Australian singles chart:
Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine were released in Australia as a double-A-side single. It entered the Australian singles chart* on 27 August 1966 and peaked at #1. The single was #3 on the Top 100 of 1966.
Album:
The songs are on Revolver which entered the Australian albums chart* on 24 September 1966 and peaked at #1.
Songwriters:
Eleanor Rigby – primarily Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon-McCartney)
Yellow Submarine – Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Producer:
George Martin
Record label of Australian release:
Parlophone
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts – Eleanor Rigby:
Paul McCartney wrote most of this song. He got the name “Eleanor” from the actress Eleanor Bron, who appeared in the 1965 Beatles film Help!. “Rigby” came to him when he was in Bristol, England, and spotted a store: Rigby and Evens Ltd Wine and Spirit Shippers. He liked the name “Eleanor Rigby” because it sounded natural and matched the rhythm he wrote.
McCartney explained at the time that his songs came mostly from his imagination. Regarding this song, he said, “It just came. When I started doing the melody I developed the lyric. It all came from the first line. I wonder if there are girls called Eleanor Rigby?”
The Beatles didn’t play any of the instruments on this track. All the music came from the string players, who were hired as session musicians.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beatles/eleanor-rigby
Songfacts – Yellow Submarine:
Paul McCartney wrote much of this song. He explained shortly after it was released in 1966: “Yellow Submarine is very simple but very different. It’s a fun song, a children’s song. Originally we intended it to be ‘Sparky’ a children’s record. But now it’s the idea of a yellow submarine where all the kids went to have fun. I was just going to sleep one night and thinking if we had a children’s song, it would be nice to be on a yellow submarine where all your friends are with a band.”
Ringo Starr sang lead, as he did on many of the lighter Beatles songs, including Octopus’s Garden and Act Naturally.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beatles/yellow-submarine
Lyrics – Eleanor Rigby:
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
Click for full lyrics
Lyrics – Yellow Submarine:
In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the land of submarines
Click for full lyrics
Eleanor Rigby is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
Also on Bang a Gong: Eleanor Rigby by Zoot
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