The Beatles’ song “Eleanor Rigby” appears on the album Revolver. Released on August 5, 1966, Revolver was the group’s seventh studio album and marked a major expansion of their studio-based sound.
“Eleanor Rigby” stands out because no Beatle played an instrument on the recording. Paul McCartney sang the lead, while producer George Martin arranged a string octet to create its stark, dramatic accompaniment. The song’s characters—Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie—reflect themes of loneliness, isolation, and unnoticed lives.
The track was also released as part of a double A-side single with “Yellow Submarine,” an unusual choice because Beatles singles in Britain generally did not duplicate album tracks. The song is credited to Lennon–McCartney, although historical accounts generally identify McCartney as its primary writer. Revolver is sometimes confused with Rubber Soul, the Beatles’ previous album, which helped establish the more experimental direction they developed further in 1966.