1-2-3 (Len Barry song)
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For other songs, see 1-2-3.
| "1 - 2 - 3" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Len Barry | ||||
| from the album 1 - 2 - 3 | ||||
| B-side | "Bullseye" | |||
| Released | October 1965 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Genre | Blue-eyed soul, pop | |||
| Label | Decca 31827 Brunswick 05942 (UK) |
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| Writer(s) | John Medora, David White, Len Barry | |||
| Producer | John Medora, David White | |||
| Len Barry singles chronology | ||||
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"1 - 2 - 3" is a 1965 song written and recorded by Len Barry. The song was co-written by John Medora and David White. The recording's chorus and accompaniment was arranged by Jimmy Wisner. The single was released in 1965 on the American Decca label.[1][2] There is a rumor, that the song is a rework of "Ask Any Girl" released by The Supremes as the B-side to their single "Baby Love", and written by Holland-Dozier-Holland[citation needed].
"1-2-3" reached #2 in the US Billboard chart and #3 on the UK Singles Chart[3] "1-2-3" also went to number eleven on the US R&B chart.[4]
It sold over one and three quarter million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[5]
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| United States (Billboard Hot 100) | 2[6] |
| United States (Billboard R&B Singles Chart) | 11[6] |
| United Kingdom (Record Retailer) | 3[7] |
| United Kingdom (NME) | 1[8] |
[edit] Legacy[9]
- Jane Morgan covered the song for the easy listening market. Her version reached No. 16 in 1966 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and spent nine weeks on the chart.
- The song was featured on the soundtrack for the film, Mr. Holland's Opus.
- "1-2-3" was one of the songs that appeared in John Lennon's jukebox.
- Jimmy Smith covered the song on his 1965 Verve Records album Got My Mojo Workin'[10]
- Ramsey Lewis covered the song in 1966 on his album Goin' Latin[11]
- Sarah Vaughan released a version on her 1966 album The New Scene
- Cilla Black released her version in 1966, on the album Cilla Sings a Rainbow
- There is a rumour, that Motown Records sued the songwriters, because "1-2-3" was a reworking of "Ask Any Girl". The songwriters admitted to taking the composition which led to Holland-Dozier-Holland getting credit for writing "1-2-3".[citation needed]
- In 1977, Wayne Newton released a version
- In 1980, the disco/dance group Salazar, peaked at number sixty on the US dance chart with their version of the song.[12]
- In 1984, Al Stewart covered this song on his Russians and Americans album.
- In 1987, English singer-songwriter Roy Wood recorded a cover version and released it as a single, but it failed to chart
- The Associates recorded a version released in 1991 as b-side to their last single "Just Can't Say Goodbye," featured on the expanded CD reissue of their album Wild And Lonely[13]
- In December 2005, Welsh singer-songwriter Cerys Matthews recorded a new version of "1-2-3" in Nashville, Tennessee for a children's charity in the UK.[14]
- Edwyn Collins sampled the opening for his single "A Girl Like You".
[edit] References
- ^ "Decca 31827". 45cat.com. 1965-07-31. http://www.45cat.com/record/31827. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
- ^ Len Barry: 1 - 2 - 3 at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 43. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 49.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 186. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ a b "allmusic ((( Len Barry > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p15677. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
- ^ "Artist Chart History Details: Len Barry". The Official Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/len%20barry/. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (2nd ed.). Pan Macmillan. p. 160. ISBN 0-7522-0829-2.
- ^ secondhandsongs.com 1-2-3 cover versions
- ^ Jimmy Smith – Got My Mojo Workin' (1965 album) at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ Ramsey Lewis – Goin' Latin (1966 album) at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 226.
- ^ The Associates – Wild And Lonely (Expanded Edition) at Discogs
- ^ http://www.jmcreative.net/ Cerys Matthews: "1-2-3" (2005)
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