I Shall Be Released Song: The Band Album: Music from Big Pink Released: July 1, 1968 Genre: Roots rock Songwriter: Bob Dylan Rolling Stones magazine lists "I Shall Be Released" as number 6 of the 100 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs. Dylan wrote it in 1967, and the Band released it on their 1968 debut album, Music from Big Pink . Near the end of their 1976 farewell concert, The Last Waltz , all the evening's musicians except Muddy Waters—plus Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood—performed the song on the same stage.