1, 2, 3, Red Light (song)

"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.^[2] The song charted highest in Canada, going to number 1 on the RPM 100 national singles chart in 1968.^[3] 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.^[4]

"1, 2, 3, Red Light"
Single by 1910 Fruitgum Company
from the album 1, 2, 3, Red Light
B-side	"Sticky Sticky"
Released	July 1968
Genre	Bubblegum pop garage rock[1]
Length	1:55
Label	Buddah
Songwriter(s)	Sal Trimachi, Bobbi Trimachi
Producer(s)	Super K Productions
1910 Fruitgum Company singles chronology
"May I Take a Giant Step (Into Your Heart)" (1968) "1, 2, 3, Red Light" (1968) "Goody Goody Gumdrops" (1968)

The song went to number 2 in South Africa,^[5] 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 in September 1968.^[6]

Background

Bubblegum pop was marketed to preteens as the evolving genre of rock music was beginning to target older adolescents and adults with darker lyrics and heavier rhythms.^[7] The simple structure of the songs and non-political content of bubblegum pop appealed to a younger audience.^[8] Many of the songs in the bubblegum pop genre like "1, 2, 3 Red Light" were intended to be singles within the budget of that younger preteen audience. "1, 2, 3 Red Light" became one of the biggest hits of the genre.^[7]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1968) Peak position Australia 7 Canadian RPM Top Singles[3] 1 New Zealand 3 South Africa[5] 2 Spain (Promusicae)[9] 23 US Billboard Hot 100[10] 5 US Cashbox Top 100[11] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1968) Rank Canada[12] 42 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 48 US Cash Box Top 100[14] 39

Certifications

Certifications for "1, 2, 3, Red Light"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

• Ohio Express released a cover version of the song on their 1969 album, Chewy, Chewy.^[16]
• Talking Heads played the song at some of their early shows and a live version can be found on the bootleg Gimme Heads.^{[17][importance?]}
• Welsh band The Pooh Sticks covered the song in 1988 and released it on Fierce Recordings as part of a 5-disc series of one-sided seven inch singles, artistically scratched on their B sides.