Give Me an Inch explained

Give Me an Inch
Cover:Robert Palmer Give Me An Inch 1976 Single Cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Robert Palmer
Album:Pressure Drop
B-Side:Pressure Drop
Released:30 January 1976[1]
Length:3:17
Label:Island
Producer:Steve Smith
Prev Title:Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley
Prev Year:1975
Next Title:Which of Us Is the Fool
Next Year:1976

"Give Me an Inch" is a song by English singer Robert Palmer, which was released in 1976 as the lead single from his second studio album Pressure Drop (1975).[2] The song was written by Palmer and produced by Steve Smith.[3] "Give Me an Inch" reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart and No. 88 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart.[4] [5]

Critical reception

Upon release, Cash Box commented: "Fine, fine lyrics and a boiling production full of soaring strings, steady drums and sultry bass, flutes in the background. Palmer's voice personifies the storyline which intimates that he's ready for the love that's finally crossed his path."[6] In a review of Pressure Drop, Billboard listed the song as one of the album's "best cuts".[7] In a retrospective review of the album, David Jeffries of AllMusic commented: "...the soft songs are well written and convincing, especially the opening "Give Me an Inch"."[2]

Track listing

7" single
  1. "Give Me an Inch" – 3:17
  2. "Pressure Drop" – 5:28

Charts

Chart (1976)Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 1006
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles88

Ian Matthews version

Give Me an Inch
Type:single
Artist:Ian Matthews
Album:Stealin' Home
B-Side:Man in the Station
Released:2 February 1979
Recorded:1978
Studio:Chipping Norton Recording Studios
Genre:Soft rock[8]
Length:
  • 4:19 (album version)
  • 3:32 (single version)
Label:Rockburgh/Mushroom
Producer:
  • Sandy Robertson
  • Ian Matthews
Prev Title:Shake It
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:Don't Hang Up Your Dancing Shoes
Next Year:1978

In 1978, British singer-songwriter Iain Matthews recorded "Give Me an Inch" for his ninth studio album Stealin' Home. Matthews told The Huffington Post in 2014, "I was a peripheral Robert [Palmer] fan. I knew him when I lived in England and had followed his musical development. I heard the song and wanted to interpret it."[9] Reviewing Stealin' Home for Rolling Stones syndicated record review column, Stephen Holden assessed Matthews' version as "more compelling" than the original preferring "Matthews' rock treatment [with its] eschewing [of] the pretentious string arrangements that mar much of Palmer's music."[10] Released as the followup single to the Top 20 hit "Shake It", "Give Me an Inch" afforded Matthews a final Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at No. 67 in April 1979.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Music Week. 32.
  2. Web site: David Jeffries . Pressure Drop - Robert Palmer | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic . 2019-02-10.
  3. Web site: Robert Palmer - Give Me An Inch Girl / Pressure Drop - Island - USA - IS 049 . 45cat . 2019-02-10.
  4. Billboard magazine - Bubbling Under the Hot 100 - 17 January 1976 - page 23
  5. Cash Box magazine - Cash Box Top 100 Singles - 13 March 1976 - page 4
  6. Cash Box magazine - Singles Reviews: Picks of the Week - January 24, 1976 - page 19
  7. Web site: Billboard - Google Books . 1975-11-15 . 2019-02-10.
  8. Web site: Eric . Shea . Orphans & Outcasts: A Collection of Demos by Iain Matthews . . https://web.archive.org/web/20140505131056/http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/iain-matthews/album/orphans-and-outcasts-a-collection-of-demos . 5 May 2014.
  9. Web site: Ragogna . Mike . Solo Concerts, Stealin' Home and Similar Skin: Chats with Bruce Hornsby, Iain Matthews and Umphrey's McGee...Plus! | HuffPost . 29 August 2014 . Huffingtonpost.com . 2019-02-10.
  10. Regina Leader Post 9 December 1978 Rolling Stone by Stephen Holden p.83
  11. Web site: Billboard . Ian Matthews Give Me An Inch Chart History . Billboard . 2019-02-10.