Happy Days (TV theme)
1976 single by Pratt & McClain
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"Happy Days" is a song written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox. It is the theme of the 1970s television series Happy Days.[3] The song was written and performed in a style similar to 1950s rock and roll appropriate to the era depicted in the series, with male vocals singing doo-wop influenced harmonies, and 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] | |||
| Songwriters | Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel[1] | |||
| Producers | Steve Barri, Michael Omartian[1] | |||
| Pratt & McClain singles chronology | ||||
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"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
- Jerry McClain, Truett Pratt, and later Bobby Arvon (1983–84 TV only) – lead vocals
- Charles Fox, Michael Ormartian – keyboards
Chart history
Silver Studs version
Australian group Silver Studs released a version in 1976.
Weekly charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9][15] | 5 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1976) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] | 27 |