1-2-3 (Len Barry song)
"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.
"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]
Chart performance
- 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".
- 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".
References