"Give Me an Inch"
Single by Robert Palmer
from the album Pressure Drop
B-side"Pressure Drop"
ReleasedFebruary 1976
Length3:17
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Robert Palmer
Producer(s)Steve Smith
Robert Palmer singles chronology
"Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley"
(1975)		 "Give Me an Inch"
(1976)		 "Which of Us Is the Fool"
(1976)

"Give Me an Inch" is a song by English vocalist Robert Palmer, which was released in 1976 as the lead single from his second studio album Pressure Drop (1975).[1] The song was written by Palmer and produced by Steve Smith.[2] "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.[3][4]

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."[5] In a review of Pressure Drop, Billboard listed the song as one of the album's "best cuts".[6] 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"."[1]

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 100[3] 6
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[4] 88

Ian Matthews version

"Give Me an Inch"
Single by Ian Matthews
from the album Stealin' Home
B-side"Man in the Station"
Released2 February 1979
Recorded1978
StudioChipping Norton Recording Studios
GenreSoft rock[7]
Length4:19 (album version)
3:32 (single version)
LabelRockburgh/Mushroom
Songwriter(s)Robert Palmer
Producer(s)
  • Sandy Robertson
  • Ian Matthews
Ian Matthews singles chronology
"Shake It""
(1978)		 "Give Me an Inch"
(1979)		 "Don't Hang Up Your Dancing Shoes"
(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."[8] Reviewing Stealin' Home for Rolling Stone's 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."[9] 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.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 David Jeffries. "Pressure Drop - Robert Palmer | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  2. ↑ "Robert Palmer - Give Me An Inch Girl / Pressure Drop - Island - USA - IS 049". 45cat. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  3. 1 2 Billboard magazine - Bubbling Under the Hot 100 - 17 January 1976 - page 23
  4. 1 2 Cash Box magazine - Cash Box Top 100 Singles - 13 March 1976 - page 4
  5. ↑ Cash Box magazine - Singles Reviews: Picks of the Week - January 24, 1976 - page 19
  6. ↑ "Billboard - Google Books". 1975-11-15. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  7. ↑ Shea, Eric. "Orphans & Outcasts: A Collection of Demos by Iain Matthews". Rhapsody. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014.
  8. ↑ Ragogna, Mike. "Solo Concerts, Stealin' Home and Similar Skin: Chats with Bruce Hornsby, Iain Matthews and Umphrey's McGee...Plus! | HuffPost". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  9. ↑ Regina Leader Post 9 December 1978 Rolling Stone by Stephen Holden p.83
  10. ↑ Billboard. "Ian Matthews Give Me An Inch Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
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