1-2-3 (Len Barry song)

"1 - 2 - 3" is a 1965 song recorded by American blue-eyed soul singer Len Barry, who co-wrote the song 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]

For other songs, see 1-2-3.

"1 - 2 - 3"
Single by Len Barry
from the album 1 - 2 - 3
B-side"Bullseye"
ReleasedOctober 1965
GenreBlue-eyed soul, pop
Length2:24
LabelDecca 31827
Brunswick 05942 (UK)
Songwriter(s)John Madara, David White, Len Barry
Producer(s)John Madara, David White
Len Barry singles chronology
"Lip Sync (to the Tongue Twisters)"
(1965)		 "1 - 2 - 3"
(1965)		 "Like a Baby"
(1966)

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 two in the US Billboard chart, ("I Hear a Symphony" by The Supremes kept it from the number one spot).[6] "1-2-3" also went to number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart.[7] Overseas, the song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.[8] In addition, it was also a Top 10 hit in Ireland, where it went to number eight.[9] It sold over one and three quarter million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[10]

Chart performance
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

References
  1. "Decca 31827". 45cat.com. 31 July 1965. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  2. Len Barry: 1 - 2 - 3 at Discogs (list of releases)
  3. "1 - 2 - 3". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  4. "1-2-3". Repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  5. "Soulful Detroit: Happy Birthday Len Barry". soulfuldetroit.com.
  6. "Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 49.
  8. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 43. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. "Irish charts archive - Len Barry". IRMA. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  10. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 186. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  11. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 8 November 1965. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Len Barry". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  14. "flavour of new zealand - search lever". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  15. "Artist Chart History Details: Len Barry". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  16. Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (2nd ed.). Pan Macmillan. p. 160. ISBN 0-7522-0829-2.
  17. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  18. "allmusic ((( Len Barry > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
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