ABC (The Jackson 5 song): History and Key Facts

"ABC" is a song by American pop band the Jackson 5. It was released as a single in 1970, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks in April 1970, and was number one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart for four weeks that same month. It is the title track to the group's second album and sold 2 million copies within the first week of its release in the US and more than 4 million copies worldwide.

Cash Box said: "Having whetted the world's appetite with 'I Want You Back' the Jackson 5 makes it back with another dynamite side cast in the image of its million seller. Searing vocals and the familiar drive of the Motown supporting cast assure another giant here." Billboard said: "This pulsating swinger has all the sales and chart potential of the initial entry ['I Want You Back']." Record World said the song proved that "the Jackson 5 are Motown's newest supergroup".

"ABC" was performed on television on American Bandstand (February 21, 1970), The Ed Sullivan Show (May 10, 1970), and The Flip Wilson Show (November 4, 1971), among many other broadcasts. The upbeat lyrics compare learning to love to learning the alphabet.

"ABC" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971. 50 Cent told NME that the song was the first he remembered hearing: "I've always loved MJ, so I guess it was probably a good place to start music: right here, with the ABCs." On November 7, 2016, the Grammy Hall of Fame announced the song's induction, along with that of another 24 songs.

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