Release

The song “Release” has a unique backstory. It came about spontaneously when Stone Gossard, Pearl Jam’s guitarist, was playing a melody to tune his instrument. The rest of the band began to build the song around that initial riff. It was at that moment that Eddie Vedder stepped up to the microphone and, in a very emotional way, began to improvise the words that would make up most of the lyrics. For Vedder, the song became a way to process personal pain and loss; as a teenager, he discovered that the man he believed to be his father was actually his stepfather, and that his biological father had died before they could meet. The whispers heard at the beginning of the song, with Vedder’s voice saying “Oh father,” directly reflect this sentiment. After finishing the song for the first time, Vedder was so moved that he quickly stepped away, prompting Jeff Ament to approach him and ask if he was okay. This song also resonated deeply with the rest of the band, who were still grappling with the death of Andrew Wood, the former lead singer of Mother Love Bone—the band that Gossard and Ament were in before forming Pearl Jam. Vedder has shared that, although they were strangers at first, the song helped them find common ground, drawing from a similar place of experience. “Release” was one of Eddie Vedder’s first compositions with the group and, interestingly, it was the first song Pearl Jam played live at their debut concert; it has since become a frequent choice to open their shows.

With a runtime of 5 minutes and 5 seconds, “Release” closes *Ten*, Pearl Jam’s debut album, released on August 27, 1991, via Epic Records. It is the only song on this album where all band members are credited as co-writers. The band formed in Seattle, United States, in 1990, following the breakup of Mother Love Bone. Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard began rehearsing with guitarist Mike McCready, and recorded a five-song instrumental demo with Matt Cameron on drums. These recordings found their way to drummer Dave Krusen and vocalist Eddie Vedder, who were invited to audition. Many of the songs on *Ten* emerged from instrumental improvisations or Mother Love Bone tracks to which Vedder added new melodies and lyrics. Although associated with the grunge sound, *Ten* is distinguished by a more pronounced influence of classic rock.