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Release Me

Rating:
3.9 / 5

Words & Music: Eddie Miller Robert Yount Dub Williams

Oh please release me, let me go
For I just don't love you anymore
To waste our lives would be a sin
Release me and let me love again

I have found a new love dear
And I will always want her near
Her lips are warm while yours are cold
Oh release me, my darling let me go

Please release me, let me go
For I just don't love you anymore
To waste our lives would be a sin
Release me and let me love again

Let me go, oh release me, my darling
Let me go

Recordingdate: 1970/02/18, first released on: On Stage (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Release Me:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Others*

(baton)
(guitar)
(drums)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(bells)
(chimes)
(tambourine)
(tympani)
(vibes)
(clarinet)
(clarinet)
(clarinet)
(clarinet)
(flute)
(flute)
(flute)
(flute)
(french horn)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with Release Me.

bastiaanvinke wrote on June 04, 2009
Would have loved to see this song performed live.
ElFan wrote on October 22, 2009
You can watch Elvis singing this live on the 'Lost Performances' VHS.
old shep wrote on October 22, 2009
Never cared for the song and Elvis' version fully justified that opinion
Monster wrote on October 22, 2009
I think this is quite a different, pretty exciting version of the song. Altough I do like Engelbert Humperdink's version a lot it's so smooth and straight compared to Elvis's. The On Stage version has so much more bounce and rhythm going for it. Perhaps some would say it's got too much Vegas bombast about it but hey, there's nothing wrong with a little bombast, especially when it's sung with the rawness and energy Elvis put into it. And I bet it was a hell of a lot of fun to be in the room when he performed it live.
dgirl wrote on October 22, 2009
Quite a good version based on Esther Phillips 1962 recording. A liitle too much Veags for me, but still enjoyable.
bajo wrote on October 22, 2009
When I saw the title on the back of the On Stage album back then I was very curious of how Elvis would beat Engelbert's version. I simply could not imagine Elvis doing a song like that the Hump way. But, to my surprise and pleasure it was almost like a different song. I loved it and still do, especially the On Stage version. I think the On Tour version as found on The Lost Performances is very good as well. It's done in the same way as I Can't Stop Loving You as a hard rockin' ballad! Done during the years when Elvis could still do no wrong!
My boy, my boy wrote on October 22, 2009
Definitely a favorite of mine. I love both Elvis's and Engelbert's versions.
Ruthie wrote on October 23, 2009
Another reason why I have to love this man & his music. Engelbert's version put me to sleep. Elvis' version has feeling. I never would have paid much attention to it otherwise.
TCB1974 wrote on November 16, 2011
A very enjoyable recording that Elvis brought in raw style compared to Engelbert. That being said, it is probably my least favorite song on the On Stage album, not in the same camp as really raw performances like See See Rider or Proud Mary. Three stars from me.
Natha wrote on November 16, 2011
Not a very exciting song, but at least it is way better than other versions I ever heard. He made this song his own by expressing it the way HE felt and not just copying others. And that's what ,adehim the King of Music all the way.
Gorse wrote on January 04, 2013
Will always be associated with Englebert and rightfully so, as he made it his own with a superb performance. Not my favourite song by any means but Elvis brings his own style to the party and creates a satisfactory alternative.
sugartummy wrote on April 27, 2013
Play it hard now, says Elvis in the intro. Could have been much harder in my opinion. A great singalong nonetheless.
Deano1 wrote on October 03, 2013
Solid rendition of a song that was written in 1946. Oddly enough nobody wanted to record when it was first written (hard to believe it kept a Beatles single out of #1 in Great Britain when it was released by Engelbert in 1967.). Elvis must have liked it as he periodically sang it in concert right up to the end. Three stars for the song and the same for the LP. It was a novel approach in '70 releasing an LP of Elvis' live versions of songs made popular by others. In some cases, he made the song his or at least equaled the original ("Polk Salad Annie", "See See Rider", "The Wonder Of You", "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"). On a few he left his mark even if he didn't supplant the original ("Sweet Caroline", "Proud Mary", "Let It Be Me" and this one). On two, he did a credible job, but not one that rivals the original ("Yesterday" - the full medley should have been included with "Hey Jude" and "Runaway"). None of the songs rank as all time favorites in my book and I guess that is why I am lukewarm to the LP and this song.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 04, 2013
I've always liked Elvis' renditions of this classic song, but I believe that Engelbert Humperdinck has the very best renditions of it.
Cruiser621 wrote on May 09, 2017
Excellent song as far as his live shows went, a period I was really not all that enamored with to be honest. One of his better live songs.
JerryNodak wrote on May 09, 2017
Back in the day when I was 20 and first heard this track on the On Stage LP I loved it. But over the years it has not worn well with me. I grew tired of it.
Miknik7077 wrote on August 10, 2020
Solid rendition. Love the On Stage performance more than the others.
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