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1964 single by Manfred Mann

For other uses, see 54321 (disambiguation).

"5-4-3-2-1" is a 1964 song by British band Manfred Mann, written by the group`s eponymous keyboardist Manfred Mann along with Mike Hugg and Paul Jones. Released as a single on 10 January 1964, the track peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] becoming the band`s breakthrough single and first commercial hit as the theme tune for the weekly ITV pop music television programme Ready Steady Go!.[2] In an interview with Uncut, Mann said that he regarded Ready Steady Go as being like a rocket, and wrote the song as a countdown to launch it.[3]

The song contains the self-referential lyric "Uh-huh, it was the Mannnn-freds!", and would be the last single released before bass player Dave Richmond left the band.[4]

After the single`s success, the group`s follow-up single "Hubble Bubble (Toil and Trouble)" was a relative downturn, peaking at number 11 in the UK.[1] Due to this, the band resorted to recording a cover version of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (originally performed by vocal group the Exciters) as their next release, which became a trans-Atlantic number one hit and their first international chart success.[5]

In 1982, it was used for the advert for the 54321 chocolate bar, which was 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 pounds 5 off a pounds 40 spend in 2012.

Personnel

• Paul Jones – lead vocals, harmonica
• Manfred Mann – keyboards, backing vocals
• Mike Vickers – guitar
• Dave Richmond – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Mike Hugg – drums