THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

599-Beatles-Eleanor Rigby.

1966-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.17. It appears that when Eleanor Rigby was alive nobody had heard of her, but now she’s dead, she’s very well known.

‘Eleanor Rigby’ was released in August 1966 as a double ‘A’ sided single, with ‘Yellow Submarine’, both tracks were taken from the Beatles (see also best songs 599-456-319-238-141-80-51-10 and 6) seventh studio Album ‘Revolver.’ although the song is credited to Lennon/McCartney, (as the majority of Beatles songs were) this one was mainly McCartney. None of the Beatles played an instrument on the song, with McCartney providing lead, and harmony vocals, and Lennon, (see also best songs 927-473-218-168 and 20) and Harrison, (see also best songs 737 and 726) both providing harmony as well. It was a classical string ensemble of studio musicians comprising four violins, and two cellos, that played the music, which was arranged and produced by George Martin (1926-2016.) McCartney (see also best songs 646-107) has stated that he came up with the name ‘Eleanor’ from the actress Eleanor Bron who had starred with the Beatles in the 1965 film ‘Help.’ He has said that ‘Rigby’ came from a shop in Bristol called ‘Rigby & Evens Ltd, Wine & Spirit Shippers,’ which he had seen while on a visit to see his girlfriend of that time Jane Asher. However it has been pointed out that the graveyard of St Peter’s Church in Liverpool, which is in walking distance of the Woolton Village garden fete, where McCartney and Lennon first met on the afternoon of July 6th, 1957, contains the gravestone of an individual called Eleanor Rigby. Another of the gravestones there has the word ‘McKenzie’ written on it. McCartney’s explanation for this is that he must have subconsciously remembered the headstone, as he insists that he made the name up.

The song ‘Eleanor Rigby’ has caused controversy in religious circles. After Eleanor Rigby is buried, we learn that ‘no one was saved.’ this could indicate that her soul did not elevate to heaven as promised by the church. This could also be seen as a swipe at Christianity, and the concept of being saved by Jesus. ‘Eleanor Rigby’ was released in August 1966, just weeks after the furor over John Lennon’s remarks, ‘Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right, and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now.’

‘Eleanor Rigby’ tells the story of two lonely people, the churchgoing woman Eleanor Rigby, and the pastor Father McKenzie, whose sermons no one will hear. In the third verse Eleanor dies, and only Father McKenzie is present at the funeral to bury her. McCartney said, ’When I was really little, I lived on a housing estate, there were lots of old ladies, and I enjoyed sitting around with these older ladies because they had these great stories, in this case about World War II. One in particular I used to visit, and I’d go shopping with her, you know, she couldn’t get out, so I figured in my mind, of a sort of lonely old lady.’

‘Eleanor Rigby’ was released as a double ‘A’ sided single along with ‘Yellow Submarine,’ these were the only tracks issued as singles from the Beatles seventh studio Album ‘Revolver,’ from August 1966. The songs writing is credited to ‘Lennon/McCartney,’ with the production being by George Martin, who was born George Henry Martin on January 3rd, 1926, in Highbury, London, England, he died on March 8th, 2016, from complications associated with stomach cancer, at the age of 90. ‘Sir George Henry Martin CBE’ who was commonly referred to as the ‘Fifth Beatle,’ because of his extensive involvement in each of the Beatles’ original Albums, has been described as the ‘World’s most famous record producer,’ he was Knighted in 1996, in recognition of his services to the music industry and popular culture. George Martin has produced 30 UK Number 1 singles, and 23 American Billboard Number 1 singles. He produced his first UK Number 1 single in 1961, which was ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy,’ for ‘The Temperance Seven.’ Other highlights away from the Beatles, include his production of ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart,’ for the British singer Cilla Black, (1943-2015) which went on to become the best selling single in the UK by a female British artist in the 1960’s. In the 1980’s George Martin produced both ‘Ebony and Ivory,’ for Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder, (1982-UK & Billboard Number 1 ) and ‘Say Say Say,’ for Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (1983-UK Number 2 & Billboard Number 1.) In 1997 he produced ‘Candle in the Wind 1997,’ for Elton John, (UK & Billboard Number 1) which is the second highest selling physical single of all time, behind Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas,’ (see also best songs 457) from 1942, and is the highest selling single since charts began in the 1950’s.

‘Eleanor Rigby died in the church, and was buried along with her name, nobody came. Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands, as he walks from the grave, no one was saved.’