"1, 2, 3, Red Light" is a song written by Sal Trimachi and Bobbi Trimachi and was recorded by
1910 Fruitgum Company for their 1968 album, ''
1, 2, 3, Red Light''. The song charted highest in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, going to number 1 on the ''
RPM 100
''RPM'' ( and later ) was a Canadian music-industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. ''R ...
'' national singles chart in 1968. In the same year in the US, it went to number 5 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was on the charts for 13 weeks.
The song went to number 2 in South Africa, number 3 on the New Zealand charts, and in Australia it reached number 7. It was named the number 39 song of 1968 on the ''
Cashbox'' charts. The song was certified as a
gold disc
Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
in September 1968.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Cover versions
*
Roberto Jordán
Roberto Jordán () (born February 20, 1943, in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico) is a popular singer whose heyday occurred during Mexico's '' nueva ola'' (new wave) of music in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many of his songs were covers of English-l ...
recorded a cover, Spanish version of the song on his 1968 album, ''1,2,3 ¡Detente!''
*
Ohio Express
The Ohio Express is an American bubblegum pop band formed in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1967. Though marketed as a band, it would be more accurate to say that the name "Ohio Express" served as a brand name used by Jerry Kasenetz's and Jeffry Katz's ...
released a cover version of the song on their 1969 album, ''Chewy, Chewy.''
*
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991.[Talkin ...](_blank)
played the song at some of their early shows and a live version can be found on the
bootleg
Bootleg or bootlegging most often refers to:
* Bootleg recording, an audio or video recording released unofficially
* Rum-running, the illegal business of transporting and trading in alcoholic beverages, hence:
** Moonshine, or illicitly made ...
''Gimme Heads''.
*
The Pooh Sticks
The Pooh Sticks were a Welsh indie pop band from Swansea, Wales, primarily recording between 1988 and 1995. They were notable for their jangly melodiousness and lyrics gently mocking the indie scene of the time, such as on "On Tape", "Indiepop ...
, an indie pop band from
Swansea
Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe).
The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...
, Wales, covered the song in 1988, releasing it as part of a box of five one-sided 7" singles.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1, 2, 3, Red Light
1968 singles
1968 songs
1910 Fruitgum Company songs
Ohio Express songs
Talking Heads songs
Buddah Records singles
RPM Top Singles number-one singles