Paul McCartney's recorded some of the most beloved albums in the world, but what are his favorite albums?

Macca addressed the question in his Q&A series "You Know the Answer" on his website when a fan asked, “My partner and I have recently been discussing the albums and songs that have soundtracked our lives. Are there any albums that take you back to certain periods in your life? And does performing your own music evoke similar memories?”

“My favourite albums by other people tend to be: Music from Big Pink by The Band, Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, and Harvest by Neil Young,” he said. “They are the three classics that I love to listen to, and they all remind me of certain times in my life."

When speaking about his own songs, McCartney mentioned memories of his late Beatles bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison. "When I perform my own songs, the great thing is that they often bring back memories of recording them," he said. "That can often entail memories of John and George in the studio – sweet memories!”

When The Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson died on June 11, McCartney shared a heartfelt tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter.

"Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special," McCartney wrote on Instagram. "The notes he heard in his head and passed to us were simple and brilliant at the same time. I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while. How we will continue without Brian Wilson, ‘God Only Knows.’"

Jeffrey T. Mason