I Shall Be Released - wikipedia I Shall Be Released `` I Shall Be Released '' Song by The Band from the album Music from Big Pink Released July 1, 1968 ( 1968 - 07 - 01 ) Genre Roots rock Length 3 : 19 Label Capitol Songwriter ( s ) Bob Dylan Producer ( s ) John Simon Music from Big Pink track listing `` This Wheel 's on Fire '' ( 10 ) `` I Shall Be Released '' ( 11 ) `` I Shall Be Released '' Song by Bob Dylan from the album Bob Dylan 's Greatest Hits Vol. II Released November 17, 1971 ( 1971 - 11 - 17 ) Recorded September 24, 1971 Genre Folk rock gospel blues Length 3 : 03 Songwriter ( s ) Bob Dylan Producer ( s ) Leon Russell Bob Dylan 's Greatest Hits Vol. II track listing `` When I Paint My Masterpiece '' ( 18 ) `` I Shall Be Released '' ( 19 ) `` You Ai n't Goin ' Nowhere '' ( 20 ) `` I Shall Be Released '' Song by The Heptones Released 1969 Recorded 1969 Genre Reggae Label Coxsone / Studio One Songwriter ( s ) Bob Dylan Producer ( s ) C.S. Dodd `` I Shall Be Released '' is a 1967 song written by Bob Dylan. The Band recorded the first officially - released version of the song for their 1968 debut album, Music from Big Pink, with Richard Manuel singing lead vocals, and Rick Danko and Levon Helm harmonizing in the chorus. The song was also performed near the end of the Band 's 1976 farewell concert, The Last Waltz, in which all the night 's performers ( with the exception of Muddy Waters ) plus Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood appeared on the same stage. Additional live recordings by the Band were included on the 1974 concert album Before the Flood and the 2001 expanded CD reissue of Rock of Ages. Dylan recorded two primary versions. The first recording was made in collaboration with the Band during the `` basement tapes '' sessions in 1967, and eventually released on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1 -- 3 in 1991. ( A remixed version of this 1967 take was rereleased, along with a preliminary take, on The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 : The Basement Tapes Complete in 2014. ) Of the initial demo, Rolling Stone 's Jann Wenner had said, `` Curiously enough the music in this song and the high pleading sound of Dylan 's voice reminds one of the Bee Gees. '' Dylan recorded the song a second time ( with a significantly different arrangement and altered lyrics, and accompanied by Happy Traum ) in 1971, releasing this new version on Bob Dylan 's Greatest Hits Vol. II. In 1969, the Jamaican harmony group the Heptones covered `` I Shall Be Released '' as a reggae tune for Studio One and then later on in 1976 at Lee `` Scratch '' Perry 's Black Ark studio and label for the album Party Time. Contents 1 Style and content 2 Other versions 3 Personnel on the Band version 4 Published, print 5 References Style and content The song is influenced by gospel music, combining imagery of religious redemption, or release from sin, with implied literal release from prison. David Yaffe describes it as a song about `` redeemed prisoners ''. The singer describes life behind a wall reflecting on every man `` who put me here '' and a man `` who swears he 's not to blame '' who is `` crying out that he was framed ''. He repeats that `` any day now '' he will be released. Mike Marqusee says that `` the first person narrator speaks from a prison cell. Prison -- and more broadly the cruelty of the justice system -- is a leitmotif in Dylan 's work '', but that Dylan broadens the idea of imprisonment to link social issues with a seemingly ancient urge for freedom. Clinton Heylin writes in his book `` Revolution In The Air '' : Prisons of the body and the mind seem to have preyed on Dylan 's mind throughout his time spent with the boys on retainer. Among the songs recorded at early basement sessions were covers of `` Folsom Prison Blues '' and `` The Banks of the Royal Canal '' ( the latter is particularly affecting ), both songs written -- metaphorically -- from inside prison walls. Dylan then takes a leaf from Johnny Cash and Brendan Behan ( brother of Dominic Behan ), authors of those earlier songs, by writing his own prison song, `` I Shall Be Released. '' He is characteristically careful not to confuse simplicity of construction with a commensurate simplicity of meaning. The release that he is singing about -- and that Richard Manuel echoes -- is not from mere prison bars but rather from the cage of physical existence, the same cage that corrodes on Visions of Johanna. Like a number of Dylan 's greatest songs -- including that other reluctant rabble - rouser, `` Knockin ' on Heaven 's Door '' -- its solipsistic self would be turned inside out by simpletons ( after the Band, that is ) as this highly personal song was made a communal anthem by organizations like Amnesty International, for which it was always a song with one meaning alone. Other versions Photograph of The Last Waltz. The Band with Bob Dylan and other guests performing I Shall Be Released. seated behind instruments : Garth Hudson ( organ ), Ringo Starr ( drums ), Levon Helm ( drums ) standing : Dr. John, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell ( hidden ), Neil Young, Rick Danko ( Bass ), Van Morrison, Bob Dylan ( guitar ), Ronnie Hawkins, Robbie Robertson ( guitar ) not shown : Richard Manuel, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood `` I Shall Be Released '' has been covered by many artists. It has been recorded : by The Youngbloods ; The Earl Scruggs Revue ; Jeff Buckley ; The Marmalade ; Joan Baez ; Peter, Paul and Mary ; Joe Cocker ; Tremeloes ; Bette Midler ; The Box Tops ; The Byrds ; Ricky Nelson ; Aaron Neville ; Melissa Etheridge ; Coheed and Cambria ; Tom Robinson Band ; Nina Simone ; The Slackers ; Paul Weller ; Jerry Garcia Band ; Sting ; The Deftones ; The Hollies ; Pearls Before Swine ; OK Go ; Beth Rowley ; Ken Lazarus ; Big Mama Thornton ; Chatham County Line ; The Flying Burrito Brothers ; Jack Johnson ; Gov 't Mule ; Martin Harley ; Kiosk ; Dino McGartland with Laurence Jones ; James Blundell ; Miriam Makeba ; Boz ; Mahotella Queens ; Jacob Miller ; Bobby McFerrin ; Black Oak Arkansas ; Marion Williams ; Wilco ; Zac Brown Band ; Kesha and by Half Moon Run. Elvis Presley. Personnel on the Band version Richard Manuel -- lead vocal, harmony vocals on chorus, piano Rick Danko -- bass guitar, harmony vocal on chorus Levon Helm -- drums ( snare drum strings strummed by hand ), harmony vocal on chorus Garth Hudson -- Rocksichord organ Robbie Robertson -- acoustic guitar Published, print Rise Up Singing page 102, states copyright 1967 and 1976. References Jump up ^ Jann Wenner ( 1968 - 06 - 22 ). `` Dylan 's Basement Tape Should Be Released ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 06. Jump up ^ David Yaffe, The Many Roads of Bob Dylan, Yale University Press, 2011, p. 15 Jump up ^ Mike Marqusee, Wicked Messenger : Bob Dylan and the 1960s, Seven Stories Press, 2005, p. 238 - 40. Jump up ^ Clinton Heylin, Revolution in the Air ( The Songs of Bob Dylan 1957 -- 1973 ) Bob Dylan ( discography ) Studio albums Bob Dylan The Freewheelin ' Bob Dylan The Times They Are a-Changin ' Another Side of Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home Highway 61 Revisited Blonde on Blonde John Wesley Harding Nashville Skyline Self Portrait New Morning Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Dylan Planet Waves Blood on the Tracks The Basement Tapes Desire Street - Legal Slow Train Coming Saved Shot of Love Infidels Empire Burlesque Knocked Out Loaded Down in the Groove Oh Mercy Under the Red Sky Good as I Been to You World Gone Wrong Time Out of Mind Love and Theft Modern Times Together Through Life Christmas in the Heart Tempest Shadows in the Night Fallen Angels Triplicate Live albums Before the Flood Hard Rain Bob Dylan at Budokan Real Live Dylan & the Dead The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration MTV Unplugged Live 1961 -- 2000 : Thirty - Nine Years of Great Concert Performances Live at The Gaslight 1962 Live at Carnegie Hall 1963 In Concert -- Brandeis University 1963 The 1966 Live Recordings Compilations Bob Dylan 's Greatest Hits Bob Dylan 's Greatest Hits Vol. II Masterpieces Biograph Bob Dylan 's Greatest Hits Volume 3 The Best of Bob Dylan ( 1997 ) The Best of Bob Dylan, Vol. 2 The Essential Bob Dylan Bob Dylan : The Collection The Best of Bob Dylan ( 2005 ) Blues Dylan The Original Mono Recordings The 50th Anniversary Collection Bob Dylan : The Complete Album Collection Vol. One The 50th Anniversary Collection 1963 The 50th Anniversary Collection 1964 Bootlegs Great White Wonder List of Basement Tapes songs ( 1967, 1975 ) The Bootleg Series Volumes 1 -- 3 ( Rare & Unreleased ) 1961 -- 1991 Volume 4 : The Royal Albert Hall concert Vol. 5 : Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue Vol. 6 : Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall Vol. 7 : No Direction Home : The Soundtrack Vol. 8 : Tell Tale Signs : Rare and Unreleased 1989 -- 2006 Vol. 9 : The Witmark Demos : 1962 -- 1964 Vol. 10 : Another Self Portrait ( 1969 -- 1971 ) Vol. 11 : The Basement Tapes Complete Vol. 12 : The Cutting Edge 1965 -- 1966 Vol. 13 : Trouble No More 1979 -- 1981 Concert tours England Tour ( 1965 ) World Tour ( 1966 ) Tour with The Band ( 1974 ) Rolling Thunder Revue ( 1975 -- 1976 ) World Tour ( 1978 ) Gospel Tour ( 1979 -- 1980 ) World Tour ( 1981 ) European Tour ( 1984 ) True Confessions Tour ( 1986 ) Tour with the Grateful Dead ( 1987 ) Temples in Flames Tour ( 1987 ) Never Ending Tour 2017 Films Madhouse on Castle Street Dont Look Back Eat the Document Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid Renaldo and Clara Hearts of Fire Masked and Anonymous No Direction Home I 'm Not There 65 Revisited The Other Side of the Mirror : Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963 -- 1965 Inside Llewyn Davis Writings Tarantula Writings and Drawings Chronicles : Volume One Books about Dylan The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia Bob Dylan, Performing Artist Invisible Republic The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan Related Sara Dylan ( first wife ) Carolyn Dennis ( second wife ) Jesse Dylan ( son ) Jakob Dylan ( son ) Awards Bibliography Songs written by Dylan The Band Electric Dylan controversy Theme Time Radio Hour Traveling Wilburys Artists who have covered Dylan songs Chimes of Freedom ( album ) The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams Lost on the River : The New Basement Tapes Related topics Songs recorded by Dylan Suze Rotolo American folk music revival The Telegraph magazine Book Portal The Band Rick Danko Levon Helm Garth Hudson Richard Manuel Robbie Robertson Richard Bell Randy Ciarlante Stan Szelest Jim Weider Studio albums Music from Big Pink The Band Stage Fright Cahoots Moondog Matinee Northern Lights -- Southern Cross Islands Jericho High On The Hog Jubilation with Bob Dylan Planet Waves The Basement Tapes Live albums Rock of Ages Before the Flood The Last Waltz ( 1978 album ) Live at Watkins Glen The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 : Bob Dylan Live 1966 The Last Waltz ( 2002 album ) Live at the Academy of Music 1971 Compilations The Best of The Band Anthology To Kingdom Come Across The Great Divide The Best of The Band, Vol. II Greatest Hits A Musical History The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 : The Basement Tapes Complete Films The Last Waltz Festival Express Singles `` Uh - Uh - Uh '' `` The Stones I Throw '' `` Go Go Liza Jane '' `` The Weight '' / `` I Shall Be Released '' `` Rag Mama Rag '' / `` The Unfaithful Servant '' `` Up on Cripple Creek '' / `` The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down '' `` Time to Kill '' / `` The Shape I 'm In '' `` Life Is a Carnival '' `` On a Night Like This '' ( with Bob Dylan ) `` Most Likely You Go Your Way ( And I 'll Go Mine ) '' ( with Bob Dylan ) `` Ophelia '' `` Atlantic City '' Other songs `` Tears of Rage '' `` We Can Talk '' `` Long Black Veil '' `` Chest Fever '' `` Lonesome Suzie `` This Wheel 's on Fire '' `` Across the Great Divide '' `` When You Awake '' `` Whispering Pines '' `` Jemima Surrender '' `` Look Out Cleveland '' `` King Harvest ( Has Surely Come ) '' `` Sleeping '' `` The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show '' `` Daniel and the Sacred Harp '' `` Stage Fright '' `` When I Paint My Masterpiece '' `` Do n't Do It '' `` Mystery Train '' `` Acadian Driftwood '' `` It Makes No Difference '' `` Georgia on My Mind '' `` Blind Willie McTell '' Related Discography Bob Dylan Bob Dylan World Tour 1966 Bob Dylan and The Band 1974 Tour Cate Brothers Ronnie Hawkins List of Basement Tapes songs List of Basement Tapes songs ( 1975 ) No Reason to Cry John Simon This Wheel 's on Fire : Levon Helm and the Story of The Band Allen Toussaint Freddie Scott Songs `` Hey, Girl '' `` I Got A Woman '' `` Are You Lonely For Me '' `` Cry to Me '' `` I Shall Be Released '' Miriam Makeba Studio albums The Many Voices of Miriam Makeba ( 1960 ) Miriam Makeba ( 1960 ) The World of Miriam Makeba ( 1963 ) The Voice of Africa ( 1964 ) Makeba Sings ! ( 1965 ) An Evening with Belafonte / Makeba ( 1965 ) The Magic of Makeba ( 1965 ) The Magnificent Miriam Makeba ( 1966 ) All About Miriam ( 1966 ) Pata Pata ( 1967 ) Makeba ! ( 1968 ) Keep Me in Mind ( 1970 ) A Promise ( 1974 ) Miriam Makeba & Bongi ( 1975 ) Country Girl ( 1978 ) Comme une symphonie d'amour ( 1979 ) Sangoma ( 1988 ) Welela ( 1989 ) Eyes on Tomorrow ( 1991 ) Sing Me a Song ( 1994 ) Homeland ( 2000 ) Reflections ( 2004 ) Compilations Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba ( 1975 ) The Queen of African Music ( 1987 ) Africa ( 1991 ) Singles `` The House of the Rising Sun '' ( 1960 ) `` The Click Song '' / `` The Lion Sleeps Tonight '' ( 1963 ) `` Malaika '' / `` Malcolm X '' ( 1965 ) `` Pata Pata '' ( 1967 ) `` Mas que Nada '' ( 1967 ) `` I Shall Be Released '' / `` Iphi Ndilela ( Show Me the Way ) '' ( 1969 ) `` Soweto Blues '' ( 1988 ) `` Brand New Day '' `` Chauffeur Blues '' `` Nkosi Sikelel ' iAfrika '' People Bongi Makeba ( daughter ) Hugh Masekela ( 3rd husband ) Stokely Carmichael ( 4th husband ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Shall_Be_Released&oldid=798269998 '' Categories : 1967 songs Bob Dylan songs Jeff Buckley songs Joe Cocker songs Miriam Makeba songs Nina Simone songs Songs about prison Song recordings produced by John Simon ( record producer ) Songs written by Bob Dylan The Band songs The Youngbloods songs Tom Robinson songs Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 31 August 2017, at 22 : 56. 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Question: who sang i shall be released the band
Answer: The Band