Engelbert Humperdinck
Change of name a success story
The man known as Gerry Dorsey got a new identity in 1965 when Gordon
Mills, his manager changed his name to Engelbert Humperdinck and he
gained his first recording contract with Decca.
This was the time, the Beatles sparked a social revolution and blazed
to the top of the hit parade with every song they recorded and with no
challenges. But in 1967, the legendary Beatles suffered a setback and
the new voice that proved to the world that the Beatles were not
invincible was that of Engelbert Humperdinck. Gordon Mills while driving
home, heard an instrumental version of ‘Release Me’ and he made up his
mind that Engelbert Humperdinck was going to record the song with
lyrics. Mills got in touch with the publishers, added another verse to
the lyrics and made Engelbert Humperdinck record the song.
 With inspiration and quick thinking, he executed an adriot move.
Through the grapevine he learnt that singer Dickie Valentine was ill
with influenza and had been forced to withdraw from his top of the bill
spot in the popular TV show “Sunday Night At The London Palladium”.
Mills didn’t hesitate.
He called the impressario Val Parnell and in a slick piece of
salesmanship ‘sold’ Engelbert Humperdinck to sing ‘Release Me’ on the
show. The following morning ‘Release Me’ crossed thousands of Britain’s
record shop counters and began selling at a rate of 100,000 copies a
day. Engelbert Humperdinck hit the high spots and the song ‘Release Me’,
a gold winner all the way is a hit favourite even today.
Release Me
Lyrics
Please release me, let me go
For I 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
Release me, my darling, let me go
Please release me, let me go
For I don’t love you anymore
To waste my life would be a sin
So release me and let me love again
Please release me, can’t you see
You’d be a fool to cling to me
To live our lives would bring us pain
So release me and let me love again
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