5-4-3-2-1

"5-4-3-2-1" is a 1964 song by British band Manfred Mann. It was written by Mann, Mike Hugg and Paul Jones, and peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart[1] thanks to weekly television exposure from being the theme tune for the ITV pop music television programme Ready Steady Go!.[2] This would be the last single released before bass player Dave Richmond left the band.[3]

For other uses, see 54321 (disambiguation).
"5-4-3-2-1"
Single by Manfred Mann
from the EP Manfred Mann's Cock-a-Hoop
B-side"Without You"
Released10 January 1964
Recorded17 December 1963
StudioAbbey Road Studios, London
Genre
Length1:59
LabelHis Master's Voice–EMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)John Burgess
Manfred Mann singles chronology
"Cock-a-Hoop"
(1963)		 "5-4-3-2-1"
(1964)		 "Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble)"
(1964)

In an interview with Uncut, keyboardist Manfred Mann said that he regarded Ready Steady Go as being like a rocket, and wrote the song as a countdown to launch it.[4] The song contains the self-referential lyric "Uh-huh, it was the Mannnn-freds!".

Upon the success of the single, the group authored the follow-up single "Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble)", which peaked at #11 in the UK.[1] Due to this they resorted to recording a cover song as their next release. This release was "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" which became a trans-Atlantic #1 hit.[5]

In 1982 it was used for the advert for the chocolate bar 54321 also performed by Manfred Mann and featured Rik Mayall in the early adverts, in 1997 the Spice Girls' jingle used to introduce Channel 5 was loosely based on 5-4-3-2-1.[6] British supermarket chain Tesco used the song in adverts for £5 off a £40 spend in 2012.

Personnel

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 345–346. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 258. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
  3. Jazz4now – The Dave Richmond Home Page "Please note that "5-4-3-2-1" was recorded before I left the band, in fact I still receive PPL payments every time it is broadcast" – Dave Richmond
  4. "5-4-3-2-1 by Manfred Mann". Songfacts. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  5. Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 258. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
  6. "Remember when the Spice Girls launched Channel 5 in 1997?". Metro. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
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