George Harrison’s ode to Great Britain’s 95% marginal tax rate always gets a workout this time of year. The lead-off track on “Revolver” embellishes George’s bitter lyrics (written after someone explained why he was seeing so little of the money the Beatles earned) with a bouncy beat and a searing-for-its-day lead guitar break by Paul McCartney. The chord progression reminds some people of the “Batman” TV show theme, and if the production didn’t make it sound like a relic of its day, John Lennon’s invocation of Harold Wilson and Edward Heath in his backing vocals would.
Bands from Black Oak Arkansas to Nickel Creek have covered the tune, but the most unusual take was by Delta blues singer and harp player Junior Parker, who delivers it with the detachment of a man who hasn’t got anything to tax. It was one of three Beatles covers (including “Tomorrow Never Knows”) on Parker’s 1970 album “Outside Man.” Or maybe Parker knew he’d soon be out of the taxman’s reach — he died the next year after an operation for a brain tumor.
You libertarian types who snarl at the taxman might prefer Stevie Ray Vaughn’s approach.
