It Only Takes a Minute


"It Only Takes a Minute" is a 1975 song by American soul/R&B group Tavares, released as the first single from their third album, In the City. The song was the group's only top-10 pop hit in the United States, peaking at number 10, and their second number one song on the American soul charts. On the US Disco chart, "It Only Takes a Minute" spent five weeks at number two and was the first of four entries on the chart. The song was subsequently covered by Jonathan King performing as 100 Ton and a Feather in 1976 and by boy band Take That in 1992.
A remastered version of the Tavares' original is featured in the soundtrack of Konami's dancing game Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix released in 1999. While a later remix from European producer X-Treme was also featured in DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7th MIX released in 2002.

Charts

Tavares' original version did not chart in the UK until 1986, when it could only reach No 46 in the UK Singles Chart. It was the last of their ten hits in the UK.
Jonathan King's version peaked at number nine for two weeks in July 1976, and number 10 in Ireland. It would prove to be the last of his six top-10 UK singles in a career that started in 1965 with "Everyone's Gone to the Moon".

Weekly charts

Tavares version
Chart Peak
position
Canada17
US Billboard Hot 10010
US Hot Dance Club Play 2
US Hot Soul Singles 1
US Cash Box Top 10010

One Hundred Ton and a Feather/Jonathan King version
Chart Peak
position
-
UK Singles 9

Take That version

English boyband Take That recorded a cover of "It Only Takes a Minute" and released it as a single on May 25, 1992, as the fourth single from the band's debut album, Take That & Party. It became the band's first top-10 single, charting at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song was performed in conjunction with "Do What U Like" in the Take That Hometown Tour which featured Mini Take That. Robbie Williams has a solo section in the last chorus, although he is uncredited.
"It Only Takes a Minute" was the group's first single released in Canada in February 1993. The song was one of three by Take That nominated for British Single at the Brit Awards in 1993 but lost to their version of "Could It Be Magic". In the UK, the song has sold 146,000 copies as of March 2017.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard declared Take That's version of the song as a "light and fluffy rendition of the Tavares disco nugget." He noted further, "Layers of warm harmonies are complemented by reedy horns and an easy-going dance beat. A sugary treat..." Melody Maker felt that "they do for house what their American counterparts did for hip hop." Dave Piccioni from Music Week's RM Dance Update complimented the "very handy" Tommy Musto remix of the song as "a useful DJ tool that's flying out of the shops." Simon Williams from NME wrote, "'It Only Takes A Minute' took Take That's cunning annexation of the gay club scene into the realm of the anthemic, not to mention hysterical with the line, "If you get a 'flu attack/For 30 days you're on your back!"." Tom Doyle from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, noting that "this sounds exactly like The Village People". He also named it "one of the That's best tunes". A writer for Sunday World stated that this "should be the song which finally breaks Take That".

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It involves the band singing and performing the song at a boxing ring with members Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen breakdancing whilst Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow chase after a girl.

Track listings

UK CD single
  1. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  2. "I Can Make It" – 4:12
  3. "Never Want to Let You Go" – 4:28
  4. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 5:43UK 7-inch vinyl
  5. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  6. "Satisfied" – 4:32UK 7-inch vinyl
  7. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  8. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 4:46UK 12-inch vinyl
  9. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 5:43
  10. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 6:14
  11. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 5:19
  12. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 2:16
  13. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 7:11UK cassette
  14. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  15. "Satisfied" – 4:32European CD single
  16. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  17. "I Can Make It" – 4:12
  18. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 6:14
  19. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 5:43US CD single
  20. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  21. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:25US 7-inch vinyl
  22. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  23. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:25US 12-inch vinyl
  24. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 5:43
  25. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 6:14
  26. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:25
  27. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 6:33
  28. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 6:33Japanese 3-inch CD single
  29. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 3:50
  30. "It Only Takes a Minute" – 6:14

Personnel