From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Welcome Back"
German cover
Single by John Sebastian
from the album Welcome Back
B-side"Warm Baby"
ReleasedMarch 1976
Recorded1975
Genre Folk rock, blues rock
Length2:51
Label Reprise
Songwriter(s)John Sebastian
Producer(s) Steve Barri, John Sebastian
John Sebastian singles chronology
"She's A Lady"
(1969) 		"Welcome Back"
(1976) 		"Hideaway"
(1976)

"Welcome Back" is a popular record that was the theme song of the 1970s American television sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. [1] Written and recorded by former Lovin' Spoonful frontman John Sebastian, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in May 1976 after only five weeks on the chart, and also topped the adult contemporary chart [2] (the show itself had become an instant ratings success upon its premiere the previous fall). It also reached No. 93 on the country chart.

History

TV producer Alan Sachs wanted a Lovin' Spoonful-like theme song for a new ABC sitcom entitled Kotter.

Chart performance

In popular culture

The song is featured twice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). It is first used in an opening montage depicting Scott Lang's (portrayed by Paul Rudd) life following the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), and is used again in a similar montage at the end of the film after Lang and his family escape from the Quantum Realm and defeat Kang the Conqueror (portrayed by Jonathan Majors). [13]

Other versions

  • Northern California experimental band Mr. Bungle covered the song on January 13, 1992, in back-to-back English and Spanish versions, at The Berkeley Square in Berkeley, California.
  • Canadian country music artist Chris Cummings covered the song in 2009 and released his version as a single. The version was later included on his 2010 album Give Me Tonight.
  • The song was sampled by rapper Lupe Fiasco for his song "Welcome Back Chilly", rapper Mase for his song " Welcome Back", hip hop group Onyx in their song "Slam Harder", and by rapper AZ for his song "Once Again".[ citation needed]
  • Swedish dream pop group jj recorded a version of the song in 2009. This version of the song is used in the trailer for the second season of MTV's Scream. [14]
  • The song is often used by Atlanta Braves organist Matthew Kaminski for former Braves players when they are at bat for their current team.
  • The artist Rumer recorded it for her 2012 album Boys Don't Cry.
  • On May 1, 2020, Count Bass D released a cover of the song on his Bandcamp site, commenting, "This take is a nod to the light at the end of this Coronavirus tunnel. It's a peaceful piano rendition aimed to help with the stress of these times." [15]
  • In season 5 of " Scrubs", J.D. leads the group in a rendition of "Welcome Back Coxer" after Dr. Cox takes a hiatus from work. [16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Judy, Stephen (1976). "Editor's Page: Welcome Back". The English Journal. 65 (6): 7–8. ISSN  0013-8274. JSTOR  814547. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 217.
  3. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 267. ISBN  0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  5. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  6. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Lyrics: Welcome Back by John Sebastian". Top40db.net. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  8. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 10/29/77". www.cashboxmagazine.com:80. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  10. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  11. ^ Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976
  12. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1976".
  13. ^ Iacobucci, Jordan (February 17, 2023). "Every Song in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  14. ^ ""Welcome Back" ("Welcome Back, Kotter" theme song)". Pitchfork. September 8, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  15. ^ "Welcome Back - Count Bass D". Bandcamp. May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  16. ^ "Welcome back cox". Scrubs. Season 5. Episode 22. May 9, 2006. Retrieved August 6, 2023 – via YouTube.

External links

Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Welcome_Back_(John_Sebastian_song)&oldid=1177843735"