Brenton Wood – Gimme Little Sign

I had forgotten about this song until I read about it in a biography. I remember working in the 1980s and listening to an oldies channel, and I heard this one quite a bit. I just learned the title from the book. It’s a song that just makes you feel good. 

This song has been covered and sampled by many. Unlike Motown and Stax…Wood came in from left field with a whole different vibe in the late 1960s. He is known primarily for The Oogum Boogum Song and this song. He was born Alfred Jesse Smith and adopted the stage name of Brenton Wood…possibly from the Los Angeles neighborhood Brentwood. 

He stayed active from the sixties on and released his last album in 2009 called Lord Hear My Prayer. He had a few more top 40 songs in the 60s, but never hit the top ten again. 

This song peaked at #9 on the Billboard 100, #17 in Canada, #8 in the UK, and #20 in New Zealand in 1967. Giimme Little Sign was written by Alfred Smith, Joe Hooven, and Jerry Winn. Brenton got a resurgence in popularity in the new century with his songs’ inclusion in various films and television shows, such as Almost Famous, Don’t Worry Darling, and Big Little Lies.

We lost Mr. Wood on January 3, 2025, at the age of 83. 

Gimme Little Sign

If you do want me, gimme little sugarIf you don’t want me, don’t lead me on girlBut if you need me, show me that you love meAnd when I’m feeling blue and I want youThere’s just one thing that you should do

Just gimme some kind of sign girlOh, my babyTo show me that you’re mine girlOh, yeah

Just gimme some kind of sign girlOh, my darlingTo show that you’re mine girlAll right

If you do want me, gimme little sweet talkIf you don’t want me, don’t lead me on girlBut if you need me, show me that you love meAnd when I’m feeling down, wearing a frownYou be there when I look around

Just gimme some kind of sign girlOh, my babyTo show me that you’re mine girlAll right

Just gimme some kind of sign girlOh, my babyTo show me that you’re mine girlAll right

Just gimme some kind of sign girlOh, my babyTo show me that you’re mine girlOh, yeah

Just gimme some kind of sign girlOh, my darlingTo show me that you’re mine girlAll right

Just gimme some kind of sign, signJust gimme some kind of sign girlOh, my babyTo show me that you’re mine girlAll right

…

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

32 thoughts on “Brenton Wood – Gimme Little Sign”

  2. Pingback: Brenton Wood – Gimme Little Sign – MobsterTiger

  10. I think of this as a summer song- I don’t know what time of the year it was released but it just has that summery feel to it. Nice oldie Max.

    (The background to that video is so full of hip-cool dudes and groovy chicky-babes of the times it hurts! Not judgin’, just sayin’. Different times…)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh I know….they look so real if you know what I mean…they are not fake looking. I just re-read what I said…no I didn’t mean “them” lol…just the hippy chicky babes over all. I’m afraid to say anything these days lol.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Oh, I know what you mean. Real as in ‘unaugmented.’ And yes, these days one must watch what one says. Perhaps its not a bad thing, we and our language moves on etc, but my listening mind does all kinds of backflips these days. I have to do a pre-edit before I open my mouth half the time. I’m an old dog, new tricks take a while to learn. I’m manfully trying though. Scrap that- let’s rather just say ‘giving-it-my-all trying?’

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yea I do that pre-edit as well on the blog and in public. Now…to my in person friends… not as much but that doesn’t mean I just let it fly either. There is a balance there.
        THAT sounds better!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I heard it on oldies channels over here in the 80s a lot…yea it’s a pretty cool song. Another one I picked up from the Peter Wolf bio

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. I was about sixteen when this came out. Have always loved the song. Really need to listen to it on a beach in sunshine, though! Those ‘dancers’ are something though! (Something weird – especially the clapping!) Reminds me of the crowd at various British tv shows, like Top Of The Pops and Ready Steady Go. The black dude is like someone out of Hair.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh yes…that was taped at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Club. I never knew about that but they hosted alot of bands… I never knew the title of it. Val I swear I’m so mad at myself…I’m 98 percent done with your email…it will go out today!

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment