June 23, 2011 4:10 PM ET
Paul Mccartney in Sussex, England in 1980.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
Click here to listen to Paul McCartney Discuss McCartney I and II
In late 1969, tired of the endless infighting within the Beatles, Paul McCartney took a four-track recorder to his English home and began work on his first solo album – playing every single instrument. The Beatles broke up by the time it hit shelves, but McCartney's solo career was off to a strong start as "Maybe I'm Amazed" turned into a huge radio smash despite his questionable decision not to release it as a single. Ten years later McCartney found himself in a similar situation. Wings were on the verge of splitting up and he decided it was time for a sequel to his solo debut. This time around, McCartney embraced the music of the era and the result was significantly more experimental. It landed another hit on the charts with "Coming Up." Both discs were re-releaed in super deluxe packages earlier this month.
Click above to listen to McCartney talk about the making of the two discs, why they're coming back out, his failure to produce a McCartney III and how Twiggy talked the Beatles into into releasing "Get Back" as a single.
Related: Paul McCartney on 'Beatles 1,' Losing Linda and Being in New York on September 11th: Rolling Stone's 2001 Feature
Photos: Linda McCartney's Shows of Paul and Other Iconic Musicians
The Lost Beatles Photos: Rare Shots from 1964-1966
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