Sugar, Sugar

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This article is about the song. For the confectionery company, see Sugar Sugar, Inc. For other uses, see Sugar Sugar (disambiguation).

"Sugar, Sugar"
The archies sugar sugar 1969 US vinyl.jpg
A-side label of original 1969 U.S. vinyl release
Single by The Archies
from the album Everything's Archie
B-side"Melody Hill"
ReleasedMay 24, 1969 (Calendar label); Rereleased July 1969 (Kirshner label)
Recorded1969
GenreBubblegum pop[1]
Length2:48
LabelCalendar, Kirshner, RCA Records
Songwriter(s)Andy Kim, Jeff Barry
Producer(s)Jeff Barry
The Archies singles chronology
"Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.-D.O.O.)"
(1968) 		"Sugar, Sugar"
(1969) 		"Jingle Jangle"
(1969)
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"Sugar Sugar" on YouTube

"Sugar, Sugar" is a song written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim. It was originally recorded by the cartoon band the Archies. This version reached No. 1 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969 and remained there for four weeks. It also reached No. 1 on the UK Singles chart in that same year for eight weeks. Don Kirshner had originally wanted The Monkees to record Sugar Sugar but the group rejected the song during a heated meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel in January 1967. The song became a hit again in 1970 when rhythm and blues and soul singer Wilson Pickett took it back onto the charts with his own version.

The Archies version[]

Background[]

Produced by Jeff Barry, the Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" was originally released on the album Everything's Archie. The album was the product of a group of studio musicians managed by Don Kirshner. Ron Dante's lead vocals were accompanied by those of Toni Wine and songwriter Andy Kim. Together they provided the voices of the Archies using multitracking. The song was initially released in late May 1969 on the Calendar label (the same label as with the two previous Archies singles), achieving moderate chart success in the early summer in some radio markets. When the song was re-released in mid-July 1969 on the Kirshner label, it attained massive success nationwide by the late summer/early fall.[2] "Sugar, Sugar" is written in the key of D major.[3]

Upon the song's initial release Kirshner had promotion men play it for radio station personnel without revealing the group's name, as the Archies' previous single, "Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y-D.O.O)", had only reached No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[4][5] In an article published in The Washington Times, lead vocalist Ron Dante recounts that the label was removed from the record, taken to a top radio station in San Francisco, where the DJ was told: “Just play it! It’s a mystery group”.[6]

Reception[]

After topping the RPM 100 national singles chart in Canada on September 13, 1969 (where it spent three weeks), the single went on to spend four weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 from September 20 through October 11.[4] It spent a total of 22 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 and was the 1969 US number-one single of the year. The song was classified by the RIAA as a gold record in August 1969,[7] meaning it had sold one million units (the gold threshold was later lowered to 500,000).[8] It ranked #81 on Billboard's "Hot 100 60th Anniversary" chart.[9]

The single also spent eight weeks at the top of the UK singles chart and peaked at #1 on the South African Singles Chart.[10] On February 5, 2006, "Sugar, Sugar" was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, as co-writer Andy Kim is originally from Montreal, Quebec.[11]

Although official music recording sales certifications were not introduced in the United Kingdom until the British Phonographic Industry was formed in 1973, Disc introduced an initiative in 1959 to present a gold record to singles that had sold over one million units.[12] The awards relied on record companies correctly compiling and supplying sales information, and "Sugar, Sugar" was erroneously awarded a gold disc in January 1970 despite having sold approximately 945,000 copies, as RCA Records had informed Disc that one million copies had been shipped, but not all were sold.[12][13] Nevertheless, following the introduction of music downloads in 2004, "Sugar, Sugar" passed the one-million sales mark.[14] In April 2020 the song was certified Silver by the BPI for selling 200,000 units since it was made available digitally in November 2004.[15]

Charts and certifications[]

Certifications and sales[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany — 500,000[53]
Mexico — 300,000[54]
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Silver 1,040,461[55]
United States (RIAA)[58] Gold 3,000,000[57]
Summaries
Worldwide
1969 sales 		— 6,000,000[59]

Personnel[]

The studio musicians on the Archies song are:

Uses in media and pop culture[]

The song was featured in The Wonder Years episode "Double Double Date",[60] and was later used in a fantasy sequence in The Simpsons episode "Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood", in which Homer dances alongside giant ice cream cones and lollipops on a desert island.[61] "Sugar, Sugar" has also been featured in several films, such as Now and Then (1995),[62] A Very Brady Sequel (1996),[63] The Sandlot 2 (2005),[64] The Magic Roundabout (2005),[65] Bee Movie (2007)[66] and The Campaign (2012).[67]

The song appears in a 2020 TV commercial for Applebee's.[68] Similarly, the song Sugar, Sugar also appeared in the 2011 TV advertisement of Gulaku (lit. "My Sugar"), an Indonesian sugar brand;[69] before 2011 Gulaku has used that song in their advertisements from 2006.[70]

Wilson Pickett version[]

"Sugar, Sugar"
Sugar, Sugar - Wilson Pickett.jpg
Single by Wilson Pickett
from the album Right On
B-side"Cole, Cooke & Redding"
ReleasedApril 1970
Recorded1969
Length3:00
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Andy Kim, Jeff Barry
Producer(s)Dave Crawford, Jerry Wexler, Rick Hall, Tom Dowd
Wilson Pickett singles chronology
"You Keep Me Hangin' On"
(1969) 		"Sugar, Sugar"
(1970) 		"She Said Yes"
(1970)

Background[]

In 1970, American singer Wilson Pickett recorded a cover version of "Sugar, Sugar" in his Criteria Studios sessions. Pickett's rendition of the song was produced by Dave Crawford, Jerry Wexler, Rick Hall and Tom Dowd. The track was released by Atlantic Records as the second single from Pickett's tenth studio album, Right On.

Reception[]

Pickett's cover of "Sugar, Sugar" peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached No. 4 on the R&B chart. The parent album Right On reached No. 197 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Pickett's recording was later used in the 1997 film The Ice Storm.

Chart performance[]

Chart (1970) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[71] 77
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 25
Billboard R&B Chart 4

Personnel[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Sugar Sugar: The Birth of Bubblegum Pop – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  2. ^ npr.org
  3. ^ Andy, Kim; Jeff, Barry; Archies, The (January 23, 2007). "Sugar, Sugar". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "The Archies - Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y-D.O.O)". Discogs. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  6. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Archies singer Ron Dante: 'Cartoon Band Man'". The Washington Times. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Gold & Platinum: Searchable database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
    Search Artist: Archies
  8. ^ Grein, Paul (May 14, 1989). "New Golden Rule: 500,000 Sales Mark for All Singles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  9. ^ "HOT 100 60TH ANNIVERSARY". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  10. ^ Brian Currin. "South African Singles Chart". Rock.co.za. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  11. ^ Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved from: https://www.cshf.ca/song/sugar-sugar/
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Alan. "UK First Charts & Silver Discs". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  13. ^ "Stats and Facts: Million Sellers". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  14. ^ "Digital generation pushes the oldies into the million-sellers club". Music Week. September 6, 2010.
  15. ^ https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/16326-5228-1
  16. ^ "Billboard Magazine, September 27 1969" (PDF). p. 80. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 4 October 1969". www.poparchives.com.au. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  18. ^ "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1969". www.top100singles.net.
  19. ^ "Austriancharts.at – The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  22. ^ "Billboard Magazine, December 27 1969" (PDF). p. 41. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5955." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  24. ^ "Billboard Magazine, January 3 1970" (PDF). p. 51. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  25. ^ Timo (August 13, 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit ANC - ARK". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sugar Sugar". Irish Singles Chart.
  28. ^ "Italiancharts.com – {{{artist}}} – Sugar Sugar". Top Digital Download.
  29. ^ "Billboard Magazine, September 6 1969" (PDF). p. 103. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  30. ^ "Billboard Magazine, December 13 1969" (PDF). p. 77. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  31. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Archies The" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  32. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  33. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Archies – Sugar Sugar". VG-lista.
  34. ^ "Billboard Magazine, August 30 1969" (PDF). p. 68. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  35. ^ "Billboard Magazine, December 20 1969" (PDF). p. 73. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  36. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  37. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 1969). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  38. ^ "Billboard Magazine, January 24 1970" (PDF). p. 88. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  39. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Archies – Sugar Sugar". Swiss Singles Chart.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b "World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries: ARCHIES". World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries. December 25, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  41. ^ "Archies: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
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  43. ^ "The Archies Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  44. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 9/13/69". cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  45. ^ "RPM Top Singles of 1969". Library and Archives Canada. RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  46. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1969". Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1969". Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  48. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1969". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  49. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  50. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  51. ^ http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html Archived January 25, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969
  52. ^ "Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. November 12, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  53. ^ "International - Cash Box - Germany" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 31 no. 31. February 28, 1970. p. 59. Retrieved March 3, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  54. ^ "International - Cash Box - Mexico" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 31 no. 34. March 21, 1970. p. 68. Retrieved March 3, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  55. ^ Copsey, Rob (September 19, 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – The Archies – Sugar Sugar". British Phonographic Industry.
  57. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 276. ISBN 0668064595. It got to No 1 for four weeks with 22 weeks in the bestsellers, abd by October passed the three million sale in the U.S.A.
  58. ^ "American single certifications – The Archies – Sugar Sugar". Recording Industry Association of America.
  59. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 276. ISBN 0668064595. It was also No 1 in many countries including Spain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Germany, and Mexico, and sales brought the global tally up to six million, making it the top disc of 1969
  60. ^ "S5E16: Double Double Date - The Wonder Years Soundtrack". Tunefind. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  61. ^ ""The Simpsons" Boy Scoutz 'n the Hood (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb".
  62. ^ "Now and Then (1995) - Soundtracks". Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  63. ^ "Various - A Very Brady Sequel Motion Picture Soundtrack". Discogs. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  64. ^ "The Sandlot 2 (Video 2005) - Soundtracks". Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  65. ^ "The Magic Roundabout (2005) - Soundtracks". Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  66. ^ [1] IMDb. Bee Movie (2007) - Soundtracks.
  67. ^ [2] IMdb. The Campaign (2012) - Soundtracks.
  68. ^ "Applebee's 2 for $20 TV Commercial, 'Date Night in the Neighborhood' Song by the Archies".
  69. ^ "Lirik dan Chord Lagu Sugar, Sugar - The Archies" [Lyrics and chords of the song Sugar, Sugar – The Archies]. Kompas.com. March 26, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  70. ^ "TVC / Advertisement / Iklan GULAKU Indonesia - 'Sugar Sugar' – Leonid Julivan Rumambi". YouTube. January 9, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  71. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 233. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  • The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, fifth edition. ISBN 978-0823076772. Billboard Books. 2003

External links[]

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