Gimme Some Lovin'

In 1960 Spencer Davis travelled from London to Birmingham to begin studies. Three years later he met Winwood brothers and convinced them to form a beat band. Peter York was the drummer. They didn’t clearly specify a style they wanted to play. One thing they wanted for sure was to play heavy.

Gimme Some Lovin

For two years they played at local clubs in Birmingham. They played well so no wonder that they quickly earned many fans among young people. In 1965 they made their first recording – a cover of famous John Lee Hooker’s blues titled Dimples. The recording received accolades. The band decided to compose their own music deeming themselves ready to take this step. The most talented musician in the group was its youngest member Steve Winwood, still a teenager at the time.

At the end of 1965 came out their first hit. It was called “Keep on running”. Soon after came others: "Somebody Help Me" and "When I Come Home".

Spencer Davis Group

An interesting detail is that they recorded two pieces for German market particularly. The pieces are known as "Det war in Schöneberg, im Monat Mai" (from 1913 Berlin operetta) and "Mädel ruck ruck ruck an meine grüne Seite" (based on folk melody from Suabia).

At the end of 1966 and the beginning of 1967 the band released two new big hits: "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man" (this was not Bo Diddley’s counterfeit).

It seemed at the time that a „supergroup” was formed and that their best years were yet to come. It even looked like they would be the biggest competition for The Beatles. That’s not what happened. Brothers Steve and Muff Winwood left the group. Spencer Davis did not wind up the band. He hired new musicians and continued his career. Yet he never came close to the level of success he enjoyed in 1965-67.

Officially Gimme Some Lovin’ has three authors: Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood. The piece was released in a single in November 1966 by Fontana Records.

Steve Winwood was 19 when he first sang the piece and he quickly became an idol of young female fans in England, in Birmingham especially. When they saw him they were fainting and becoming hysterical just as much as their Liverpool counterparts (who idolized The Beatles) were.

Steve Winwood

The song became a great hit. In UK it was second on the charts. In US it reached the seventh place. It didn’t take long for other bands and solo singers to record it, not only in English language. The most famous cover which in 1980 restored Gimme Some Lovin’ to its glory was a work of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi from Blues Brothers.

A very expressive melody and lyrics served in soundtracks to at least ten movies. The song was and is used in many TV shows.

Gimme Some Lovin, cover

Gimme Some Lovin’, Spencer Davis Group, lyrics

Hey!
Well my temperatures rising
And my feet left the floor
Crazy people knocking,
cause they want some more.
Let me in baby,
I dont know what you got
You better take it easy.
This place is hot.
And im
So glad you made it
So glad you made it
You gotta
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin everyday.

Hey!
My heads a-spinning
And Im floating to sound
Too much is happening
cause youre not around
Its been a hard day
And nothing went too good
Im gonna relax
Like everybody should

And im
So glad you made it
So glad you made it
You gotta
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin everyday

Hey!
I feel so good
Everything is gettin higher.
You better take some time out
cause the place is on fire.
Better stop baby
I have so much to do.
We made it, baby.
And it happened to you.

So glad you made it
So glad you made it
You gotta
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin everyday.

So glad you made it
So glad you made it
You gotta
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin
Gimme some lovin everyday.

Spencer Davis Group