Song:1-2-3
Album:The Best Of The Dovells 1961-1965
The 1965 top five hit 1-2-3 was the biggest hit and most memorable song by Philadelphia doo wop veteran Len Barry. He was also lead singer on The Dovells smash hit The Bristol Stomp and a key behind the scenes figure in the development of 70s Philly Soul. He was born Leonard Borisoff June 12, 1942 in Philadelphia. He wanted to be a baseball player but while in the Army, he started singing. After his discharge, he returned home and joined The Dovells as lead singer. These were guys he knew in high school but The Dovells was a new group name. The Bristol Stomp reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. They had a few more hits until Barry left for a solo career in 1963. He signed with Decca Records and 1-2-3 reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Barry wrote the song with John Medora and David White from Danny & The Juniors. The problem was 1-2-3 was a reworking of the Holland-Dozier-Holland song Ask Any Girl which was recorded by The Supremes. Motown successfully sued for royalties. A couple of Barry's other songs charted but after a 1967 album on RCA, he was through as a recording artist. This Dovells comp from ABKCO Records also has four Len Barry songs including 1-2-3. In the 70s, Barry was a songwriter and producer for WMOT Records, one of the two main Philly Soul production companies. He worked with MFSB and wrote and produced the 70s group Fat Larry's Band and also produced Keem-O-Sabe by Electric Indian. Len Barry may not be the first name that comes to mind but he was a major part of 70s Philly Soul. He continues to work the oldies curcuit today and wrote a novel a couple of years ago. Here's Len Barry performing 1-2-3 on Hullaballoo-A-Go-Go 1965.
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