ABC (song)

This article is about the Jackson Five hit song. For alphabet songs, see Alphabet song. For other songs, see ABC song (disambiguation).

"ABC"
Single by The Jackson 5
from the album ABC
B-side	"The Young Folks"
Released	February 24, 1970 (U.S.)
Format	Vinyl record (7" 45 RPM)
Recorded	The Sound Factory, Los Angeles; December 1969
Genre	Rhythm and blues, soul
Length	2:55
Label	Motown M 1163
Writer(s)	The Corporation - (Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell and Deke Richards)
Producer	The Corporation
The Jackson 5 singles chronology
"I Want You Back" (1969) "ABC" (1970) "The Love You Save" (1970)

"ABC" is a 1970 number-one hit song by The Jackson 5. "ABC" was written with the same design as "I Want You Back", and was first heard on American Bandstand (which, fittingly, aired on the ABC network) in February 1970. "ABC" knocked The Beatles song "Let It Be" out of the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. "ABC" was also number one on the soul singles chart for four weeks.

"ABC" was the first single from the second Jackson 5 album, ABC. It is considered one of the Jackson 5's signature songs. It is one of the shortest titles to hit #1; and, it is the first song alphabetically in the list of #1 hits of the Billboard Hot 100.

Charts

Chart (1970)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	8
US Billboard Hot 100	1
Chart (2009)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	43
Irish Singles Chart	38
UK Singles Chart	50

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Michael Jackson (age 11), Jermaine Jackson, Tito Jackson, and Jackie Jackson
• Background vocals by Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, and Marlon Jackson
• Bass guitar by Wilton Felder
• Drums by Gene Pello
• Guitar by David T. Walker, Louis Shelton and Don Peake
• Keyboards by Freddie Perren
• Written and produced by The Corporation: Berry Gordy, Jr., Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell, and Deke Richards

Cover versions and pop culture

• The song was released as downloadable content for the Rock Band videogame series, and is a playable track on Band Hero.
• "ABC" is used on British commercials for Nestle's Aero
• The song is a part of the soundtrack for the Disney Channel Original Series Lizzie McGuire
• The Jacksons' song is also on the teaser for the film Daddy Day Care.
• In 1991, rap group Naughty By Nature sampled the song on their first hit "O.P.P.".
• It was memorably featured in the 2006 film Clerks II.
• In 2008, the song was performed by Westlife on their Back Home Tour.
• In 2008, the song was featured in the movie, College Road Trip.
• In 2009, the song was parodied by The Fringemunks to recap Fringe episode 1.14, "Ability."
• In 2011, the series Glee covered this song on episode 3.08, "Hold On to Sixteen".
• In 2011, it was covered by the cast of the "Quest for Zhu" DVD movie and on its official soundtrack

External links

• Overview of ABC All the picture sleeves, Song and remixes to listen
• "ABC" song review from Allmusic website
• "ABC" as listed on the Rock Band song library.

Preceded by "Let It Be" by The Beatles	Billboard Hot 100 number one single April 25, 1970–May 8, 1970 (two weeks)	Succeeded by "American Woman" / "No Sugar Tonight" by The Guess Who
Preceded by "Call Me" by Aretha Franklin	Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one single April 4, 1970–April 25, 1970	Succeeded by "Turn Back the Hands of Time" by Tyrone Davis