2000 Great Songs #1443: 1-2-3

Having chatted up Feist's "1234" yesterday, it seems obvious that our next song needs to be the Professionals' "1-2-3." Simply by happenstance, of course; that's just the way the universe rolls.

The short-lived Professionals were half of the original Sex Pistols--guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook. If you're familiar with the duo's contributions to the Pistols' Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle soundtrack LP--"Lonely Boy" and the previously-noted "Silly Thing"--you know what to expect. As on those tunes, the boys offer decent enough pop-punk, obviously lacking the distinctive Johnny Rotten/Lydon sneer and original bassist Glen Matlock's songwriting chops, but not without its charm.

1980 single "1-2-3" (from an EP confusingly titled One Two Three) is certainly fun enough. Jones may not be the most charismatic vocalist, but the tune is given enough reverb and multi-tracked vocals & guitars to sound convincingly muscular, a thick and crunchy shout-along fist-pumper. Absent the Pistols connection, it could've been just another faux-anthem trying to emulate first-wave UK punk, but it gets bonus points for being wicked catchy.

The track was later included on the CD reissue of their lone LP (setting aside a 2017 sort-of reunion), 1981's I Didn't See It Coming (which itself was a re-recording of a planned 1980 album which was shelved until 1997).

Interesting historical note: Early San Francisco band The Avengers, who opened for the Pistols at their ill-fated (and final) 1977 concert, ended up working with Steve Jones on some early demos. These demos--officially released in 1983--included an early version of "1-2-3," with the Avengers writing their own lyrics and calling it "Second To None." (Is it better than the Professionals' rewrite? Yeah, probably!)

Live 2017:

Avengers' "Second To None":

Avengers live, 2012:

Avengers frontwoman Penelope Houston went on to record a stripped-down, rewritten version of the song, now titled "Girls." Even made a video with some kids.

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