It Only Takes a Minute
"It Only Takes a Minute" is a 1975 song by American soul/R&B group Tavares, released as the first single from their third album, In the City (1975). The song was the group's only top-10 pop hit in the United States, peaking at number 10, and their second number one song on the American soul charts.[1] On the US Disco chart, "It Only Takes a Minute" spent five weeks at number two and was the first of four entries on the chart.[2] The song was subsequently covered by Jonathan King performing as 100 Ton and a Feather in 1976 and by boy band Take That in 1992.
"It Only Takes a Minute" | ||||
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Single by Tavares | ||||
from the album In the City | ||||
B-side | "I Hope She Chooses Me" | |||
Released | July 1975 | |||
Genre | Soul, R&B, disco | |||
Length | 3:13 (single version) 4:00 (album version) | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter | |||
Producer(s) | Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter | |||
Tavares singles chronology | ||||
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Charts
Tavares did not release their original version in the UK until 1986 when it could only reach No 46 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It was the last of their ten hits in the UK.[3]
Jonathan King's version peaked at number nine for two weeks in July 1976, and number 10 in Ireland.[4] It would prove to be the last of his six top-10 UK singles in a career that started in 1965 with "Everyone's Gone to the Moon".[4]
Weekly chartsTavares version
One Hundred Ton and a Feather/Jonathan King version
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Year-end charts
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Take That version
"It Only Takes a Minute" | ||||
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Single by Take That | ||||
from the album Take That & Party | ||||
B-side |
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Released | May 25, 1992[12] | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length |
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Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Nigel Wright | |||
Take That singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"It Only Takes a Minute" on YouTube |
English boyband Take That recorded a cover of "It Only Takes a Minute" and released it as a single on May 25, 1992, as the fourth single from the band's debut album, Take That & Party (1992). It became the band's first top-10 single, charting at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. A remastered version of Tavares' track is featured in the soundtrack of Konami's dancing game Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix. A remix from European producer X-Treme was featured in DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7th MIX. The song was performed as conjunction with "Do What U Like" in the Take That Hometown Tour which featured Mini Take That. Robbie Williams has a solo section in the last chorus, although he is uncredited.
In the UK the song has sold 146,000 copies as of March 2017.[13]
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard declared Take That's version of the song as a "light and fluffy rendition of the Tavares disco nugget." He noted further, "Layers of warm harmonies are complemented by reedy horns and an easy-going dance beat. A sugary treat..."[14] Melody Maker felt that "they do for house what their American counterparts [ NKOTB ] did for hip hop."[15] Dave Piccioni from Music Week's RM Dance Update complimented the "very handy" Tommy Musto remix of the song as "a useful DJ tool that's flying out of the shops."[16] Simon Williams from NME wrote, "'It Only Takes A Minute' took Take That's cunning annexation of the gay club scene into the realm of the anthemic, not to mention hysterical with the line, "If you get a 'flu attack/For 30 days you're on your back!"."[17] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, noting that "this sounds exactly like The Village People". He also named it "one of the That's best tunes".[18] A writer for Sunday World stated that this "should be the song which finally breaks Take That".[19]
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single. It involves the band singing and performing the song at a boxing ring with members Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen breakdancing whilst Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow chase after a girl. The video was published on YouTube in October 2009. By November 2020, it has been viewed over 3,8 million times.[20]
Track listings
- UK CD single (74321 10100 2)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "I Can Make It" – 4:12
- "Never Want to Let You Go" – 4:28
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Deep Club Mix) – 5:43
- UK 7-inch vinyl (74321 10100 7)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "Satisfied" – 4:32
- UK 7-inch vinyl (Limited Edition) (74321 10101 7)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Royal Rave Mix) – 4:46
- UK 12-inch vinyl (74321 10102 7)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Deep Club Mix) – 5:43
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Wright Vocal Mix) – 6:14
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Dem Drums) – 5:19
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Blondapella) – 2:16
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Love Dub) – 7:11
- UK cassette (74321 10100 4)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "Satisfied" – 4:32
- European CD single (74321 11100 5)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "I Can Make It" – 4:12
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Wright Vocal Mix) – 6:14
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Deep Club Mix) – 5:43
- US CD single (TAKE4)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (new remix - radio version) – 3:25
- US 7-inch vinyl (TAKE14)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (new remix - radio version) – 3:25
- US 12-inch vinyl (TAKE214)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (club version) – 5:43
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (dub version) – 6:14
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (new remix - radio version) – 3:25
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Underground Vocal) – 6:33
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Underground Instrumental) – 6:33
- Japanese 3-inch CD single (TAKEJAP4)
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (7-inch version) – 3:50
- "It Only Takes a Minute" (Wright Vocal Mix) – 6:14
Personnel
- Gary Barlow – lead vocals
- Howard Donald – backing vocals
- Jason Orange – backing vocals
- Mark Owen – backing vocals
- Robbie Williams – backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 567.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 254.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 549. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 302. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 254.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It Only Takes a Minute". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- Bac-lac.gc.ca
- Musicoutfitters.com
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Year End (1975)". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1975". Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. May 23, 1992. p. 19. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/take-thats-official-top-40-biggest-songs-revealed__18247/ Official Charts Company - best selling Take That songs March 24, 2017
- Flick, Larry (April 3, 1993). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 92. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- The Stud Brothers (June 6, 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 29. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- Piccioni, Dave (May 8, 1993). "Hot Vinyl Buzzing" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- Williams, Simon. "Take That – Greatest Hits". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- Doyle, Tom (May 27, 1992). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 52. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- Sunday World. May 24, 1992. p. 33.
- "Take That - It Only Takes A Minute". YouTube. October 25, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- Lwin, Nanda: The Canadian Singles Chart Book 1975 - 1996. Music Data Canada, 1996 ISBN 9781896594095.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 28. July 11, 1992. p. 11. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It Only Takes a Minute". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. January 16, 1993. p. 8.