Hallelujah Freedom ... 50th Anniversary of release ... Released 29 September 1972

Exactly 50 years ago on this date today, this little belter was released …
Almost totally different from anything I’d ever recorded before, either with the band or on my own.
I was contractually committed to Decca Deram to come up with a single for release and as usual left everything to the last minute… so, messing around on my little black upright Knight piano at home in Sunningdale one morning in the late summer of ‘72, and with my inherent love of all motor town, the three chord thematic pattern of B ♭/C…F/C and C major and the left hand pulsed low C rhythm suddenly appeared …
Undoubtably drawn from some Holland Dozier Holland classic Motown chord patterns used in songs like "You Keep Me Hanging On" and "The Onion Song", floating around and stored in my psyche 🤔
The chorus and its lyric then jumped straight out to me … a “gift”, just handed to me, as any writer will tell you, if you persevere and unlock the codes of so called inspiration floating around your own creative galaxy... they are there…. just the small problem of grabbing them…
The verse lyric had to reflect the chorus .. I struggled but got there in the end.
I booked Decca Studio 2 in W Hampstead (where I’d recorded Reflections, Rainbow etc with the band).. got my Gaylords and Marmalade buddies Raymie Duffy and Jessie Knight to play drums and bass .. just the three of us initially .. and the basic track was laid .. engineered by Honest John Burns …
I overdubbed some electric piano figures, and my Fender Strat, chopping 2 and 4 in the bar, Raymie added some percussion, which all helped drive the track.
I then got Pete Zorn to come in and try and emulate a Jnr Walker type alto sax solo which he did, although to record we had to slow the track to fit the range on the instrument to accommodate the high B♭ and A sixth note in the solo, so thats why the sax sounds slightly sped up at normal speed.
Next, I thought girlies would be good for the chorus’ ... girlies are always good .. and was lucky to get 2 belters.. Barry St John and Doris Troy,
( I was the “3rd girl” on the three part harmony … must say it was surreal to stand around a microphone with the great Doris Troy ).
I was fortunate to have all of these people on the track which sounded great in the studio and so I really went for it with the main vocal, with a real hard vocal to try and make it sound authentic.
Many years later, at the Heroes&Villains Concert in ’82 at the then Hammersmith Odeon, the great Chris Farlowe said to me “you really went for it on that song son” … which meant a great deal to me.
The single, on release, was promoted by great plugger and good mate Mike Beaton who had plugged all the Marms stuff at Starlite Artists and it got great reviews and great support from the BBC jocks like Tony Blackburn, Noel Edmunds, DLT, et al incl my pal David Hamilton … it was a big radio hit across the UK and hit the top ten nationally soon after… did well in Europe too ...
Top of the Pops time!! 😎 although unfortunately, (maybe fortunately), all my appearances and of other artists at that time have been wiped by the BBC...
Looking back, and with the benefit of hindsight, it was a bold move, but left me with a big problem … I had to follow it up!!
I didn’t much care for the solo spotlight … and certainly had my fill of touring after a straight ten years with the band.
All I wanted to do was write film music … ungrateful git!
Just 18 months since I had left the band ...
all 50 years ago …

[@missasinenomine]

The background ladies are super!

[@raphaelrau1728]

Amazing song! Should have got to Number 1 in the UK and US imo!

[@lynneinnz56]

I love this song! Its hard to believe it was 50 years ago JC!

[@georgemaylor677]

SONG BY JR.CAMBELL. CLASSIC

[@RJJ198]

Absolute classic song, a massive Marmalade fan, this is a natural progression from band member to recognised Artist.

[@alanlogan250]

Always a 70s classic and a Scot from Glasgow

[@stewartcrawford3372]

Another great recording from Junior Campbell was Sweet Illusion. The sort of song which was difficult to get it out of your head once you heard it. Still play it today

[@Ken_Dodds_Tickling_Stick]

I still have the original single and still play it regularly on my Decca hifi 25 music centre I bought in 1976 and still sounds as fresh today as it did way back then. Junior.....all the best from sunny Shotts

[@bvswasgood2981]

One of your greatest’s Junior. As someone who loves your music it’s a shame you never did more solo stuff, but completely understand why

[@lawdogwales5921]

Wow! That was great. Never heard it before. Maybe it didn't get much airplay in the United States fifty years ago. Thanks for sharing it Junior. It definitely has a Motown feel.

[@BassistPaul]

Great - and brings back memories of my first weeks at Kneller Hall, a few months short of my 18th birthday. (It was a welcome relief from "Maggie May", which was played almost continuously on radio and jukeboxes!).

[@RETV62]

Stunning track! Always been a fav of mine!!…..👌

[@raymondgill9796]

Great song and all the more enjoyable by having the written breakdown above. Magic!

[@JuniorCampbellmusic]

Thanks Raymond .. hope you’re well

[@tonypringle7598]

Sounds as immediate as it did all those years ago, it has a great driven lilt that carries you along, sublime vocals musicianship writing, Like Abraham Martin and John grabs you at the start thank you Junior. Brilliant song notes too very informative.

[@felixfelix7447]

Alright indeed 😎

[@fs.pureblood]

Haven't heard this in such a long time.

[@tokevmur]

Great to hear this. Greetings from Sydney!

[@Jade447]

I've heard this song a lot. Beautifull!! I love the beginning... the 2.51 interval sound is fantastic!

[@SuperGunzilla]

Absolute favorite of mine, this is amazing !! :3

[@Eaglesmusic]

Love this song Junior, one of the best you have. 😊❤

[@pete9372]

Love this track, thx Jnr👍🍻

[@sob-iLs]

Great back in the day, Jr Walker inspired song to me. Chairman of the board Elmo James out the same time. Good tunes back then 👌

[@cesarcargnin8030]

Parabéns pelo belo som.

[@shanegahan4341]

I still have my original 45 of this...brilliant

[@GJB1]

Junior, did you know that the Top Of The Pops performance dated 2/11/72 exists. It was recovered a couple of years ago on Computer Tape by Kaleidoscope, I'll send you an email with the details in a mo, if you contact Chris Perry I'm sure he'll license a copy to you? GJ (the Archive Detective)

[@JuniorCampbellmusic]

Thanks Gavin.. pm’d you

[@kenmortimer7958]

Backing vocals by Barry St. John and Doris Troy?

[@JuniorCampbellmusic]

Yup .. all the detail at the top

[@doblackford]

'I had to follow it up!! ' 'Sweet Illusion' is to my ears one of the greatest singles ever. So joyous. But if JC were to read this, could he say whether it is 'life' or 'love' in the lyric? I cant find the lyrics anywhere.

[@JuniorCampbellmusic]

“Your life’s an illusion … just a Sweet Sweet Illusion ..

[@doblackford]

​@@JuniorCampbellmusic thank you so much, Junior. It was a favourite of mine in 1973 and that hasn't changed. It's a very special song to me (and I had always hoped that 'life' was the word).

[@Ryleybags]

I loved this song when it first came out when I was 17. is the bass tab available anywhere ?