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| length = 2:55
| length = 2:55
| label = [[Motown Records|Motown]]<br><small>M 1163</small>
| label = [[Motown Records|Motown]]<br><small>M 1163</small>
| writer = [[The Corporation (record production team)|The Corporation]] ([[Berry Gordy]], [[Freddie Perren]], [[Alphonzo Mizell]] and [[Deke Richards]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=310123532&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=25&start=1 |title=ASCAP ACE - Search |access-date=2011-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530092629/http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300 |archive-date=2011-05-30 }}</ref>
| writer = [[The Corporation (record production team)|The Corporation]] ([[Berry Gordy]], [[Freddie Perren]], [[Alphonzo Mizell]] and [[Deke Richards]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=310123532&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=25&start=1 |title=ASCAP ACE - Search |access-date=2011-05-28 |url-status=dead |=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530092629/http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300 |archive-date=2011-05-30 }}</ref>
| producer = The Corporation
| producer = The Corporation
| prev_title = [[I Want You Back]]
| prev_title = [[I Want You Back]]
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}}
}}


"'''ABC'''" is a song by [[the Jackson 5]]. It was released as a single in 1970. The song knocked [[the Beatles]]' "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]" off the top of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in 1970, and was No. 1 on the soul [[Single (music)|singles]] chart for four weeks. It is the title track to the group's [[ABC (The Jackson 5 album)|second album]] and sold 2 million copies within the first week of it's release in the US. <ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=mS5gAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=jackson+5+singles+sold+copies&article_id=884,53783&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvzJecyv6FAxV3FjQIHeSLCwwQ6AF6BAgKEAI#v=onepage&q=jackson%205%20singles%20sold%20copies&f=false |title=The Phoenix |publisher=The Phoenix |year=1 Jun 1970 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=evFOAAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover |title=Toledo Blade |date=18 Jul 1971 |publisher=Toledo Blade |language=en |quote=I Want You Back sold 1 million copies in the first nine days and ABC sold 2 million in the first two weeks.}}</ref>
"'''ABC'''" is a song by [[the Jackson 5]]. It was released as a single in 1970. The song knocked [[the Beatles]]' "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]" off the top of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in 1970, and was No. 1 on the soul [[Single (music)|singles]] chart for four weeks. It is the title track to the group's [[ABC (The Jackson 5 album)|second album]] and sold 2 million copies within the first week of its release in the US.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=mS5gAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=jackson+5+singles+sold+copies&article_id=884,53783&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvzJecyv6FAxV3FjQIHeSLCwwQ6AF6BAgKEAI#v=onepage&q=jackson%205%20singles%20sold%20copies&f=false |title=The Phoenix |publisher=The Phoenix |year=1 Jun 1970 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=evFOAAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover |title=Toledo Blade |date=18 Jul 1971 |publisher=Toledo Blade |language=en |quote=I Want You Back sold 1 million copies in the first nine days and ABC sold 2 million in the first two weeks.}}</ref>


''[[Cash Box]]'' said "Having whetted the world’s appetite with "I Want You Back” the Jackson 5 makes it back with another dynamite side cast in the image of its million seller. Searing vocals and the familiar drive of the Motown supporting cast assure another giant here."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|page=28|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=March 7, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-03-28.pdf|accessdate=2023-04-29}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' said "This pulsating swinger has all the sales and chart potential of the initial entry ['[[I Want You Back]]']."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|page=72|title=Spotlight Singles|date=March 7, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1970/Billboard%201970-03-07.pdf|accessdate=2023-04-29}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said the song proved that "the Jackson 5 are Motown's newest supergroup."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=March 7, 1970|page=1|accessdate=2023-04-28|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-03-07.pdf}}</ref>
''[[Cash Box]]'' said "Having whetted the world’s appetite with "I Want You Back” the Jackson 5 makes it back with another dynamite side cast in the image of its million seller. Searing vocals and the familiar drive of the Motown supporting cast assure another giant here."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|page=28|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=March 7, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-03-28.pdf|access-date=2023-04-29}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' said "This pulsating swinger has all the sales and chart potential of the initial entry ['[[I Want You Back]]']."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|page=72|title=Spotlight Singles|date=March 7, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1970/Billboard%201970-03-07.pdf|access-date=2023-04-29}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said the song proved that "the Jackson 5 are Motown's newest supergroup."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=March 7, 1970|page=1|access-date=2023-04-28|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-03-07.pdf}}</ref>


"ABC" was performed on television on ''[[American Bandstand]]'' (February 21, 1970), ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' (May 10, 1970), and ''[[The Flip Wilson Show]]'' (November 4, 1971), among many other broadcasts.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Billboard Book of Number One Hits |last=Bronson |first=Fred |year=2003 |publisher=Billboard Books |page=272}}</ref> The upbeat lyrics compare learning to love to learning the alphabet.
"ABC" was performed on television on ''[[American Bandstand]]'' (February 21, 1970), ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' (May 10, 1970), and ''[[The Flip Wilson Show]]'' (November 4, 1971), among many other broadcasts.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Billboard Book of Number One Hits |last=Bronson |first=Fred |year=2003 |publisher=Billboard Books |page=272}}</ref> The upbeat lyrics compare learning to love to learning the alphabet.


It was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]] in 1971. [[50 Cent]] told ''[[NME]]'' that the song was the first he remembered hearing: "I've always loved [[Michael Jackson|MJ]], so I guess it was probably a good place to start music: right here, with the ABCs."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Gavin |last= Haynes |title= Soundtrack of my life |magazine= [[NME]] |date= October 1, 2015 |page= 48}}</ref> On November 7, 2016, the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] announced its induction, along with that of another 24 songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nirvana-bowie-rem-songs-added-to-grammy-hall-of-fame-w452651|title=Nirvana, Bowie, R.E.M. Songs Among Grammy Hall of Fame's 2017 Inductees|website=rollingstone.com|date=29 November 2016}}</ref>
It was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals]] in 1971. [[50 Cent]] told ''[[NME]]'' that the song was the first he remembered hearing: "I've always loved [[Michael Jackson|MJ]], so I guess it was probably a good place to start music: right here, with the ABCs."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Gavin |last= Haynes |title= Soundtrack of my life |magazine= [[NME]] |date= October 1, 2015 |page= 48}}</ref> On November 7, 2016, the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] announced its induction, along with that of another 24 songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nirvana-bowie-rem-songs-added-to-grammy-hall-of-fame-w452651|title=Nirvana, Bowie, R.E.M. Songs Among Grammy Hall of Fame's 2017 Inductees|website=rollingstone.com|date=29 November 2016}}</ref>
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!style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br />position
!style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|[[Belgian Singles Chart]] (Flanders)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?todo=notfound|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829031942/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Jackson+Five&titel=ABC&cat=s|url-status=dead|title=ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS|archivedate=August 29, 2011|website=ultratop.be}}</ref>
|[[Belgian Singles Chart]] (Flanders)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?todo=notfound|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829031942/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Jackson+Five&titel=ABC&cat=s|url-status=dead|title=ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS|archive-date=August 29, 2011|website=ultratop.be}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|24
| style="text-align:center;"|24
|-
|-
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.jackson5abc.com/albums/abc/abc/ Overview of The Jackson 5 - "ABC" single.] All the picture sleeves, song and remixes to listen at www.jackson5abc.com {non working link}
* [http://www.jackson5abc.com/albums/abc/abc/ Overview of The Jackson 5 - "ABC" single.] All the picture sleeves, song and remixes to listen at www.jackson5abc.com {non working link}
* [{{Allmusic|class=song|id=t1074560|pure_url=yes}} The Jackson 5 - "ABC" song review by Bill Janovitz] at [[AllMusic]]
* [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t1074560|pure_url=yes}} The Jackson 5 - "ABC" song review by Bill Janovitz] at [[AllMusic]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090617210157/http://www.rockband.com/songs/abc The Jackson 5 - "ABC" (1970) song] as listed on the [[Rock Band]] song library.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090617210157/http://www.rockband.com/songs/abc The Jackson 5 - "ABC" (1970) song] as listed on the [[Rock Band]] song library.
* [https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2018/02/28/lbj-and-mlk/ LBJ and MLK]
* [https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2018/02/28/lbj-and-mlk/ LBJ and MLK]
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[[Category:Songs about language]]
[[Category:Songs about language]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[category:Bubblegum pop songs]]
[[Category:Bubblegum pop songs]]

Revision as of 10:19, 16 May 2024

"ABC"
side-A label
Solid centre variant of the UK single
Single by The Jackson 5
from the album ABC
B-side"The Young Folks"
Released1970
RecordedDecember 1969[1]
Genre
Length2:55
LabelMotown
M 1163
Songwriter(s)The Corporation (Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell and Deke Richards)[3]
Producer(s)The Corporation
The Jackson 5 singles chronology
"I Want You Back"
(1969) 		"ABC"
(1970) 		"The Love You Save"
(1970)
Audio
"ABC" by the Jackson 5 on YouTube

"ABC" is a song by the Jackson 5. It was released as a single in 1970. The song knocked the Beatles' "Let It Be" off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, and was No. 1 on the soul singles chart for four weeks. It is the title track to the group's second album and sold 2 million copies within the first week of its release in the US.[4][5]

Cash Box said "Having whetted the world’s appetite with "I Want You Back” the Jackson 5 makes it back with another dynamite side cast in the image of its million seller. Searing vocals and the familiar drive of the Motown supporting cast assure another giant here."[6] Billboard said "This pulsating swinger has all the sales and chart potential of the initial entry ['I Want You Back']."[7] Record World said the song proved that "the Jackson 5 are Motown's newest supergroup."[8]

"ABC" was performed on television on American Bandstand (February 21, 1970), The Ed Sullivan Show (May 10, 1970), and The Flip Wilson Show (November 4, 1971), among many other broadcasts.[9] The upbeat lyrics compare learning to love to learning the alphabet.

It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1971. 50 Cent told NME that the song was the first he remembered hearing: "I've always loved MJ, so I guess it was probably a good place to start music: right here, with the ABCs."[10] On November 7, 2016, the Grammy Hall of Fame announced its induction, along with that of another 24 songs.[11]

Personnel

Musicians on the song's session were uncredited, per Motown policy. Motown did not list session musician credits on their releases until 1971. The musicians who performed on "ABC" are believed to be as follows.[12]

Charts

Chart (1970–71) Peak
position
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)[13] 24
UK Singles (OCC) 8
US Billboard Hot 100 1
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 43
Irish Singles Chart 38
UK Singles (OCC) 50

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[14] Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Platinum 600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Allard, François; Lecocq, Richard (2018-10-04). Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Octopus. ISBN 9781788401234. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  2. ^ "The Jackson 5 | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "ASCAP ACE - Search". Retrieved 2011-05-28. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help); Unknown parameter |= ignored (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ The Phoenix. The Phoenix. 1 Jun 1970.
  5. ^ Toledo Blade. Toledo Blade. 18 Jul 1971. I Want You Back sold 1 million copies in the first nine days and ABC sold 2 million in the first two weeks.
  6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 7, 1970. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  7. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 7, 1970. p. 72. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  8. ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 7, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  9. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. p. 272.
  10. ^ Haynes, Gavin (October 1, 2015). "Soundtrack of my life". NME. p. 48.
  11. ^ "Nirvana, Bowie, R.E.M. Songs Among Grammy Hall of Fame's 2017 Inductees". rollingstone.com. 29 November 2016.
  12. ^ Lecocq, Richard; Allard, Francois (2018). Michael Jackson All The Songs. London: Cassell. ISBN 9781788400572.
  13. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on August 29, 2011.
  14. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Jackson 5 – ABC" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 25, 2020. Select 2016年1月 on the drop-down menu
  15. ^ "British single certifications – Jackson 5 – ABC". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
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