Taxman

Today we start Revolver, one of The Beatles' best-reviewed and most famous albums. From the cover art to the great songs we're going to hear, Revolver is a classic. Wikipedia says of the album:

Placed at number 3 in the Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, the album is often regarded as one of the greatest achievements in music history and one of The Beatles' greatest studio achievements.

In addition, critic Ian MacDonald, in his book Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties, had nothing but praise for the album, saying, "The Beatles had initiated a second pop revolution – one which while galvanising their existing rivals and inspiring many new ones, left all of them far behind."

We begin today with "Taxman". Written mostly by George with a little help from John, it expresses Harrison's frustration with taxes and the government. At the time, The Beatles were in the very top of the tax bracket, so as much as 95% of their income went to taxes. 

I like this one; its edgy, sarcastic lyrics go well with the sharper guitar parts. (As we'll see, Revolver with its electric guitar has a different sound than the folk-rock Rubber Soul.) "Taxman" expresses a sentiment many people could relate to at the time (and even today)--frustration with their government. Harrison played this song in 1991 on his tour of Japan with Eric Clapton; during those shows he added extra lyrics, such as, "If you're overweight, I'll tax your fat." :P

That's it for today... See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 19
Songs Completed: 104