| "Happy Days" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byPratt & McClain | ||||
| from the albumPratt & McClain Featuring Happy Days | ||||
| B-side | "Cruisin' withthe 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 | ||||
| ||||
"Happy Days" is a song written byNorman Gimbel andCharles Fox. It is the theme of the 1970s television seriesHappy 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 singingdoo-wop influenced harmonies, and can be heard during the TV show's opening and closing credits as it runs inperpetual rerun syndication.
"Happy Days" was first recorded in 1974 byJim Haas with a group of othersession 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" byBill Haley and His Comets used as the opening theme. "Happy Days" was re-recorded byPratt & McClain atABC 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 albumPratt & 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 theBillboard Hot 100,[6] No. 7 on theEasy Listening chart,[6] and No. 31 on theUK Singles Chart.[7] In Canada, "Happy Days" reached No. 3.[8]
Australian bandSilver 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 forTarget. An instrumental version of the song plays in the background of some of the "Cooking with Sara" Flash games.
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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Australian groupSilver Studs released a version in 1976.
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9][15] | 5 |
| Chart (1976) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] | 27 |
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