Look Who it Was Random video

The Prime Movers - 1-2-5 (The Haunted Cover)

1,487 views · Published 16 January 2013 · 2:42 · Indexed 27 September 2026

Channel: CoverVerse · 2013 · Music

Watch on YouTube

From '' Change For The Better / 1-2-5 ''
Label: Moulty Records – MLT-102
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1983

Tracklist
A Change For The Better
B 1-2-5

Vocals, Harmonica – Cam Ackland
Guitar, Vocals – Richard Haughey
Drums – Dennis McCarthy
Organ – Paul Curley
Bass – Jeff Sugarman

Management – Joyce Linehan

Photography By – Wayne Podworny
Design [Cover Design] – Dave Bass

Engineer – Darlene Wilson (track: A), Michael Whittaker (track: B)
Producer – John Surette (track: A), Eric Stumpo (track: B)
Executive-Producer – Dave Bass

Recorded At – Baker Street Studios
Recorded At – Newbury Sound


🎵 [SONG INFO]

The song "1-2-5" is a classic garage rock track released in 1966 by the Canadian band The Haunted, who hailed from Montreal, Quebec.
The Haunted was formed in 1965 by guitarist Jurgen Peter.
The band won a local "Battle of the Bands" competition at the Montreal Forum in late 1965, and the prize was a recording session with Quality Records.

They recorded "1-2-5" (co-written by vocalist Bob Burgess and guitarist Jurgen Peter) with "Eight O'Clock This Morning" as the B-side. [Quality 1814 (Can) / Amy 959 (US)]  Quality Records. The single was released in early 1966 and was a major local hit, charting in Canada.

While the band's name is "The Haunted," and the song itself is a raw, intense garage-punk track, the primary "haunted song" or "cursed song" urban legends are typically associated with different, often older, songs (like "Gloomy Sunday"). There is no widespread, well-known urban legend specifically about "1-2-5" causing negative events or being "cursed" that rivals the fame of other supposed "haunted" songs.

The original lyrics for "1-2-5" were about a man meeting a prostitute ("Walking down the street on a foggy night, I saw a young girl standing under a light. Her face was pale and her skirt was tight, had a five dollar bill, I felt alright"). Quality Records requested a "clean" version with alternate lyrics for the Canadian release, but the original "uncensored" version was released in the US on the Amy label. This censorship and the gritty content are elements of its history, but not an actual paranormal urban legend.

"1-2-5" is considered a quintessential "garage classic" and a major "nugget" of 1960s garage rock, later gaining wider recognition through inclusion on various garage rock compilation albums (like the Pebbles series).

Cover Versions

"1-2-5" has been covered by various garage rock and punk-influenced bands over the decades, a testament to its status as a "garage nugget."

Notable bands that have covered the song include:

The Fuzztones: An American garage revival band known for covering classic '60s garage tracks. Their version is one of the more recognized covers.

The Prime Movers: An American band who released a cover of "1-2-5" as a single B-side in 1983.

The Gruesomes: A Canadian garage rock band, which shows the song's enduring influence in its home country.

The Busymen: A contemporary band who has also performed and recorded a cover.


🎤 [LYRICS]

Walking down the street, on a foggy night
Saw a young girl standing under a light
Her face was pale and her skirt was tight
Had a five dollar bill, I felt alright.

If I had my car, I would go for a drive
I had no car but I had my five
Walked over to her, said what's your name
My names Mary Jane, I live down the lane, cmon.

I looked down the lane, at the end I could see
A room full of clowns looking back at me
A line of executives formed to the right
And if I'd stayed, I would have stood all night.

She opened up the door, and said go on in
I walked in first, pulled down the shades
She said take it easy, don't be afraid
You got nothing to lose, you're at a penny arcade.

#theprimemovers
#125  
#garagerock 
#thehaunted

More from this channel