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Gi' Me Wings
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Wikipedia article
"'Gi' Me Wings'" is a song by British singer Rod Stewart, which was released in 1981 as the fifth and final single from his tenth studio album 'Foolish Behaviour' (1980). The song was written by Stewart and Steve Harley (lyrics), and Phil Chen, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan and Gary Grainger (music). It was produced by Stewart (credited as Harry the Hook), with co-production by the Rod Stewart Group and Jeremy Andrew Johns. "Gi' Me Wings" was released as a single in Japan only, but also reached number 45 on the US 'Billboard' Top Rock Tracks chart.
Background
Stewart co-wrote the lyrics to "Gi' Me Wings" with Steve Harley, although Harley did not receive a writing credit when it appeared on 'Foolish Behaviour'. The pair also collaborated on the lyrics for another track that appeared on the album, "Somebody Special", as well as a third song that was not released. Harley recalled to 'Smiler' in 1997,
Critical reception
In a review of 'Foolish Behaviour', Debra Rae Cohen of 'Rolling Stone' described "Gi' Me Wings" as "pounding" and added that "Valerie Carter's soaring backup vocals add more urgency than either the flamboyant brass arrangements or the self-pitying lyrics". Laura Fissinger of 'Trouser Press' stated, "Stewart can still sing, of course, and delivers 'Gi' Me Wings' with the ease of a child skipping stones across a pond."
Randall Edwards of 'The Daily Utah Chronicle' commented that "rock numbers" such as "Gi' Me Wings" "are tributes to a band that sounds like it's been playing together well for quite some time, anticipating every note, emphasizing every nuance." In a 2019 retrospective, 'Rhino Insider' noted the song "has a burbling undercurrent that gives the track a pulse to go along with the studio sheen of the rest of the instrumentation".
Track listing
'7-inch single (Japan)'
#"Gi' Me Wings" - 3:43
#"Somebody Special" - 4:27
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the 'Foolish Behaviour' LP sleeve notes.
'Gi' Me Wings'
* Rod Stewart vocals
* Gary Grainger, Jim Cregan guitars
* Kevin Savigar keyboards
* Tim Bogert bass
* Carmine Appice drums, timpani
* Jim Price trombone
* Earl Price tenor saxophone
* James Gordon baritone saxophone
* Lee Thornburg trumpet
'Production'
* Harry the Hook (Rod Stewart) producer
* The Rod Stewart Group co-producers
* Jeremy Andrew Johns co-producer, mixing
* Jim Cregan mixing
* Rick Charles Delana second engineer
Charts
References
Category:1980 songs
Category:1981 singles
Category:Rod Stewart songs
Category:Songs written by Rod Stewart
Category:Songs written by Steve Harley
Category:Songs written by Kevin Savigar
Category:Songs written by Jim Cregan
Category:Songs written by Gary Grainger
Category:Warner Records singles
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