---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time I did that third solo album…"
description: "\"By the time I did that third solo album, I'd finally learned how to do it, but I'd also learned that I liked being in a band\" — Tommy Shaw"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tommy-shaw-16595_albums_by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album_1369816.png"
---

#  By the time I did that third solo album, I'd finally…

![“By the time I did that third solo album, I'd finally learned how to do it, but I'd also learned that I liked being in a band” quote by Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tommy-shaw-16595_albums_by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album_1369816.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tommy-shaw-16595_albums_by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album_1369816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tommy-shaw-16595_albums_by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album_1369816.png)

> “By the time I did that third solo album, I'd finally learned how to do it, but I'd also learned that I liked being in a band”

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He reflects on learning independence as a solo artist while discovering a preference for collaborative band work.

**In simple terms:** Solo work taught independence; band work felt right.

Key Takeaway

Balance solo and group projects.

Themes

music creativity collaboration

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

musical personal

When to use this quote

- recording sessions
- touring
- songwriting
- studio work

Key Concepts

artistic identity team dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you thrive more alone or with others?
- What does collaboration add to your art?

A Different Perspective

Solo success can be isolating.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [When I did the solo acoustic tour in 2010, I fell in love with that kind of performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/when-i-did-the-solo-acoustic-tour-in-2010-i-fell-in-love-with-that/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [I did my solo thing for a while and got that out of my system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-static/i-did-my-solo-thing-for-a-while-and-got-that-out-of-my-system/)

[Wayne Static](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-static/)

> [If I wished to do something, even if I couldn't find anyone who wanted to make the effort with me, I would go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/if-i-wished-to-do-something-even-if-i-couldn-t-find-anyone-who-wanted/)

[Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/)

> [I remember we were out on the road when the album finally came out in February 1973. I listened to it in my hotel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bruce/i-remember-we-were-out-on-the-road-when-the-album-finally-came-out-in/)

[Michael Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bruce/)

> [Justin's new album is finally out.i'm so proud of him. he worked so hard. :') now I just gotta wait till my album comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/justin-s-new-album-is-finally-out-i-m-so-proud-of-him-he-worked-so/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I was in a group called Wild Orchid and it just wasn't working. I wasn't being myself. What I should have done was say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-was-in-a-group-called-wild-orchid-and-it-just-wasn-t-working-i-wasn/)

[Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/)

> [Back in 1985, I was working on my third solo album when the band came to me and asked me to produce the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/back-in-1985-i-was-working-on-my-third-solo-album-when-the-band-came/)

[Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/)

> [I did make a solo album in my house when I was there. And because I was just afraid of flying, I wouldn't promote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/i-did-make-a-solo-album-in-my-house-when-i-was-there-and-because-i/)

[Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/)

> [Few people asking about my post Westlife plans!? I'll be making a solo album of course! The process has already started actually ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-feehily/few-people-asking-about-my-post-westlife-plans-i-ll-be-making-a-solo/)

Mark Feehily

> [I wrote a whole solo album and recorded some of it, even did a little tour with Sara Lee and Gail Ann Dorsey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-pierson/i-wrote-a-whole-solo-album-and-recorded-some-of-it-even-did-a-little/)

[Kate Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-pierson/)

> [I thought I could make a solo album, then go back to the band. But 'No Parlez' was the end of me and Q-Tips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-thought-i-could-make-a-solo-album-then-go-back-to-the-band-but-no/)

[Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/)

> [I always wanted to do my solo album in English, because I grew up listening to a lot of pop artists and English-based songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cl/i-always-wanted-to-do-my-solo-album-in-english-because-i-grew-up/)

CL

> [I was going to record a solo album when I was 15 on a four-track. I started working on it, but then Fall Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/i-was-going-to-record-a-solo-album-when-i-was-15-on-a-four-track-i/)

[Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/)

> [The first CD I ever bought was Gwen Stafani's first solo album. She was the light of my life when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dove-cameron/the-first-cd-i-ever-bought-was-gwen-stafani-s-first-solo-album-she/)

[Dove Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dove-cameron/)

> [I want to show who CL is on my first solo album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cl/i-want-to-show-who-cl-is-on-my-first-solo-album/)

CL

## More by Tommy Shaw

> [I love the idea of stepping out of the band situation into a solo world with no boundaries, no expectations, where nothing is out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/i-love-the-idea-of-stepping-out-of-the-band-situation-into-a-solo/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [When you sign with a label, they do insist upon certain rights, and if you have a competent attorney, your rights will be protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/when-you-sign-with-a-label-they-do-insist-upon-certain-rights-and-if/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [I soon gave up instruction for self-teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/i-soon-gave-up-instruction-for-self-teaching/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [I'm not the kind of guy who deserves to play a vintage guitar because I'm too rough on instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/i-m-not-the-kind-of-guy-who-deserves-to-play-a-vintage-guitar-because/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [We were playing popular music, but we were doing our own arrangements because we were too lazy to sit down and figure out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/we-were-playing-popular-music-but-we-were-doing-our-own-arrangements/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [Songwriting is the other weight on the opposite side of the scale from touring. They balance me out creatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/songwriting-is-the-other-weight-on-the-opposite-side-of-the-scale/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [When it stops being fun, stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/when-it-stops-being-fun-stop/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [There were some older guitarists on my side of town, and I got to know many of them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/there-were-some-older-guitarists-on-my-side-of-town-and-i-got-to-know/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [If music became extinct now, I dont know what Id be good for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/if-music-became-extinct-now-i-dont-know-what-id-be-good-for/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [Make sure you know what you are signing when you sign a recording contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/make-sure-you-know-what-you-are-signing-when-you-sign-a-recording/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [I have always been a sucker for the big, upbeat chorus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/i-have-always-been-a-sucker-for-the-big-upbeat-chorus/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [When I became 16 I started thinking seriously about singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/when-i-became-16-i-started-thinking-seriously-about-singing/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [You can have fun, but you also have to put on your thinking cap every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/you-can-have-fun-but-you-also-have-to-put-on-your-thinking-cap-every/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [If music became extinct now, I don't know what I'd be good for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/if-music-became-extinct-now-i-don-t-know-what-i-d-be-good-for/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

> [Once you start thinking about it in a mercenary frame of mind, then you're finished. You're a joke, because there are too many mercenaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/once-you-start-thinking-about-it-in-a-mercenary-frame-of-mind-then/)

[Tommy Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

[Explore all 39 Tommy Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/)

## More Albums quotes

> [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/)

[John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/)

> [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/)

[Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/)

> [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/)

[John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/)

> [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/)

[Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/)

> [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/)

[Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/)

> [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/)

[Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/)

> [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/)

[Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/)

> [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/)

[Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/)

> [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/)

[Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/)

> [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/)

[Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/)

> [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/)

[Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/)

> [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/)

[Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/)

> [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/)

[David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/)

[Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "By the time I did that third solo album, I'd finally learned how to do it, but I'd also learned that I liked being in a band",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tommy Shaw"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album-i-d-finally-learned-how-to-do/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Albums"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album-i-d-finally-learned-how-to-do/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tommy-shaw-16595_albums_by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album_1369816.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tommy-shaw-16595_albums_by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album_1369816.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a55/tommy-shaw-16595_albums_by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album_1369816.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“By the time I did that third solo album, I'd finally learned how to do it, but I'd also learned that I liked…” — Tommy Shaw",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tommy Shaw",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-shaw/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "By the time I did that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album-i-d-finally-learned-how-to-do/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-shaw/by-the-time-i-did-that-third-solo-album-i-d-finally-learned-how-to-do/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
