Comments on: ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK - “Release Me”

By: richard thompson

richard thompson — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:15:39 +0000

Englebert sang Penny Lane years later on a Beatles tribute show, at the time the Beatles single seemed too off the wall as I read in another magazine.

By: Dan R

Dan R — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:32:02 +0000

I had distinctly mixed emotions reading that.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:25:58 +0000

And the Johnny Adams version is also amazing - it’s hard not to love a record which starts with that kind of vocal fireworks.

By: DJ Punctum

DJ Punctum — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:09:08 +0000

I have now heard the Esther Phillips version which unsurprisingly knocks the ‘Dinck into the cockiest of hats.

By: and everybody elses Mark G

and everybody elses Mark G — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:59:11 +0000

# 19

I was all “Wha? When? how?” until I saw it’s some other Mark G…

By: wichita lineman

wichita lineman — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:13:51 +0000

A pedant writes…

Re 14, I’m sorry to report that Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields got stuck at 2 in the NME chart as well. Number 1 in the US though which counts for more than a little.

By: pat carroll

pat carroll — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:05:23 +0000

As I remember “Please Release Me” was background music on a Westinghouse Studio One episode. Early 50’s, don’t recall who the singer was. But I do recall anyone watching the episode remembered the catchy, melancholy song. That had to help its popularity. Any way to find out what year and who sang this?

By: Andy Pebworth

Andy Pebworth — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:22:32 +0000

My father was one of the writers “James Pebworth”. They song was sold to person unknown for a “SONG”. In was practically stolen back in the 50’s. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the sale sometime in the late 80’s or early 90’s.

By: l

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 01:36:23 +0000

…and it took 3 men to write that (short) song?

By: l

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 01:18:33 +0000

Question to think about… he wrote it in 1946, why was it not recorded until 1953, 7 years later, something that was such a big hit? According to another site, it was because he couldn’t find anyone to record it????

By: l

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:52:14 +0000

The song was stolen, and I know who really wrote it.

By: Bettylu Wight

Bettylu Wight — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:51:31 +0000

Michael 12/14/06
You are so totally on the ball. There will never be another Engelbert Humperdinck, who can hold a sold out crowd in awe of his charisma and stage presence for 90 minutes. He is an awesome entertainer and knows how to hold his audiences in the palm of his hands. He probably won’t be around too much longer, how can a man go for 40 yrs with his talent and not eventually need a rest. God bless the man who has entertained so many and bought good music to us all.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 23:20:34 +0000

Engelbert Humperdinck never had enough the respect and recognition he deserved! Apart from his star on the Walk of fame, Golden Globe for Entertainer of the year and 5 Grammy Nominations, Honorary Degree in Music - University of Leicester UK and his fanbase who’s the largest in the world by 8 million members !!! He’s truly a wonderful all round performer and a voice to die for. I’ve met him several times and he is really lovely. He is one of the last real performers who can entertain an audience just with his charisma, stage presence,voice and a good band. HE IS TOTALLY AMAZING :-)

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 10:14:30 +0000

I agree with those who say that Engelbert has a wonderful voice and is a wonderful performer. I have had the pleasure to meet him several times in my life and I for certain will never forget or cease to admire and care for him He is a truly lovely and talented person. How many of those coming to your website are worth over $100M? This must surely be a reflection of a special man.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 08:58:16 +0000

Best comment ever!

By: Garneta Miller Johnston

Garneta Miller Johnston — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 19:46:25 +0000

A little information for you on the song “Release Me” written by Eddie Miller. It was first recorded by The songwriter himself and then Jimmy Heap made a hit with it. after Ray price recorded it, it was off and running. Humperdinck made it #1 around the world. It has been recorded by so many artists that I have lost track. For those of you who think it is a terrible song, The songwriter’s royalties last year (2005), fifty two years after it was written, was in excess of $120,000.00. I bet any of you would love to write a bad song just like it. As one of Eddie;s four heirs I have to leave now and go to the bank. HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 02:16:00 +0000

Release Me has been one of the favorites since 1967. I attended my first Engelbert concert this month and found his voice to be as great as ever and his performance outstanding. I think some of the earler comments above are way off base… Engelbert is great and so are his hits.
EH Fan 4/17/06

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 23:28:00 +0000

Agree that Engelbert is a fabulous professional singer. As for his showmanship it is exceptional He is totally charismatic. Once you’ve seen him you never forget him. His voices is just fabulous - this being the reason why Michael Boublay (spelling) and others just listen and listen to Engelbert’s music today. He has sold so many records and he is truly, truly professional and a lovely person.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 09:01:00 +0000

hi engelbert!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:58:00 +0000

are you people deaf or just ignorant? engelbert is an incredible vocalist with a 3 and a half octave range. he has sold over 130 million records, has been a legend for over 40 years and continues to sell out venues. he kept the beatles from number one because release me is a great song done by a great artist never given his due except by his fans (who are many) who recognize his incredible ability that seems to be lost on a lot of you. too bad you can’t appreciate true talent. see an engelbert concert and realize what showmanship, charisma, star power and singing ability is all about.

By: ITF

ITF — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 11:43:00 +0000

I think it's quite interesting that the singles market was so diverse at this time. Singles were bought by every age group hence a piece of bland pop like this could be hoisted to the top of the charts by the older singles buyers over-powering the (presumably more cash strapped) teen market who would have been buying the more contemporary pop of The Beatles, Stones, Who etc. (possibly the fact that they would tend towards a favourite artist diluted sales of any one particular record).

I always imagine that this sort of record would have been played endlessly at smoky, dingy working mens clubs. Also Engelbert would have been heavily promoted on TV variety shows almost exclusively aimed at the middle-aged market (as was Doddy before) thus ensuring long painful stays in the charts.

ITF

By: Chris Brown

Chris Brown — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 23:37:00 +0000

Not having been around in 1967 myself, I can honestly claim to have disliked this record long before I knew that it had kept the Beatles off the top.

It’s still a curious thing to consider though; people always remember it for what landed behind it, but it also holds the record for the longest-ever continuous chart run (James Blunt can’t beat it). I didn’t know about the B-side thing before, and that might be the explanation.

By: p^nk s

p^nk s — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 14:58:00 +0000

hmm apologies for needless snippiness which plz to be gracious and ignore mark g: i have a stupid pressure headache this morning which is no excuse

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 14:40:00 +0000

plus, “Release Me” isn’t a waltz.

By: p^nk s

p^nk s — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 14:33:00 +0000

i’d be more drawn to mark g’s sweeping contempt for a. the middle-aged and b. cynicism if he used it to explore two facts viz i. he is himself currently middle-aged and ii. his own default response is cynicism