"Sugar, Sugar"
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][2]
Length2:48
LabelCalendar, Kirshner, RCA
Songwriter(s)Jeff Barry, Andy Kim
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)
Music video
"Sugar Sugar" on YouTube

Sugar, Sugar is a song written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim. It was originally recorded by the Archies, a fictional band of studio musicians linked to the 1968–69 US Saturday morning TV cartoon The Archie Show, inspired by the Archie Comics. In the autumn of 1969 the single topped both Billboard's Hot 100 (for four weeks) and the UK Singles Chart (for eight weeks), ranking number one for the year in both America and Britain. “Sugar, Sugar” is the most successful bubblegum pop single of all time, and is widely regarded as the apotheosis of the late-1960s/early-1970s bubblegum music genre. In mid-1970 R&B/soul singer Wilson Pickett achieved success on both the US soul and pop charts with a cover version.

The Archies version

Background

Produced by Jeff Barry, the Archies' recording of "Sugar, Sugar" features a group of studio musicians managed by Don Kirshner, former music supervisor to the Monkees. Ron Dante provided the lead vocals, accompanied by Toni Wine and songwriter Andy Kim. Together they provided the voices of the Archies using multitracking. The single was initially released in late May 1969 on Kirshner's Calendar label (as with the Archies’ two previous singles), achieving moderate success in the early summer in several radio markets. When re-released in mid-July 1969 (with pressings also on the Kirshner label), it attained enormous success nationwide across several months.[3] The track was also made available (along with two other Archies singles) on the back of boxes of Post breakfast cereal Super Sugar Crisp. “Sugar, Sugar” features on the LP Everything's Archie – the second album credited to the Archies, released in November 1969.

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 peaked at 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 (KYA) in San Francisco, where the program director was told: "Just play it! It's a mystery group".[6]

"Sugar, Sugar" is written in the key of D major.[7]

Reception

In the issue of Billboard magazine dated September 20, the single started a four-week run at number one on the Hot 100, replacing the Rolling Stones’ "Honky Tonk Women". It spent a then-lengthy 22 weeks on the Hot 100 (longer than any other single in 1969), and was one of only ten singles to spend 12 weeks in the Top Ten during the decade.[4] It topped Billboard’s year-end list of the Top Hot 100 Singles of 1969. In August 1969 the record was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million.[8] (In 1989 the gold threshold was lowered to 500,000.)[9] In 2018 “Sugar, Sugar” ranked 81 in Billboard's Hot 100 60th Anniversary chart.[10]

Between late October and mid-December 1969 the single spent eight weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. Disc introduced an initiative in 1959 to present a gold record to singles that had sold over one million units.[11] "Sugar, Sugar" was awarded a gold disc in January 1970. [12] 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.[13]

In the chart dated September 13, 1969, “Sugar, Sugar” topped the RPM 100 national singles chart in Canada, where it remained for three weeks. It also peaked at number one on the South African Singles Chart.[14] 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.[15]

Charts

Certifications and sales

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

Personnel

The studio musicians on the Archies song are:

Wilson Pickett version

"Sugar, Sugar"
One of side-A labels of US single
Single by Wilson Pickett
from the album Right On
B-side"Cole, Cooke & Redding"
ReleasedApril 1970
Recorded1969
StudioCriteria (Miami)
GenreSoul
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 R&B/soul singer Wilson Pickett recorded a cover version of "Sugar, Sugar" (titled "Sugar Sugar", with no comma) 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

In May 1970 Pickett's cover of "Sugar, Sugar" reached No. 4 on Billboard's R&B chart, then in June peaked at No. 25 on the Hot 100. The parent album Right On reached No. 197 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Pickett's recording was used in Ang Lee's 1997 film The Ice Storm. In Canada, "Cole, Cooke & Redding" was the A-side and charted first, reaching No. 58 in April 1970.[60]

Chart performance

Chart (1970) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[61] 77
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 25
Billboard R&B Chart 4
Canada (RPM) [62] 18

Personnel

Other versions

  • Sakkarin (a pseudonym of Jonathan King) recorded it (as "Sugar Sugar") in 1971, reaching No. 12 in the UK chart[63] as well as No. 20 in Ireland[64] and No. 21 in Germany.[65]
  • In 2011, it was used in the intro of Cake Boss.

References

  1. ↑ "Sugar Sugar: The Birth of Bubblegum Pop – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  2. ↑ Read, Maddy (August 22, 2021). "Bubblegum pop: 'Commercialized, computerized and easy to sing to'". The Crimson White. Retrieved March 15, 2023. Tracks that cemented their places in history as a part of the first wave of bubblegum pop include "Saturday Night" by Bay City Rollers, "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies and "Indian Lake" by the Cowsills.
  3. ↑ "50 Years Later, The Archies' 'Sugar, Sugar' Is Still 'Really Sweet'". Text.npr.org. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Archies - Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y-D.O.O)". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  6. ↑ Valcourt, Keith (March 26, 2017). "Archies singer Ron Dante: 'Cartoon Band Man'". The Washington Times. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ Andy, Kim; Jeff, Barry; Archies, The (January 23, 2007). "Sugar, Sugar". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Gold & Platinum: Searchable database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
    Search Artist: Archies
  9. ↑ Grein, Paul (May 14, 1989). "New Golden Rule: 500,000 Sales Mark for All Singles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  10. ↑ "HOT 100 60TH ANNIVERSARY". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  11. ↑ Smith, Alan. "UK First Charts & Silver Discs". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  12. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 276. ISBN 0668064595. In Britain the disc (RCA label) was No 1 for eight weeks and sold over a million there
  13. ↑ "Award". BPI. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ Brian Currin. "South African Singles Chart". Rock.co.za. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Sugar Sugar". Cshf.ca. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Billboard Magazine, September 27 1969" (PDF). p. 80. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts - 4 October 1969". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1969". Top100singles.net.
  19. ↑ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  20. ↑ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  21. ↑ "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. ↑ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  27. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sugar Sugar". Irish Singles Chart.
  28. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Archies".
  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. ↑ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  33. ↑ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar". VG-lista.
  34. ↑ "Billboard Magazine, August 30 1969" (PDF). p. 68. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  35. ↑ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  36. ↑ "Billboard Magazine, December 20 1969" (PDF). p. 73. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  37. ↑ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  38. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 1969). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  39. ↑ "Billboard Magazine, January 24 1970" (PDF). p. 88. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  40. ↑ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar". Swiss Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries: ARCHIES". Artsisteschartsventes.blogspot.com. December 25, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Archies: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  43. ↑ "The Archies Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  44. ↑ "The Archies Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  45. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 9/13/69". cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  46. ↑ "RPM Top Singles of 1969". Library and Archives Canada. RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  47. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1969". Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1969". Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1969". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  51. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  52. ↑ Archived January 25, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969
  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. ↑ "British single certifications – The Archies – Sugar Sugar". British Phonographic Industry.
  56. ↑ Copsey, Rob (September 19, 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  57. ↑ "American single certifications – The Archies – Sugar, Sugar". Recording Industry Association of America.
  58. ↑ 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.
  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. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 25, 2970" (PDF).
  61. ↑ 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.
  62. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 4, 1970" (PDF).
  63. ↑ "Sakkarin". The Official Charts Company.
  64. ↑ "Sakkarin". The Irish Charts.
  65. ↑ "Sakkarin: Sugar Sugar". Offizielle Deutsche Charts.

Sources

  • The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, fifth edition. ISBN 978-0823076772. Billboard Books. 2003
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