"ABC" is a song by American pop band the Jackson 5. It was released as a single in 1970, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks in April 1970, and was number one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart for four weeks that same month. 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 and more than 4 million copies worldwide.
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." Billboard said: "This pulsating swinger has all the sales and chart potential of the initial entry ['I Want You Back']." Record World said the song proved that "the Jackson 5 are Motown's newest supergroup".
"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. The upbeat lyrics compare learning to love to learning the alphabet.
"ABC" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards 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." On November 7, 2016, the Grammy Hall of Fame announced the song's induction, along with that of another 24 songs.
"ABC" is featured as an interpolation in Sigala's 2015 debut single "Easy Love" from his album Brighter Days.
Personnel Musicians on the song's session were uncredited, in line with 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: David T. Walker – guitar Louis Shelton – guitar Don Peake – guitar Wilton Felder – bass guitar Gene Pello – drums Don Randi – piano Freddie Perren – keyboards Sandra Crouch – tambourine Joe Clayton – bongos
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "ABC"Chart (1970)PeakpositionBelgian Singles Chart (Flanders)24Canada Top Singles (RPM)3UK Singles (OCC)8US Billboard Hot 1001
Chart (2009)PeakpositionAustralian ARIA Singles Chart43Irish Singles Chart38UK Singles (OCC)50
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for "ABC"Chart (1970)PositionCanada (RPM)50US Billboard Hot 10015
Certifications and sales
References
External links Overview of The Jackson 5 - "ABC" single. All the picture sleeves, song and remixes to listen at www.jackson5abc.com {non working link} [ The Jackson 5 - "ABC" song review by Bill Janovitz] at AllMusic The Jackson 5 - "ABC" (1970) song as listed on the Rock Band song library. LBJ and MLK Jon Batiste Sings Classic Valentine's Day Black History Month Love Songs