Paul McCartney Reveals the Albums That Shaped His Soul

Paul McCartney Reveals the Albums That Shaped His Soul — ‘Music from Big Pink’, ‘Pet Sounds’, and ‘Harvest’ — in This Month’s Intimate Q&A

 

In a special edition of this month’s website Q&A, legendary songwriter and Beatles co-founder Paul McCartney opened up about the albums that have deeply influenced him over the years — records that have “soundtracked” his life and left an imprint on his heart and artistry.

With a warm, reflective tone, Paul shared that his favorite albums by other artists tend to be Music from Big Pink by The Band, Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, and Harvest by *Neil Young.

“They’re just beautiful records,” Paul said. “Each one brought something new into my world — something emotional, something musical, something human.”

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Music from Big Pink

 — The Band (1968)

Paul recalled being “blown away” by the debut album from The Band, a group he admired not just for their musicianship but for their deeply rooted sense of place and identity. Big Pink, with its earthy Americana and collaborative spirit, represented a turn away from psychedelia toward something more grounded — a sound that would go on to influence the Let It Be sessions.

“It was just so raw and honest,” Paul said. “They weren’t trying to impress you. They were just being. That’s powerful.”

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Pet Sounds

 — The Beach Boys (1966)

Of course, no McCartney musical reflection would be complete without mention of Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson’s masterpiece that famously inspired Paul during the making of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

“It knocked me sideways,” he said, smiling. “The harmonies, the arrangements — it was like hearing emotion translated into music. ‘God Only Knows’ is still one of the greatest songs ever written.”

Paul has long spoken about the “musical rivalry” and deep friendship between The Beatles and The Beach Boys — a mutual admiration that pushed each band to innovate and elevate their craft.

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Harvest

 — Neil Young (1972)

When talking about Neil Young’s Harvest, Paul described it as “gentle and real”, a record that he could always return to for peace and reflection.

“Neil’s voice has that fragile strength — like he’s letting you in on something deeply personal,” Paul noted. “Heart of Gold, Old Man… it’s pure songwriting. That’s what it’s all about.”**

The Q&A was accompanied by a striking black-and-white portrait of Paul taken by Mary McCartney, capturing the musician in a quiet, contemplative moment — fitting for a discussion about the music that’s shaped him, both as an artist and a human being.

Whether he’s talking about the beauty of a melody or the truth behind a lyric, Paul’s reflections remind us that even icons are shaped by what they hear — and that behind every great musician is a collection of songs that made them fall in love with music in the first place.

#PaulMcCartney #PetSounds #Harvest #MusicFromBigPink #TheBand #BeachBoys #NeilYoung #MaryMcCartney #Beatles #MusicThatMatters