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1-2-3 (Len Barry song)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | 1-2-3 |
| cover | Len Barry - 1-2-3.png |
| type | single |
| artist | Len Barry |
| album | 1-2-3 |
| B-side | Bullseye |
| released | October 1965 |
| length | 2:24 |
| prev_title | Lip Sync (To the Tongue Twisters) |
| prev_year | 1965 |
| next_title | Like a Baby |
| next_year | 1966 |
| misc |
| B-side = Bullseye
- Blue-eyed soul
- pop
- Decca
- Brunswick
- John Madara
- David White
- Len Barry
- John Madara
- David White
"1-2-3" is a 1965 song recorded by American blue-eyed soul singer Len Barry, who co-wrote it with John Madara and David White. The latter two produced the recording. The chorus and accompaniment were arranged by Jimmy Wisner. The single was released in 1965 on the American Decca label.
At the time, the writers were sued by Motown, which claimed that the song was a reworking of the Holland–Dozier–Holland composition "Ask Any Girl", released by the Supremes the year before as the B-side of their single "Baby Love". The writers of "1-2-3" denied the claim but, after two years of litigation, they agreed to give the Motown writers 15% of the song's writing and publishing royalties, and Holland–Dozier–Holland are listed as co-authors by BMI.
The personnel on the original recording included Vinnie Bell, Bobby Eli, and Sal DiTroia on guitars; Joe Macho on bass; Artie Butler on percussion; Leon Huff on piano; Artie Kaplan on sax; Bill Tole and Roswell Rudd on trombones; Lee Morgan on trumpet; Fred Hubbard on clarinet; and Bobby Gregg on drums.
"1-2-3" reached number 2 in the US Billboard chart ("I Hear a Symphony" by the Supremes kept it from the number 1 spot). "1-2-3" also went to number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart. Overseas, the song peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite book It sold over 1.75 million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.{{cite book | url-access= registration
Charts
| Chart (1965–1966) | Peak | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| position | France (IFOP) | New Zealand (*Lever Hit Parade*) | South Africa (Springbok Radio) | UK (*NME*) | UK (*Record Retailer*) | US *Billboard* Hot 100 | US *Cash Box* Top 100 | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (*Billboard*) | |
| 40 | |||||||||
| 6 | |||||||||
| 4 | |||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||
| 11 |
Covers
-
In 1966, Cilla Black recorded a version for her second album, Cilla Sings a Rainbow, produced by George Martin.
-
In 1980, the disco/dance group Salazar, peaked at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart with their version of the song.
-
In 1994, it was sampled in Edwyn Collins' single "A Girl Like You", becoming the singer's biggest solo hit.
References
References
- (1965-07-31). "Decca 31827". 45cat.com.
- "1 - 2 - 3". Songfacts.com.
- "1-2-3". Repertoire.bmi.com.
- "Soulful Detroit: Happy Birthday Len Barry".
- "Billboard Hot 100 – Week of November 20, 1965".
- Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004". Record Research.
- "Irish charts archive – Len Barry". [[Irish Recorded Music Association.
- "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70". InfoDisc.
- "Flavour of New Zealand – search lever".
- "SA Charts 1969–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts B".
- (1995). "Forty Years of "NME" Charts". [[Macmillan Publishers.
- "Artist Chart History Details: Len Barry". [[The Official Charts Company]].
- (27 November 1965). "Cash Box Top 100".
- Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003". Record Research.
- "Edwyn Collins's A Girl Like You sample of Len Barry's 1-2-3 - WhoSampled". WhoSampled.
- "secondhandsongs.com". Secondhandsongs.com.
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