There was one album that influenced my desire to attempt to write/record solo, in my own home studio...and that album would be Paul McCartney's first solo album...and then also his second, one, "Ram"
Although at the time, I didn't think in terms of solo recording, I did have a similar epiphany {although I didn't realize it at the time} back in 1980 when I was 17 with Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti." It wasn't particularly the songs {although "The Wanton song" - which I often thought of as "they want our song" when I'd glance quickly at the sheet - was influential from a bass point of view and, "In the light" was influential from a harmony vocal point of view}. It was the production credit on the album. I noticed that Jimmy Page was the producer and I noticed there was a "Page" listed on the credits of each song as a writer. By that point, I also knew he was the guitarist and seemed to be something of a guiding hand in the band.
It was the first time I consciously took note of the fact that a person could actually be involved at every level of a record's creation. I wouldn't be a home recorder were it not for that. So if you think I go on a bit long at times, blame Jimmy Page !
Keep in mind, there was NO home recording yet at that time
Such a thing didn't even occur to me in 1980. I still thought in terms of record contracts with labels and studios like Decca and EMI. Yet interestingly, within a couple of years, with no guidance, I'd started making home recordings. Stick a mic near the guitar that my friend Andy was playing, plug my bass into the crude amplification set-up that I rigged up thru my tape deck, and away we go.
That primarily opened my eyes to the possibility of a solo artist doing multitrack recording, and layering it/blending it all together into a finished product.
I was like...oh, so I don't need a band...
Even then, I still thought in terms of a band. When I started actual multitracking in 1992, I still didn't think of it in terms of a one-man show. I still don't, although I know it's more than possible.