It was 50 years ago today that "Revolver" was released in America. Ten months would pass until their next album, an unheard-of time frame in the days when two or three LP's per year were expected from an act. Once again, the Beatles not only broke the rules but wrote new ones for everyone else to follow. I think this was the only time a George Harrison song kicked off any Fab Four album. It's a scathing rebuke of the ridiculous British taxation system of the 60's (since radically amended) when the rate for top earners was 95% - "one for you, 19 for me." George very much wondered where the band's earnings were going. A few years later, almost all their outside business ventures would seriously hemorrhage cash. Once again, Paul played lead guitar here in addition to his outrageous bass part. The unauthorized homemade video used today completely sucks but it's the only clean audio version of this tune I could find. So ignore the pictures and enjoy!
Beatles - Taxman
2 comments:
In the early '70s it had become quite the norm for major recording acts to often only have one album release every 1 1/2 to 2 years.
Think: Led Zeppelin, ELP, Elton John, Yes ...to name a few.
Even recording artists like Carole King and Carly Simon had their "annual releases", so to speak.
The Beatles went over s year between the White Album and "Abbey Road." They had recorded the "Let It Be" sessions in early '69 but those were such a disaster the album wasn't released until spring 1970.
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