Īs the Turtles didn't write most of the A-sides of their singles, lead vocalist Howard Kaylan mentions in his autobiography and also in the Turtles' documentary that they found "Happy Together" after spending some time to listen to submitted demos by publishing companies. As an act focused on singles, member Mark Volman explained that the lack of success of the 45 rpm almost led the Turtles to breaking up. Two of the original members had left to be replaced by Chip Douglas and John Barbata. After three Top 40 hits in 19, including Bob Dylan's " It Ain't Me Babe" (which led them to being initially identified as folk rock group) and a good-time pop hit with " You Baby" (that would later become their signature sound ), their next five singles had not charted well. One of the few photos that showed Chip Douglas (pictured in the upper left) with the group.Īround the same time, California band the Turtles had been struggling with financial and personal problems. The songwriters cut a demo of "Happy Together" and offered it to several artists including the Happenings, the Vogues and the Tokens, but it was rejected by all of them. In 1965, Bonner and Gordon started to work with publishers Charles Koppelman and Don Rubin from the Koppelman/Rubin Associates, writing songs for artists selected by them. After a failed attempt to convince Jacobs to write the song with him, Gordon finished it with vocalist Garry Bonner. The melody was based on the constant tuning of guitarist Allan "Jake" Jacobs during the band's concerts. Gordon already had many of the lyrics in mind for "Happy Together" but the chorus of the song came to him at the Park Street Diner in Ayer, Massachusetts, after visiting his father. He wrote and co-wrote a number of songs for the band, most famously "An Invitation to Cry" (with Jimmy Woods). Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, singers of the Turtles, were involved on various legal battles due their attempts to copyright "Happy Together" against unauthorized broadcasts, notably with Sirius XM Radio.Īlan Gordon had served as the drummer and one of the primary songwriters of the Magicians since its conception from Tex & the Chex. Thus, the song is inducted in the list of the most-performed songs in the United States of the 20th century by BMI in 1999, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. It was covered by several acts, with the most successful cover being from the soft rock duo Captain & Tenille, and featured on numerous movies and TV shows. Music critics have continued to praise the Turtles version for its pop qualities. They recorded their version in the Sunset Sound studio, with the newly-arrived bassist Chip Douglas arranging the horns and backing vocals.Īfter the song's successful release, the band were called to perform on several TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Show. The Turtles, who had come from commercial and personal problems, found the demo and, thinking the song as a potential hit, initially rehearsed it in live performances. The demo was offered and rejected by a dozen artists, due to its primitive sound. They recorded a demo consisting of a simple arrangement of acoustic guitar and hand claps. The lyrics, despite the joyous sound of the music, express an unrequited, imagined love. It was later included on their third studio album, Happy Together (1967).īonner and Gordon composed the song while still members of The Magicians. The song also reached the top 20 in diverse countries, including number 2 in Canada and number 12 in the UK. It was released as a single, b/w "Like the Seasons", in January 1967, and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first and only chart-topper there. " Happy Together" is a song written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon and recorded by American rock band the Turtles.
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