Tag: release

“Release” is the final track on Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten (1991). On Ten, it is followed by a hidden final track, “Master/Slave”.
It is the only song on the album for which all of the members of Pearl Jam received a writing credit. “Release” was written instantaneously; it was initially developed as Stone Gossard was tuning up his guitar.
A popular interpretation of the song is that lead singer Eddie Vedder is speaking to his biological father who died when Vedder was very young. Before the song starts Vedder can be heard whispering “Oh father”.
“Release” was the very first song the band performed in front of a live audience. The song was premiered live at the band’s October 22, 1990 concert in Seattle, Washington. The meditative song has gone on to become one of the band’s most popular concert openers. A live performance of the song can be found on the “Dissident” single.