"Give Me an Inch" (or "Give Me an Inch Girl" on some releases[2]) 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).[3] The song was written by Palmer and produced by Steve Smith.[4] "Give Me an Inch" reached No. 6 on the US BillboardBubbling Under the Hot 100 chart[5] and No. 88 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart.[6][7]
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."[8] In a review of Pressure Drop, Billboard listed the song as one of the album's "best cuts".[9] 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"."[3]
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."[11] 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."[12] 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.[13]
