10 Hard Rock Songs By The Beatles
6. Taxman
From the wild experimentation of "Paperback Writer," the band certainly had a lot to live up to on their next release Revolver. Surprising their audiences yet again, the start of one of the Beatles' greatest records opens with a song from George Harrison, with a pointed message and delivery.
With love songs no longer in the equation, Harrison wrote a scathing tune about his frustration with the tax laws in Britain at the time. The situation in the tune gets all the more real when the Fabs namecheck actual British politicians Mr. Wilson and Mr. Heath in the background vocals. Complimented by Harrison's throaty guitar stabs, the tune has the straightforward nature of a rock song with a relentless backbeat.
Though it is Harrison's song, McCartney is the true star of the show, with his inventive bass playing influenced by Motown bassist James Jamerson. McCartney also takes the solo on this track, where he plays scorching licks in the vein of the Indian music that Harrison had begun showing the rest of the band. Setting the stage for the band's most forward-looking record, "Taxman" combines multiple influences to make the harshest R&B track the group had ever recorded.