Happy Days (TV theme)

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For the 2004 Japanese hit, see Happy Days (Ai Otsuka song).
"Happy Days"
Happy Days Pratt and McClain.jpg
Single by Pratt & McClain
from the album
B-side"Cruisin' with the Fonz"
ReleasedMarch 1976[1]
Recorded1976[1]
GenreRock, theme song
Length2:40[1]
LabelReprise Records[1]
Songwriter(s)Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel[1]
Producer(s)Steve Barri, Michael Omartian[1]
Pratt & McClain singles chronology
"""[2]"
(1976) 		"Happy Days"
(1976) 		"Devil with a Blue Dress"
(1976)

"Happy Days" is a song written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox. It is the theme of the 1970s television series Happy Days.[3] It can be heard during the TV show's opening and closing credits as it runs in perpetual rerun syndication.

"Happy Days" was first recorded in 1974 by Jim Haas with a group of other session singers for the first two seasons.[4] These versions were used only during the closing credits of Seasons 1 and 2, with an updated take on "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets used as the opening theme. "Happy Days" was re-recorded in 1975 with different lyrics for both the opening and closing credits for Seasons 3 through 10. Pratt & McClain released it as a single in 1976 from their album Pratt & McClain Featuring Happy Days. Bobby Arvon recorded an updated rendering in 1983 for the opening and closing credits of Season 11, with the same lyrics as the version used for seasons 3-10.

This song also played in the Paramount Family Favorites collection promo in 1996.

Pratt & McClain's album version of the song, recorded in 1976, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100,[5] No. 7 on the Easy Listening chart,[5] and No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] In Canada, "Happy Days" reached No. 3.[7]

Australian band Silver Studs did a rendition of the theme for their debut album. It became their biggest hit single in Australia, reaching No. 4 in June 1976.[8]

In 2014, a re-recording of the song was used in commercials for Target. An instrumental version of the song plays in the background of some of the "Cooking with Sara" Flash games.

Personnel[]

  • Jerry McClain, Truett Pratt - lead vocals
  • Charles Fox, Michael Ormartian - keyboards

Chart history[]

See also[]

  • List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Pratt & Mc Lain* With Brotherlove - Happy Days". Discogs. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Pratt & McClain | Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Pratt & McClain - Music Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Song: Happy Days".
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Pratt & McClain - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 433. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b RPM Top Singles, June 12, 1976
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Midoztouch Discussion Forum". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 237. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  11. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 5, 1976
  12. ^ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  13. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1976". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
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