On This Date 59 Years Ago: August 5, 1966 – The Beatles Release “Yellow Submarine” / “Eleanor Rigby” Single in the UK and the Revolutionary Revolver Album That Redefined Rock Music
On August 5, 1966, The Beatles released one of their most iconic and creatively contrasting singles: “Yellow Submarine” backed with “Eleanor Rigby” (Parlophone R5492) in the United Kingdom. The same day also saw the UK release of their groundbreaking album Revolver, which many regard as one of the most innovative and influential records in the history of popular music. The single and the album together marked a turning point in The Beatles’ artistic evolution — as they shifted further from the mop-top pop of Beatlemania into more experimental, conceptual, and sonically daring territory.
“Yellow Submarine,” a whimsical and surreal track sung by Ringo Starr, was written primarily by Paul McCartney (though credited, as usual, to Lennon–McCartney). Paul later recalled lying in bed at the home of his then-girlfriend Jane Asher’s family when the idea came to him — a children’s song with a mariner’s tale twist, tailor-made for Ringo’s everyman charm and vocal range. What began as a colorful song about different submarines was ultimately distilled into the now-legendary yellow one. Contributions from Donovan (notably the line “sky of blue and sea of green”) and John Lennon helped bring the quirky vision to life in the studio, where The Beatles layered in sound effects, nautical noises, and background voices, creating a vivid underwater soundscape. The song’s psychedelic whimsy and childlike imagination resonated widely — winning the Ivor Novello Award for the highest certified UK single sales of 1966, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart (where it remained for four weeks), and hitting No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In stark contrast, the single’s B-side “Eleanor Rigby,” also led by McCartney, delved into stark loneliness, death, and emotional isolation — themes rarely explored in pop music at the time. With its haunting string arrangement by producer George Martin and no traditional Beatles instruments played, it was a bold and somber counterbalance to the cheerful “Yellow Submarine.” Together, the single represented the band’s astonishing range — from playful fantasy to stark realism — and set the tone for their ever-deepening artistry.
The same day, Revolver was released in the UK (with a US release following on August 8th). The album broke new ground with tracks like “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which used tape loops and backward guitar, and “I’m Only Sleeping,” which employed reversed instrumental parts — both pioneering effects in rock music. “Eleanor Rigby” was also featured on the album, contributing to its thematic richness and sonic innovation. Revolver showcased each Beatle at a creative high, with George Harrison contributing three songs — including the biting opener “Taxman” — and John Lennon exploring increasingly surreal and philosophical lyrical territory.
The album’s cover, designed by German artist and Beatles’ friend Klaus Voormann, was a striking black-and-white collage of line drawings and cutout photos, symbolizing the group’s new, more abstract direction. Voormann, who was part of the Beatles’ Hamburg scene, captured their transformation with a visual aesthetic as daring as the music itself.
The release of “Yellow Submarine” / “Eleanor Rigby” alongside Revolver on August 5, 1966, stands as one of the most significant moments in The Beatles’ storied history. It marked not just a pair of unforgettable songs, but the unleashing of an album that would inspire countless artists and reshape what rock music could be. From the depths of a cheerful underwater utopia to the haunting loneliness of a forgotten woman, The Beatles reminded the world of their limitless creativity — and they were only just getting started.