Can't Buy Me Love

The Beatles, 1964, from A Hard Day's Night. Solo by George Harrison.

Harrison's short, bright solo still carries a faint ghost of an earlier take audible underneath it.

Can't Buy Me Love is a bright, upbeat Beatles single, and George Harrison's short solo adds a burst of energy. His playing is crisp and melodic, drawing on rock and roll and rockabilly influences. Interestingly, a faint ghost of an earlier take can still be heard underneath the final solo, a small quirk of the recording process. Harrison keeps the solo concise and punchy, adding sparkle to the song. Listen for the bright, clean tone and the quick, rhythmic phrases, and for the faint, shadowy notes underneath that reveal a trace of the song's recording history, giving the solo an intriguing layered quality.

Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles is featured in our Rock & Roll (#23) list. The solo is played by George Harrison and the song was released in 1964.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Rock and Roll Guitar Solos — #23
• The Best The Beatles Guitar Solos — #10
• The Best George Harrison Guitar Solos — #12

Sources