In 1967, while the entire world was under the spell of The Beatles, something extraordinary happened in the UK charts. A love ballad—slow, romantic, and heartbreakingly simple—rose to the top and held its ground against the biggest band on Earth.
That song was “Release Me”, performed by Engelbert Humperdinck.
It not only introduced his warm baritone to millions around the world but also made history by keeping The Beatles’ “Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever” from reaching No.1.
It was more than just a chart victory—it was the birth of a legend.
🎼 A Forgotten Tune Reborn
“Release Me” wasn’t a new song. It had been written back in 1949 by Eddie Miller, Robert Yount, and James Pebworth, and had floated around for years as a minor country tune. But no one had managed to make it timeless—until Engelbert came along.
When he first heard the song, it was little more than a simple melody with a sorrowful plea. Yet something in its honesty drew him in. He decided to slow it down, add lush orchestration, and deliver it with the emotional control that would soon define his style.
“Please release me, let me go / For I don’t love you anymore…”
That single line, sung in his resonant, velvet tone, turned a modest tune into a universal confession. It was heartbreak made beautiful.
💔 A Gentle Goodbye That Touched Millions
Unlike most breakup songs filled with anger or regret, “Release Me” was about compassion. It was a plea for honesty and freedom—not bitterness.
Engelbert later said:
“People loved it because it wasn’t cruel. It was kind. It was a song that said goodbye with dignity.”
The song spoke to something universal—the courage it takes to end something you’ve outgrown, not with shouting, but with grace. That emotional clarity made it timeless.
🌍 The Night He Beat The Beatles
When “Release Me” was released in February 1967, no one expected much. But within weeks, it was selling over 80,000 copies a day in the UK.
By March, it had sold over 1.3 million copies in Britain alone and held the No.1 spot for six consecutive weeks.
The most remarkable part? It held that position over The Beatles’ new double single, “Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever.”
No one in music history had ever stopped The Beatles at their peak—until Engelbert did.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Engelbert later recalled. “One day I was a nobody. The next, I was the man who stopped The Beatles.”
That moment made him a household name almost overnight.
💫 The Birth of “The King of Romance”
After the success of “Release Me,” Engelbert Humperdinck became an international star. He performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance, signed a residency in Las Vegas, and began filling concert halls across America and Asia.
His elegant style—sharp suits, soft gestures, and a voice dripping with sincerity—earned him the title “The King of Romance.”
But for Engelbert, “Release Me” was never just a song. It was his identity—his emotional anchor on stage for decades.
Even today, he often ends his concerts with it, turning the simple farewell into a shared moment of gratitude with his audience.
“It’s more than a song now,” he once said. “It’s a memory I relive every night—with the people who gave me my life.”
🌹 Behind-the-Scenes: A Chance That Almost Slipped Away
Few people know that Engelbert almost didn’t get to record “Release Me.”
Decca Records originally planned to give the song to another artist. But after hearing the demo, Engelbert pleaded for the chance to sing it just once.
When he finished the take, the room went silent. The producer simply said,
“This song belongs to you.”
That moment of instinct and conviction changed everything—not only his career but the trajectory of pop music in 1967.
🌙 A Song That Time Couldn’t Erase
More than 50 years later, “Release Me” remains one of the most beloved songs of the 20th century. It has been covered by countless artists—from Elvis Presley to Ray Price—but none have captured the quiet strength and aching warmth of Engelbert’s version.
It’s a song that speaks to everyone who’s ever had to let go of love, not with anger, but with peace.
That’s why when Engelbert steps up to the microphone and sings those opening lines, audiences still fall silent.
Because in that voice, we hear something timeless—the beauty of saying goodbye with love.
🎵 Watch / Listen:
📜 Lyrics: