5 of the Best Solo Tracks From Musicians Who Were in Iconic Bands in the 1960s and 70s

One of the best parts of being in a band is getting to contribute to a creative endeavor bigger than any one individual, but that blessing can quickly become a curse if one of those bandmates is trying to branch out as a solo artist. The name, image, and musical legacy of some groups can become too monumental to ever truly escape. But these solo tracks come close.

Videos by American Songwriter

While it’s impossible not to associate these musicians with the bands that made them famous, these solo tracks stand up on their own, even without the star power of the artists’ former bands.

“Monkberry Moon Delight” by Paul McCartney

I’ll start with what is arguably the most divisive track on this list: “Monkberry Moon Delight” by Paul and Linda McCartney off Ram. The 1971 track has all of the whimsy and absurdity of an old Beatles tune. But there’s something distinctly Paul about it, including the fact that the song is about a “fantasy milkshake.”

There’s a little bit of “granny s***” mixed in, as John Lennon might have called it, but the power and rasp behind McCartney’s vocal delivery are hard to beat.

“Flying High Again” by Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne became famous as the frontman for Black Sabbath, but his solo career was nothing to sneeze at. “Flying High Again”, from Osbourne’s second solo album, Diary Of A Madman, has all the squealing-guitar-laden bravado of the early 1980s, featuring Osbourne’s distinct vocals front and center.

It has a decidedly different vibe from the doomy, sludgey offerings of early Black Sabbath. However, I’d argue that this solo track stands up to anything in this iconic rock band’s catalogue.

“Dirty Laundry” by Don Henley

Don Henley was no stranger to the public eye when he released his debut solo studio album, I Can’t Stand Still. “Dirty Laundry” is a reflection of that disillusionment with media, public opinion, and the ever-spinning rumor mill. The message of the song would be worthy enough on its own. But the groove elevates it further.

“Dirty Laundry” hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. Henley might have earned his celebrity drumming for The Eagles, but this album proved he was a worthy solo artist, too.

“Rocky Mountain Way” by Joe Walsh

Another musician famous for playing in The Eagles, Joe Walsh, was also known for his work in the James Gang. But one of the best tracks of his entire collection is “Rocky Mountain Way” from his 1973 album, The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get. Interestingly, this was pre-Eagles but post-James Gang, marking a distinct, in-between moment in Walsh’s career.

The song peaked at a modest No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it remains a staple in classic rock music decades later.

“Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks burst onto the scene as a solo artist in a major way with her monumental hit, “Edge Of Seventeen”. The singer had developed such a recognizable image as the tambourine-wielding, scarf-wearing frontwoman of Fleetwood Mac. When she transitioned into her solo debut, Bella Donna, she managed to stay true to this aesthetic.

Someone unfamiliar with Fleetwood Mac might assume that “Edge Of Seventeen” was just another cut from the full band, which is a testament to how much of Stevie Nicks’ true songwriting voice was imbued into her Fleetwood Mac offerings.

Photo by MSI/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images