"It Only Takes a Minute" is a 1975 song by American soul/R&B group Tavares, released as the first single from their third album, In the City (1975). The song was the group's only top-10 pop hit in the United States, peaking at number 10, and their second number one song on the American soul charts.[1] On the US Disco chart, "It Only Takes a Minute" spent five weeks at number two and was the first of four entries on the chart.[2] The song was subsequently covered by Jonathan King performing as 100 Ton and a Feather in 1976 and by boy band Take That in 1992.
"It Only Takes a Minute" | ||||
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Single by Tavares | ||||
from the album In the City | ||||
B-side | "I Hope She Chooses Me" | |||
Released | July 1975 | |||
Genre | Soul, R&B, disco | |||
Length | 3:13 (single version) 4:00 (album version) | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter | |||
Producer(s) | Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter | |||
Tavares singles chronology | ||||
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Tavares did not release their original version in the UK until 1986 when it could only reach No 46 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It was the last of their ten hits in the UK.[3]
Jonathan King's version peaked at number nine for two weeks in July 1976, and number 10 in Ireland.[4] It would prove to be the last of his six top-10 UK singles in a career that started in 1965 with "Everyone's Gone to the Moon".[4]
Weekly charts editTavares version
One Hundred Ton and a Feather/Jonathan King version
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Year-end charts edit
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"It Only Takes a Minute" | ||||
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Single by Take That | ||||
from the album Take That & Party | ||||
B-side |
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Released | May 25, 1992[11] | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length |
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Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Nigel Wright | |||
Take That singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"It Only Takes a Minute" on YouTube |
English boyband Take That recorded a cover of "It Only Takes a Minute" and released it as a single on May 25, 1992, as the fourth single from the band's debut album, Take That & Party (1992). It became the band's first top-10 single, charting at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. A remastered version of Tavares' track is featured in the soundtrack of Konami's dancing game Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix. A remix from European producer X-Treme was featured in DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7th MIX. The song was performed as conjunction with "Do What U Like" in the Take That Hometown Tour which featured Mini Take That. Robbie Williams has a solo section in the last chorus, although he is uncredited.
In the UK the song has sold 146,000 copies as of March 2017.[12]
Larry Flick from Billboard declared Take That's version of the song as a "light and fluffy rendition of the Tavares disco nugget." He noted further, "Layers of warm harmonies are complemented by reedy horns and an easy-going dance beat. A sugary treat..."[13] Melody Maker felt that "they do for house what their American counterparts [ NKOTB ] did for hip hop."[14] Dave Piccioni from Music Week's RM Dance Update complimented the "very handy" Tommy Musto remix of the song as "a useful DJ tool that's flying out of the shops."[15] Simon Williams from NME wrote, "'It Only Takes A Minute' took Take That's cunning annexation of the gay club scene into the realm of the anthemic, not to mention hysterical with the line, "If you get a 'flu attack/For 30 days you're on your back!"."[16] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, noting that "this sounds exactly like The Village People". He also named it "one of the That's best tunes".[17] A writer for Sunday World stated that this "should be the song which finally breaks Take That".[18]
A music video was produced to promote the single. It involves the band singing and performing the song at a boxing ring with members Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen breakdancing whilst Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow chase after a girl. The video was published on YouTube in October 2009. By November 2020, it has been viewed over 3,8 million times.[19]
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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