Johnny Adams, Release Me | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 177^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Release Me” by Johnny Adams. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 177^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Release Me”, performed by 🎙 Johnny Adams. 

“Please release me / Oh, let me go, oh, yes.” Ooh-wee! The soul ballad 🎵 “Release Me” appears as the sixth track on 💿 Heart and Soul, the 1969 album by the late, great New Orleans singer, 🎙 Johnny Adams (1932 – 1998). The record was written by 🎼 ✍ Eddie Miller, James Pebworth, and Robert Yount and recorded by numerous artists prior to Adams. Notably, “Release Me” is a cover of 🎵 “Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)” by its songwriter, Eddie Miller. Despite being a cover, Johnny made “Release Me” his own.  It wasn’t a significant pop hit, sadly, but is still considered elite within his catalog, and within soul music.

The greatness of “Release Me” commences with a dramatic intro, where Johnny Adams shows off his ripe falsetto. Even with falsetto in his arsenal, Mr. Adams contains multitudes – it’s not all head voice! Overall, his performance is steeped in soul.  It’s the grit, the melisma, and nuance that make “Release Me” effective to the nth degree.  The songwriting, well established before Johnny ever touched this song, is elite.  Matters of the heart fuel the fire: “I have found a new love, dear / And I will always want her near.” Because of a new boo 🙋🏾‍♀️, Adams requests her to let him go – release him.  “You’d be a fool to cling to me.” Indeed! Besides remarkable vocals and a fabulous narrative, the arrangement and production are stellar, with the use organ within the rhythm section, female backing vocals, and glorious horns 🎺. All told, the music speaks for itself. 🎵 “Release Me” is a winner, PERIOD.

🎙 Johnny Adams • 💿 Heart and Soul • 🏷 Sun Label Group, LLC • 🗓 1969

Johnny Adams, Release Me: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 177 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sun Label Group, LLC; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]