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1-2-3 (The Chimes song)

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1989 single by the Chimes
"1-2-3"
Single by the Chimes
from the album The Chimes
Released7 August 1989 (1989-08-07)
GenreAcid house
Length3:25
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)Pauline Henry, Mike Peden, James Locke
Producer(s)Jazzie B, Nellee Hooper
The Chimes singles chronology
"1-2-3"
(1989) 		"Heaven"
(1989)
Music video
"1-2-3" on YouTube

"1-2-3" is the debut single of British dance music trio the Chimes, written by group members Pauline Henry, Mike Peden, and James Locke. Along with the track "Underestimate", their debut single reached number one for two weeks on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and is also their biggest single. "1-2-3" was the Chimes' only Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at number 82. Although the song stalled at number 60 in the band's native UK, it found chart success in New Zealand, where it peaked at number four. In 1990, the song was featured on their debut and only album, The Chimes.

Critical reception

Stewart Mason from AllMusic described the song as "meaty acid house". Paul Lester from Melody Maker felt it "is kinda uptempo, but it glides." A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "A muscular, square beat, a house-oriented piano and a soulful vocal delivery typify this chart-bound club record." Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits noted Pauline Henry's "remarkable voice" and described the song as "classy" in her review of The Chimes.

Charts

Chart (1989–1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 73
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM) 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 41
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 4
UK Singles (OCC) 60
US Billboard Hot 100 86
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)
with "Underestimate" 		14
US Hot Black Singles Sales (Billboard) 40
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)
with "Underestimate" 		1

References

  1. "New Singles". Music Week. 5 August 1989. p. 34.
  2. Mason, Stewart. "The Chimes – The Chimes". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  3. Lester, Paul (16 June 1990). "Albums". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 2 September 1989. p. 16. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. Sawyer, Miranda (30 May 1990). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. No. 300. p. 60. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  6. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 57.
  7. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6662." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. "The Chimes – 1-2-3" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  9. "The Chimes – 1-2-3". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  11. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. February 17, 1990. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  12. "Hot Dance Music: 12-inch Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 5. 3 February 1990. p. 34.
  13. "Hot Black Singles Sales & Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 10. 10 March 1990. p. 29.
  14. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 57.
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