Give A Little Bit
Encyclopedia
"Give a Little Bit" is the opening song on Supertramp
's 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments.... The song was released as a single that same year and became an international hit for the band, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart
. The single was re-released in 1992 to raise funds for the ITV Telethon
Charity event, but failed to chart.
Its writing credits are given to Rick Davies
and Roger Hodgson
, members of the band, although it is a Hodgson composition. Like John Lennon and Paul McCartney
of The Beatles
, Hodgson and Davies shared writing credits from 1974 until 1983, when Hodgson left Supertramp to pursue a solo career. Roger Hodgson's trademark staccato electric piano playing is absent here, and the song is characterized by the ringing tones of 12-string acoustic guitars, which is joined by a Hohner
Clavinet
through a Leslie speaker
in the bridge of the song.
, but due to time constraints the song was dropped. After Hodgson had left Supertramp, it was included in almost all his live performances. The song has also been performed by Hodgson during his tour with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
in 2001, a recording appears on the album Ringo Starr and Friends
. On Sunday 1 July 2007, Roger Hodgson sang this song as his finale for his short set at the Concert for Diana
, held in Wembley Stadium in London.
After Hodgson's departure from Supertramp, the band includes the song for the first time in their set list in 2002 during One More For The Road Tour. The song was sung by Jesse Siebenberg.
They also play the song in their 70-10 Tour since September 2010.
covered the song, releasing it as a single. It peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in February, 2005. It was first covered (partially) in 2001, when guitarist/lead vocalist Johnny Rzeznik
appeared in an ad for The Gap
singing the song along with other artists. The song later appeared as a track on their hit album Let Love In
. In May 2006, their version of "Give a Little Bit" was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in recognition of being one of the most played songs in the ASCAP repertoire in 2005.
film The Invention of Lying
.
The song was used in commercials for Gap
during Christmas season 2001. Some of the artists who performed the song in the ads were Robbie Robertson
, Sheryl Crow
, Liz Phair
, Dwight Yoakam
, India.Arie
, Lisa Lopes
, Seal
, Alanis Morissette
, Macy Gray
, Shaggy, and Johnny Rzeznik
of the Goo Goo Dolls
. It was also recorded by Emmerson Nogueira
for his album Versão Acústica
(2001) and by the Polish band Budka Suflera
. In Malaysia, it was used in a drug abuse prevention commercial in 1979-80 produced by the Malaysian Anti-Drug Abuse Agency (PEMADAM).
To help raise support for the victims of the 2004 tsunami and 2005 hurricane
, Cartoon Network
ran a series of ads with various artists singing the song along with several snapshots of various shows. It is also currently used in television commercials by McCain Foods.
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
's 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments.... The song was released as a single that same year and became an international hit for the band, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The single was re-released in 1992 to raise funds for the ITV Telethon
ITV Telethon
The ITV Telethons were three charity telethons organised and televised in the UK by the ITV network. They took place in 1988, 1990 and 1992. Each lasted for 27 hours and all were hosted by Michael Aspel.- Thames Telethon :...
Charity event, but failed to chart.
Its writing credits are given to Rick Davies
Rick Davies
Rick Davies is an English musician, best known as the founder and keyboardist of progressive rock band Supertramp...
and Roger Hodgson
Roger Hodgson
Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
, members of the band, although it is a Hodgson composition. Like John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Lennon/McCartney
The Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Hodgson and Davies shared writing credits from 1974 until 1983, when Hodgson left Supertramp to pursue a solo career. Roger Hodgson's trademark staccato electric piano playing is absent here, and the song is characterized by the ringing tones of 12-string acoustic guitars, which is joined by a Hohner
Hohner
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner , Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the...
Clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
through a Leslie speaker
Leslie speaker
The Leslie speaker is a specially constructed amplifier/loudspeaker used to create special audio effects using the Doppler effect. Named after its inventor, Donald Leslie, it is particularly associated with the Hammond organ but is used with a variety of instruments as well as vocals. The...
in the bridge of the song.
Live performances
"Give a Little Bit" was recorded to be released on the live album ParisParis (Supertramp album)
Paris is a live album by progressive rock band Supertramp, released in 1980 . The album was recorded on Supertramp's Breakfast in America tour in November 1979 in Paris, France at the Pavillon de Paris, a venue which was once a slaughterhouse...
, but due to time constraints the song was dropped. After Hodgson had left Supertramp, it was included in almost all his live performances. The song has also been performed by Hodgson during his tour with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
To date, Ringo Starr has toured with eleven versions of his All-Starr Band where "everybody on stage is a star in their own right." Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band is a concept that was created by producer David Fishof...
in 2001, a recording appears on the album Ringo Starr and Friends
Ringo Starr and Friends
Ringo Starr and Friends is a 2006 live album by rock musician and ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, following his 2005-2006 successful tour. The album features the tracks from the All-Starr Band's 2001 tour. Ringo Starr and Friends is a 2006 live album by rock musician and ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, following...
. On Sunday 1 July 2007, Roger Hodgson sang this song as his finale for his short set at the Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana was a concert held at the then new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death...
, held in Wembley Stadium in London.
After Hodgson's departure from Supertramp, the band includes the song for the first time in their set list in 2002 during One More For The Road Tour. The song was sung by Jesse Siebenberg.
They also play the song in their 70-10 Tour since September 2010.
7" vinyl single (1977)
CD single (1990)
CD single (1992)
Chart performance
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
29 |
| Dutch GfK GfK The GfK Group, established in 1934 as Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung is Germany's largest market research institute, and the fourth largest market research organisation in the world, after Nielsen Company, Kantar Group, and IMS Health... charts |
2 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
2 |
| German Singles Chart | 29 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
15 |
Personnel
- Roger HodgsonRoger HodgsonCharles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
– acoustic 12-string guitar, lead and backing vocals - Dougie ThomsonDougie ThomsonDouglas Campbell "Dougie" Thomson is a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow and raised in the Rutherglen area of the city. He is best known as the former bass guitarist of progressive rock band Supertramp.-Career:...
– bass guitar, - Bob SiebenbergBob SiebenbergBob Siebenberg, also known as Bob C. Benberg, is an American musician, best known as a member of British progressive rock band Supertramp, playing drums and percussion...
– drums - Rick DaviesRick DaviesRick Davies is an English musician, best known as the founder and keyboardist of progressive rock band Supertramp...
– clavinetClavinetA Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
, piano, backing vocals - John HelliwellJohn HelliwellJohn Helliwell is an English musician and the saxophonist and occasional keyboardist and woodwind player for the rock band Supertramp...
– alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
, backing vocals
Goo Goo Dolls version
In 2005, the Goo Goo DollsGoo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
covered the song, releasing it as a single. It peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in February, 2005. It was first covered (partially) in 2001, when guitarist/lead vocalist Johnny Rzeznik
Johnny Rzeznik
John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik , also known as Johnny Rzeznik, is an American songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and producer...
appeared in an ad for The Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
singing the song along with other artists. The song later appeared as a track on their hit album Let Love In
Let Love In (Goo Goo Dolls album)
Let Love In is the Goo Goo Dolls' eighth studio album. "Better Days", which was released as a single late in 2005, appears on the album, along with a cover of the Supertramp song, "Give a Little Bit".-Track listing:...
. In May 2006, their version of "Give a Little Bit" was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in recognition of being one of the most played songs in the ASCAP repertoire in 2005.
Track listing
Chart performance
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 45 |
| German Singles Chart | 78 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
37 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
5 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks Top 40 Tracks is a defunct airplay chart from Billboard Magazine. It was created in 1998, when Billboard Magazine changed the airplay profile of The Hot 100 Airplay to include more R&B, Country, and Rock stations to its profile . To preserve the notion of the former chart, Top 40 Tracks was... |
30 |
Use in media and other cover versions
"Give A Little Bit" can be heard in Superman during a scene where Lois Lane is driving in her car and the song is playing on the radio. More recently the song has been used for the closing sequence and credits for the new Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
film The Invention of Lying
The Invention of Lying
The Invention of Lying is a 2009 fantasy romantic comedy film that is written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson. This film is the directorial debut of Gervais. The film stars Ricky Gervais as the first human with the ability to lie...
.
The song was used in commercials for Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
during Christmas season 2001. Some of the artists who performed the song in the ads were Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
, Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
, India.Arie
India.Arie
India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado...
, Lisa Lopes
Lisa Lopes
Lisa Nicole Lopes better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer, dancer, actress, television host, and songwriter...
, Seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
, Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
, Shaggy, and Johnny Rzeznik
Johnny Rzeznik
John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik , also known as Johnny Rzeznik, is an American songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and producer...
of the Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...
. It was also recorded by Emmerson Nogueira
Emmerson Nogueira
Emmerson Nogueira is a Brazilian guitarist and songwriter notable for releasing only cover albums, containing acoustic versions of several internationally famous English-speaking songs...
for his album Versão Acústica
Versão Acústica (album)
Versão Acústica is the first album by Brazilian Acoustic rock musician Emmerson Nogueira. It features covers of hits from many famous bands and musicians, like Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple and Simon & Garfunkel.-Track listing:- Pesonnel :...
(2001) and by the Polish band Budka Suflera
Budka Suflera
Budka Suflera is a Polish rock band which was started in 1969 in Lublin by Krzysztof Cugowski, and, after disbanding soon thereafter, resurrected by Cugowski and Romuald Lipko in 1974 and active to this day...
. In Malaysia, it was used in a drug abuse prevention commercial in 1979-80 produced by the Malaysian Anti-Drug Abuse Agency (PEMADAM).
To help raise support for the victims of the 2004 tsunami and 2005 hurricane
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
ran a series of ads with various artists singing the song along with several snapshots of various shows. It is also currently used in television commercials by McCain Foods.