"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]

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 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

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

References