"Did It in a Minute" is a song performed by American duo Hall & Oates. Written by Daryl Hall with Sara and Janna Allen, the song was released as the third of four singles from the duo's tenth studio album Private Eyes in March 1982. Daryl Hall performs lead vocals, while John Oates provides backing harmony vocals.
Background As Daryl Hall said in a 2015 interview, " I was in the car with Janna (Allen), and she said, "I got this idea for a chorus," and she sang that chorus. That's how it all started. And I said, "That's great." We got out of the car, I went to a keyboard, and I put the chords to it. I worked on a verse, and then Sara (Allen) and I sat and wrote the lyrics together for the verse. So it was sort of a three-way collaboration on that song."
The song was inspired by the 1977 Eric Carmen hit "She Did It", because of the 'did-its' in the song. Carmen was touring with Hall & Oates at the time "Did It in a Minute" became a hit. "She Did It" itself had been inspired by the 'did-its' in the Beach Boys' tune, "Do It Again".
Record World called it a "hook-filled pop piece."
Chart performance "Did It in a Minute" peaked at number nine on the United States Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of three top ten singles from Private Eyes.
Weekly charts Chart (1982)PeakpositionCanadian Top Singles (RPM)10Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)4US Cash Box Top 10010 US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart3
Year-end charts Chart (1982)RankCanada Top Singles (RPM)94US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 66US Cash Box 68
Popular culture In an episode of SCTV Network that aired on 5 June 1982, this song was performed by the duo (with their band).
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