**Paul McCartney Shares His Favorite Albums by Other Artists: “These Records Shaped Me”**
In a recent reflection on the music that has influenced him most, Paul McCartney revealed a shortlist of all-time favorite albums by other artists—each one, he says, carrying a lasting emotional and creative impact on his life. Among them: *Music from Big Pink* by The Band, *Pet Sounds* by The Beach Boys, and *Harvest* by Neil Young.
“My favourite albums by other people tend to be: *Music from Big Pink*, *Pet Sounds*, and *Harvest*,” McCartney shared. “They’ve all stayed with me through the years. These records shaped me.”
Released in 1968, *Music from Big Pink* marked the debut of The Band and stood out for its earthy, roots-infused sound—a stark contrast to the psychedelic experimentation of the era. McCartney admired its authenticity and cohesion. “It was like hearing something ancient and new at the same time,” he said. “There was a spirit in that music that felt timeless.”
*Pet Sounds* has long been known as a favorite of McCartney’s, and he’s never been shy about its influence on The Beatles’ own work. “When Brian Wilson made *Pet Sounds*, it flipped my head,” he once said. “That album is a complete piece of art.”
Neil Young’s *Harvest*, released in 1972, rounds out the trio with its haunting mix of folk, rock, and introspective songwriting. “Neil has this way of being totally raw and deeply poetic at once,” McCartney noted. “*Harvest* always brings me back to a quieter place.”
While McCartney’s own discography has changed the course of music history, his reverence for these classic albums is a reminder that even icons are shaped by the sounds of others. As he put it simply: “They weren’t just albums. They were companions.”
