US single release: Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine

Three days after its UK release, Beatles fans in the United States were able to buy the group’s double a-side single ‘Eleanor Rigby’/‘Yellow Submarine’.

Although it topped the charts in the UK, the single only reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its relatively poor showing has been attributed to the controversies surrounding The Beatles’ ’Butcher’ cover and John Lennon’s remarks that the group were “more popular than Jesus”.

It did, however, reach number one on the Cashbox chart on 10 September 1966, and topped the Record World chart.

Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine was issued as Capitol 5715. It sold 1,200,000 copies in just four weeks, earning The Beatles their 21st gold certification, beating the record previously held by Elvis Presley.