"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.[3] It was a chart hit in the band`s native UK, reaching number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] The single was re-released in 1992 to raise funds for the ITV Telethon Charity event, but failed to chart.

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 Bob Siebenberg recounted that "Roger had been working at Malibu for quite a while on this tune. I`d hear the song in hotel rooms and places like that. He had the song on a little tape when I first joined the band so I was quite familiar with the tune. We tried out various drum things and it seemed right to ride it along on the snare drum […] giving it something almost like a train beat. So it`s all on the snare and bass drum, with no tom-tom fills or anything."[9]

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

Cash Box said that it "would be a great crack at a pop hit for any artist," that "the rhythm is gentle, yet persuasive; the harmonies are full of uplifting momentum" and "the lead vocal has a vulnerable quality similar to Peter Gabriel`s work."[10] Record World praised "its easy, flowing style."[11]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as Supertramp`s all time best song, calling it a "singalong paean to the Golden Rule."[12] Gary Graff of Billboard rated "Give a Little Bit" as Supertramp`s 10th best song, praising its "chiming 12-string acoustic guitar and Hodgson’s keening vocals."[13]

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 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 at Wembley Stadium in London. Princess Diana loved the song, and Hodgson said of the performance in her honor: "It was very wonderful when the audience all stood up, and the princes also, to sing `Give a Little Bit` with me. That was a magical moment."[15] "Give a Little Bit" can also be found on Hodgson`s album Classics Live, a collection of his live performances from acoustic, band and orchestra shows recorded on tour in 2010.[16]

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 The Invention of Lying and in some commercials, such as for the Gap and to encourage giving to charity drives.[12]

Track listings