1 2 3 Its as Easy as Can Be
| "1 - 2 - 3" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Len Barry | ||||
| from the album 1 - 2 - 3 | ||||
| B-side | "Bullseye" | |||
| Released | October 1965 | |||
| Genre | Blue-eyed soul, pop | |||
| Length | 2:24 | |||
| Label | Decca 31827 Brunswick 05942 (UK) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | John Madara, David White, Len Barry | |||
| Producer(s) | John Madara, David White | |||
| Len Barry singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"1 - 2 - 3" is a 1965 song recorded by American blue-eyed soul singer Len Barry, who also co-wrote it with John Madara and David White. The recording's chorus and accompaniment were arranged by Jimmy Wisner. The single was released in 1965 on the American Decca label.[1] [2] The writers were sued by Motown Records at the time, claiming that the song is a reworking of Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Ask Any Girl" released by The Supremes as the B-side to their single "Baby Love" the year before. They denied the claim, but after two years of litigation, agreed to give the Motown writers 15% of the song's writing and publishing royalties.[3] Holland-Dozier-Holland are listed as co-authors by BMI.[4]
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.[5]
"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).[6] "1-2-3" also went to number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart.[7] Overseas, the song peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] In addition, it was also a Top 10 hit in Ireland, where it went to number 8.[9] It sold over one and three quarter million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[10]
Chart performance [edit]
| Chart (1965–66) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles[11] | 3 |
| France (IFOP)[12] | 40 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 8 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[14] | 6 |
| United Kingdom (Record Retailer)[15] | 3 |
| United Kingdom (NME)[16] | 1 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[17] | 4 |
| United States (Billboard Hot 100)[18] | 2 |
| United States (Billboard R&B Singles Chart)[18] | 11 |
| United States (Cash Box Top 100) | 1 |
See also [edit]
- List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1965
References [edit]
- ^ "Decca 31827". 45cat.com. 31 July 1965. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ Len Barry: 1 - 2 - 3 at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ "1 - 2 - 3". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- ^ "1-2-3". Repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- ^ "Soulful Detroit: Happy Birthday Len Barry". soulfuldetroit.com.
- ^ "Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard . Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 49.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 43. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Irish charts archive - Len Barry". IRMA. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 186. ISBN0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 8 November 1965. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Len Barry". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search lever". Flavourofnz.co.nz . Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Artist Chart History Details: Len Barry". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (2nd ed.). Pan Macmillan. p. 160. ISBN0-7522-0829-2.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ a b "allmusic ((( Len Barry > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
External links [edit]
- Lyrics of this song
- Len Barry - 1-2-3 on YouTube
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-2-3_%28Len_Barry_song%29
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