Give a Little Bit
"Give a Little Bit" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Supertramp | ||||
from the album Even in the Quietest Moments... | ||||
B-side | "Downstream" | |||
Released | 27 May 1977 [1] | |||
Recorded | 15 November 1976 [2] | |||
Studio | Caribou Ranch (Nederland, Colorado) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:08 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Supertramp | |||
Supertramp singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Official audio | ||||
"Give a Little Bit" on YouTube |
"Give a Little Bit" is the opening song on
Recording and composition
"Give a Little Bit" was first written by Hodgson when he was 19 or 20 years old before it was introduced to the band for recording five to six years later. Hodgson stated that the song was inspired by The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love", released during the love and peace movement of the 1960s.[5][6][7]
Hodgson said:
Even at an unwizened young age when I wrote this song, I saw that the world needed love. I believed in love – it was always for love – and I just felt that was the most important thing in life. This song has really taken on a life of its own, and I think it’s even more relevant today than when I wrote it. Because we really are needing to value love in a much deeper way, and also we’re needing to care.[8]
Drummer
Its writing credits are given to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, although it is a Hodgson composition.[9] Hodgson and Davies shared writing credits from 1974 until 1983, when Hodgson left Supertramp.
Reception
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as Supertramp's all time best song, calling it a "singalong paean to the
Hodgson rated it as one of the top 10 songs he ever wrote.[8]
Live performances
"Give a Little Bit" was recorded to be released on the live album Paris, but the song was dropped because the band members found all the available recordings of the song to be of unacceptable quality.[14]
After Hodgson had left Supertramp, the song was included in almost all his live performances. The song has also been performed by Hodgson during his tour with
After Hodgson's departure from Supertramp, the band included the song for the first time in their set list in 2002 during their One More for the Road Tour. The song was sung by Jesse Siebenberg. The band also played the song in their 70–10 Tour in 2010.[citation needed]
In popular culture
"Give a Little Bit" has been used in films such as Superman and in some commercials, such as for the Gap and to encourage giving to charity drives.[12]
Track listings
7" vinyl single (1977)
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Give a Little Bit" | 3:20 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Downstream" | 4:00 |
CD single (1990)
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Give a Little Bit" | 4:07 |
2. | "The Logical Song" (Live version) | 3:41 |
3. | "Bloody Well Right" (Live version) | 6:11 |
CD single (1992)
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Give a Little Bit" | 4:10 |
2. | "Give a Little Bit" (Live version) | 4:03 |
3. | "Breakfast in America" | 2:38 |
CD single (2012)
Give a Little Bit (with choir)
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[33] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Personnel
Credits listed by Matt Hurwitz of Mix. [35]
- 12-string acoustic guitars, 12-string Rickenbacker electric guitar, 6-string electric guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Dougie Thomson – Fender Jazz Bass
- Bob Siebenberg – drums and percussion
- Rick Davies – clavinet, piano, organ
- John Helliwell – saxophone
Goo Goo Dolls version
"Give a Little Bit" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Warner Bros. | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson | |||
Producer(s) | Goo Goo Dolls, Rob Cavallo | |||
Goo Goo Dolls singles chronology | ||||
|
In 2004, American rock band
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Give a Little Bit" | 3:35 |
2. | "Sympathy" | 2:58 |
3. | "Give a Little Bit" (acoustic version) | 3:35 |
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[37] | 45 |
Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[38] | 1 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[39] | 78 |
US Billboard Hot 100[40] | 37 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[41] | 5 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[42] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2004) | Position |
---|---|
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[43] | 60 |
Chart (2005) | Position |
---|---|
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[44] | 8 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[44] | 4 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 11 October 2004 | Hot adult contemporary radio
|
Warner Bros.
|
[45] |
29 November 2004 | Contemporary hit radio | [46] |
Other versions
In January 2005, cover versions produced and arranged by
References
- ^ "Supertramp singles".
- ^ Hurwitz, Matt (3 April 2018). "Classic Tracks: Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit"". Mixonline. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "allmusic – Supertramp – Billboard singles". Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company – Supertramp – Give a Little Bit". Official Charts. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ "Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson". Songfacts. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "Roger Hodgson - Events". K-Earth 101. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "Giving A Little Bit - A Conversation With Roger Hodgson". DPRP.net. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ a b Hodgson, Roger (20 March 2023). "Supertramp's Roger Hodgson: the 10 best songs I've written". Prog. Louder Sound. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-9691272-2-7.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 14 May 1977. p. 22. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 21 May 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ a b DeRiso, Nick (22 July 2013). "Top 10 Supertramp Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ Graff, Gary (10 October 2017). "Supertramp's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ISBN 0-9691272-2-7.
- ^ "Give a Little Bit - Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "Classics Live CD". rogerhodgsonstore.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ "Supertramp – Give a Little Bit" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Supertramp – Give a Little Bit" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5425a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Supertramp – Give a Little Bit" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Supertramp – Give a Little Bit". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Supertramp – Give a Little Bit". VG-lista. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Supertramp: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Supertramp Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 1977-08-20". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Supertramp – Give a Little Bit" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1977". Ultratop. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1977". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1977". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1977". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Supertramp - Give a Little Bit". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Supertramp – Give a Little Bit". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Classic Tracks: Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit"". 3 April 2018.
- ^ "23rd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards, Los Angeles, 2006, Most performed songs". Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ "The Goo Goo Dolls – Give a Little Bit" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1592. 4 February 2005. p. 54. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "The Goo Goo Dolls – Give a Little Bit" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. 17 December 2004. p. 26.
- ^ a b "2005 The Year in Music & Touring". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 52. 24 December 2005. p. YE-76.
- ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1576. 8 October 2004. p. 35. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1583. 26 November 2004. p. 21. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ DeMott, Rick (12 January 2005). "Cartoon Network Animates PSAs for Kids to 'Give a Little Bit' to Tsuna". Animation World Network. Retrieved 25 January 2022.