‘Welcome Back’ by John Sebastian – Classic Hit or Miss

Welcome Back" is a popular record that was the theme song of the 1970s American television sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. Written and recorded by former Lovin' Spoonful frontman John Sebastian, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in May 1976 after only five weeks on the chart (the show itself had become an instant ratings success upon its premiere the previous Fall). The song also topped the Easy Listening chart and reached number 93 on the Country chart.TV producer Alan Sachs wanted a Lovin' Spoonful-like theme song for a new ABC sitcom entitled Kotter. Sachs' agent, Dave Bendet, also represented Sebastian and arranged for a meeting between the two. The producers liked the song so much that they changed the name of the series to Welcome Back, Kotter. Co-produced by Steve Barri and Sebastian, the song eventually sold over one million copies. The song originally had one verse, meant for the TV series. Because of the popularity of the show, "Welcome Back Kotter", Sebastian, in the single version, added a second verse to the song, as well as an instrumental section featuring Sebastian's Harmonica solo, before he resumes finishing up the verse, as well as the repeated Chorus and Coda, till the end of the song.

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