, while "Sleeping Angel," from the 2016 Deluxe Edition of the album, is a stellar deep cut.

By the early 1980s, McCartney's solo success was hit or miss from a critical standpoint, but because of his work with Wings, and the fact he's an ex-Beatle, anything he put out was worth giving a listen. However, Tug of War is often considered the album that returned him to true prominence. Produced by George Martin, Tug of War produced the top-10 hit "Take It Away," and even more notably, No. 1 smash Stevie Wonder duet "Ebony and Ivory."

As a child, Jackson was the prominent voice of the Jackson 5. However, it was no surprise that he turned into one of the biggest musical artists of all time as an adult. With approximately 70 million copies sold, Thriller remains the best-selling album ever. Seven singles were released from the record, all cracking the top 10 in the Hot 100, with "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" topping the charts. Now, the popularity of music videos and MTV had a lot to do with Thriller's success. But the writing, production, and Jackson's overall showmanship are at the forefront of the album's legacy.

Richie opened the door to a successful post-Commodores career with his self-titled solo debut from 1982. He solidified himself as mega-pop star with the Grammy Award-winning Can't Slow Down, which sold roughly 20 million copies. It also had five hit singles featured regularly on MTV. "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello," reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100. From top to bottom, Can't Slow Down still remains one of the signature pop moments of the 1980s.

Henley is not the only long-standing member of the Eagles to enjoy solo success, but he was able to sustain it from a mainstream standpoint. His second album, Building the Perfect Beast, produced the Grammy Award-winning "The Boys of Summer," co-written by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell. But the album is more than just one stellar single. The poppy "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" received consistent airplay, while the somewhat underappreciated "Sunset Grill" remains one of the highlights in Henley's catalog. 

Collins was putting out solo material while Genesis was still active despite Peter Gabriel's departure. His first two solo efforts, Face Value (1981) and Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982), included hits like "In the Air Tonight" and "I Don't Care Anymore." Even so, No Jacket Required remains the highlight of Collins' solo career. The three-time Grammy Award-winning album produced four top-10 hits in "Sussudio," "One More Night," "Don't Lose My Number," and "Take Me Home" — the latter two hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. As far as pop rock records from the '80s go, it really didn't get much better than this.

Sting is one of those artists able to find success whether in a group setting with The Police or on his own. His debut solo album here proved that he would be just fine alone, and it set the stage for a wildly popular post-Police career. Fueled by hits  "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," "Fortress Around Your Heart," and the "Russians," plus other notable tracks such as "Moon Over Bourbon Street" and "Love Is the Seventh Wave," the record was nominated for four Grammys.

Centerfield was the third studio album by the former leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival, but it was still a fresh start of sorts because it was his first solo album in nine years. It also went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and delivered three radio-friendly hits in "The Old Man Down the Road", "Rock and Roll Girls" and the famed title track that continues to be played at ballparks — of all levels — throughout America. Fogerty wrote every song and played all instruments on an album that has come to define his solo legacy.

After leaving Genesis, Gabriel's solo greatness was building with thanks to celebrated tracks like "Solsbury Hill," "Games Without Frontiers," and "Shock the Monkey." It all came together on his fifth studio album, So, a more mainstream-friendly project than anything he'd done prior. The lead single "Sledgehammer" was a No. 1 hit, but it's likely best known for an innovative video that won nine MTV Video Music Awards. "In Your Eyes" got a major boost from its inclusion in the beloved John Cusack rom-co Say Anything..., and "Red Rain," "Big Time," and "Don't Give Up" also added to the brilliance of the Grammy-nominated record.

With his professional and personal life each at a crossroads, Simon came through with one of the great albums of the 1980s. Influenced by a trip to South Africa to soak in the country's street music culture that enamored Simon at the time, there is certainly a primitive yet polished sound to Graceland. Of course, pop gems like "You Can Call Me Al" and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" were a big reason the record earned the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1987.

The music world was silly with anticipation when Jackson's follow-up to Thriller came out nearly five years later. To no surprise, it debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 35 million copies, making it one of the top-15-selling albums of all time. It featured a more polished and poppier sound, while exploring topics such as romance, racism, and the handling of being the "King of Pop." Bad produced five No. 1 hits: the title track, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," and "Dirty Diana."

After departing the Go-Go's, Carlisle earned immediate solo success with the release of 1986's Belinda (which included the hit "Mad About You"). She seriously backed it up a year later with Heaven on Earth. Carlisle's sophomore solo effort went Platinum. It was armed with contributions by uber-talented pop rock-songwriters like Dianne Warren and former bandmate Charlotte Caffey, and it was paced by the Grammy Award-nominated "Heaven is a Place on Earth," plus other radio-friendly hits "Circle in the Sand" and "I Get Weak." 

Plant's first three solo records were certainly worthy of praise, but the fourth such effort from the Led Zeppelin legend proved that he still had it after the band's demise. Now and Zen reached No. 6 on Billboard's 200 album chart and featured some of Plant's most notable tracks — such as "Tall Cone One," with Zeppelin bandmate Jimmy Page on guitar. Other standout tracks include the wonderful "Ship of Fools" and "Heaven Knows," which topped Billboard's Album Rock Tracks. 

A little more than two months after Eazy and N.W.A. released their exceptional debut Straight Outta Compton, the rapper came out with the only full-length solo album of his career. Produced by groupmates Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, Eazy-Duz-It is as raw and unabashed as anything N.W.A put out. Pure street, pulling no punches, and glorifying the gangsta lifestyle like never done at the time. Tracks like "Boyz-in-the-Hood," "We Want Eazy," Nobody Move," and the title cut opened the door for many rap outfits to copy, but it could never truly be duplicated.

More from Henley. The follow-up to Building the Perfect Beast took five years to be released. But, for Henley fans, the wait was likely well worth the time. Some of the biggest names in the business contributed — Mike Campbell, Axl Rose, Bruce Hornsby, Jeff Porcaro, and Melissa Etheridge to name a few — to a record that sold more than six million copies in the United States. Henley favorites "The Heart of the Matter," "The Last Worthless Evening," "New York Minute," and the title track can all be found on the Grammy winner.

Once N.W.A. disbanded, Ice Cube went to work on his solo career and delivered an album that remains one of the most influential rap albums of all time. AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted also delivering a jolt to the budding hip-hop movement that blew up in the 1990s. While the album topped out at No. 19 on the Billboard 200, the critical acclaim was more noteworthy. Not only does Ice Cube offer his own vivid portrait of street life, he tackles socio-political and economic issues that provided depth to this rhymes and offered a blueprint for future acts to follow.

It was no surprise that Lennox enjoyed immediate post-Eurythmics success with her solo debut, which hit No. 1 in the United Kingdom and won a Grammy in the United States. Actually, Lennox took a little time off from music to make his record, but when it was time to get to work, she got the job done in grand fashion. The triple-threat opening of "Why," "Walking on Broken Glass," and "Precious" is as good as it gets when kicking off an album. She also performed "Little Bird" at the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Following in the footsteps of aforementioned N.W.A stalwarts Eazy-E and Ice Cube, Dre came out with one of the most popular and influential hip-hop albums ever — peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It sold three million copies in the U.S. and essentially kicked off Snoop Dogg's career, too. While the slick production was expected from Dre, it was his work as a rapper and MC that took centerstage. Though a little less graphic and edgy as the already highlighted records from Eazy and Cube, The Chronic, paced by "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day," is nonetheless a full throttle celebration.

The truth is that we can pick just about any of Beyoncé's albums in her post-Destiny's Child world. But her self-titled fifth record proved she could continue to evolve in all facets: as a writer, producer, and vocalist. Of course, the album debuted at No. 1 and delivered a well-fused mix of soul R&B and some experimental vibes that proved she can try just about anything she wants -- and it will stick. "Drunk in Love," with husband Jay-Z, remains the highlight of the record.

Just when it seemed Beyoncé couldn't our blow our minds any further, she did it with Lemonade. Nominated for nine Grammy Awards, it's a concept album that is arguably her most personal work — chronicling her processing of Jay-Z's infidelity. On the backs of singles  "Formation," "Sorry," "Hold Up," "Freedom," and "All Night," the album sold more than 2.5 million copies around the globe and proved that Beyoncé's maturity as an artist was on-going, and there for the taking. The pop flare is obviously there, but fans of just about any type of music should be able to appreciate this project.