Give Me Just a Little More Time

Chairmen of the Board

There are good songs and there are great songs, but “Give Me Just a Little More Time” by Chairmen of the Board is song that is so great, it transcends those titles. Written by the prolific songwriting trio Holland-Dozier-Holland after they had left Motown records, it is everything that I love about R&B/soul music.

The song features all the trademarks of a classic Motown tune despite the fact that it wasn’t actually released on the Motown label. It’s got the Motown drum intro, excellent piano, guitar, bass, and drums (Provided by the Funk Brothers, naturally), a catchy chord progression, and an immediately ear-grabbing hook that is sung with passion and conviction. Not coincidentally, this is pretty much a laundry list of the things I enjoy most in all kinds of music.

The classic Motown string/horn sound is used with great success here. While the horns blast out that intensely catchy lick, the strings sneak up on you, not even appearing until the second chorus. They fill out the harmony in the upper register for that chorus and then add a wonderful countermelody during the second verse. However, the real meat of what makes this song so good can be found in the vocal delivery of General Johnson. You would be hard-pressed to find a vocal track sung with the pleading energy Johnson provides throughout the entirety of the tune, especially during the fourth chorus breakdown when Johnson channels his inner Billy Stewart in the fourth bar.

I remember hearing this song on the oldies station my parents listened to when I was growing up. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that it, to this day, remains one of my favorite songs of all time. I’ve probably heard the tune hundreds of times but there is no doubt in my mind that it will forever remain as beautiful and engaging as the first time I heard it.

Give Me Just A Little More Time

Chairman Of The Board

Chairman Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time