"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" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Pratt & McClain | ||||
| from the album Pratt & McClain Featuring Happy Days | ||||
| B-side | "Cruisin' with the Fonz" | |||
| Released | March 1976[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1975[1] | |||
| Studio | ABC, Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | Rock, theme song | |||
| Length | 2:40[1] | |||
| Label | Reprise Records[1] | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel[1] | |||
| Producer(s) | Steve Barri, Michael Omartian[1] | |||
| Pratt & McClain singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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 by Pratt & McClain at ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles in December 1975[5] with different lyrics for both the opening and closing credits for Seasons 3 through 10, with the duo including the song on their 1976 album Pratt & McClain Featuring Happy Days and releasing it as a single. Bobby Arvon recorded an updated version in 1983 for Season 11, with the same lyrics as the version used for seasons 3-10.
Pratt & McClain's album version of the song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100,[6] No. 7 on the Easy Listening chart,[6] and No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart.[7] In Canada, "Happy Days" reached No. 3.[8]
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.[9]
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
edit- Jerry McClain, Truett Pratt, and later Bobby Arvon (1983–84 TV only) – lead vocals
- Charles Fox, Michael Ormartian – keyboards
Chart history
editSilver Studs version
editAustralian group Silver Studs released a version in 1976.
Weekly charts
edit| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9][15] | 5 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (1976) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] | 27 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Pratt & Mc Lain* With Brotherlove - Happy Days". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Pratt & McClain | Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ^ "Pratt & McClain - Music Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Song: Happy Days". SecondHandSongs.
- ^ Kirsch, Bob (7 December 1974). "Studio Track". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Pratt & McClain - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 433. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b RPM Top Singles, June 12, 1976
- ^ a b "Midoztouch Discussion Forum". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 5, 1976
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1976". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". Kent Music Report. 27 December 1976. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via Imgur.
