Don't Give Up on Us (song)

"Don't Give Up on Us" is a hit song recorded by American-British singer David Soul,^[1] and written by Tony Macaulay.

"Don't Give Up on Us"
Single by David Soul
from the album David Soul (only later editions)
B-side	"Black Bean Soup"[1]
Released	1976 (UK)[1] January 1977 (U.S.)
Recorded	1976
Genre	Soft rock[2][3]
Length	3:32
Label	Private Stock[1]
Songwriter(s)	Tony Macaulay[1]
Producer(s)	Tony Macaulay[1]
David Soul singles chronology
"The Train" (1970) "Don't Give Up on Us" (1976) "Going in with My Eyes Open" (1977)
Official audio
"Don't Give Up on Us" on YouTube

Background

Riding high on the success of his role in the hit TV show Starsky and Hutch, Soul returned to singing, which had been one of his early career choices. His debut, the Tony Macaulay-written-and-produced song was a worldwide smash, spending four weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in January and February 1977,^[4] and a single week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1977. In addition, the song spent one week at No. 1 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart.^[5] It has sold 1.16 million copies in the UK.^[6]

Its B-side, "Black Bean Soup", with lyrics by actor Gardner McKay,^[1] is a duet with actress Lynne Marta, whom Soul was involved with at the time.

"Don't Give Up on Us" was rated No. 93 in VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders because, despite having more hits in the UK, Soul was never again able to reach the top 40 in the US. Soul recorded a new version of the song in 2004, allegedly after being embarrassed when hearing it by chance in an elevator as sung by Owen Wilson in the film version of Starsky and Hutch.^{[citation needed]} The film soundtrack included a cover of the song by Wilson and Neal Casal.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1976–1977) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 40 Canada RPM Top Singles [10] 1 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[11] 1 Irish Singles Chart[12] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 3 New Zealand Singles Chart[15] 1 UK Singles Chart[4] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 1 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[5] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[17] 1 Year-end charts Chart (1977) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] 11 Canada[19] 20 New Zealand [20] 5 UK[21] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[22] 29 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[23] 22 US Cash Box Top 100[24] 40 Decade-end charts Chart (1970–79) Rank UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[25] 9

Cover versions

Irish singer Darren Holden covered "Don't Give Up on Us" in 1997, reaching No. 23 in Ireland.

The song is popular in the Philippines and has been covered by Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kuh Ledesma, Jimmy Bondoc, Marion Aunor, JM de Guzman and Piolo Pascual^[26] for the soundtrack of the 2006 film of the same title.

In popular culture

Owen Wilson (playing Hutch, originally Soul's character) sang the song during a scene in the film version of Starsky and Hutch. The song was also used in the film Johnny English Reborn (2011).

See also

• List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States

References

1. "David Soul - Don't Give Up On Us (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1976. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
2. "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
3. Smith, Troy L. (December 14, 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1970s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 335–6. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 227.
6. Ami Sedghi (November 4, 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". The Guardian. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 280. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
8. "David Soul – Don't Give Up On Us" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
9. "Chubby Checker – Don't Give Up On Us" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
10. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
11. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
12. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know - David Soul search". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
13. "David Soul – Don't Give Up On Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
15. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. April 3, 1977. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
16. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
17. "Top 100 1977-04-16". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
18. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 429. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
19. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
20. "Top Selling Singles of 1977 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 1977. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
21. "1970s Singles Chart Archive". EveryHit.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
22. "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
23. Billboard. December 24, 1977. p. Front cover. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
24. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1977". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
25. "Chart Archive – 1970s Singles". Everyhit.com. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
26. "Covers of Don't Give Up on Us by David Soul". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.

External links

• David Soul - Don't Give Up on Us on YouTube
• Darren Holden - Don't Give Up on Us on YouTube