Uptown Top Ranking

"Uptown Top Ranking" is a song by Jamaican teenage singers Althea Forrest and Donna Reid, recorded when they were 17 and 18 years old respectively.^[2] Released in 1977, the song comprises the girls ad-libbing to deejay track "Three Piece Suit" by Trinity. The lyrics were written by the duo and Errol Thompson.^[2][3] It was produced by Joe Gibbs,^[2] using a re-recording of the riddim of the 1967 Alton Ellis song "I'm Still in Love", which had already been re-popularised in the 1970s by Marcia Aitken's cover "I'm Still in Love With You Boy", and "Three Piece Suit" by Trinity, to which "Uptown" was an "answer record".^[4]

B-side"Calico Suit"

Released1977

Genre

• Reggae^[1]
• pop^[1]

Length3:53

Quick facts Single by Althea & Donna, B-side ...

"Uptown Top Ranking"
Single by Althea & Donna
B-side	"Calico Suit"
Released	1977
Genre	Reggae[1] pop[1]
Length	3:53
Label	Lightning
Songwriters	Althea & Donna Errol Thompson
Producer	Joe Gibbs
Althea & Donna singles chronology
"Uptown Top Ranking" (1977) "Puppy Dog Song" (1978)
Official audio
"Uptown Top Ranking" on YouTube

Close

The record was initially recorded as a joke. It was accidentally played by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel resulting in numerous requests for additional plays.^[5] With early championing by Peel and a performance on Top of the Pops, it soon became a surprise hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart in February 1978.^[2] The track spent a total of 11 weeks in the chart. Althea & Donna became the youngest female duo to reach the number-one spot on the UK chart.^[3]