HAPPY TOGETHER
“Happy Together” is a 1967 song from The Turtles’ album of the same name. Released in February 1967, the song knocked The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” out of the number one slot for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the group’s only chart-topper. “Happy Together” reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1967. The song was written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, former members of a band known as The Magicians. The song had been rejected a dozen times before it was offered to The Turtles, and the demo acetate was worn out. (More from Wikipedia)
Following the break-up of the Magicians in 1967, Alan Gordon and Garry Bonner became successful songwriters, particularly with the Turtles; they composed two of the band’s biggest hits, “Happy Together” and “She’d Rather Be with Me”. Allan “Jake” Jacobs later recorded as Bunky and Jake, and also as Jake and the Family Jewels.
(December 2011)
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I do love being able to tie these obscure bands to something most people would have heard of or to something else going on in the larger society. For instance, two bandmembers from the UARB for last month, the Magicians went on to be successful songwriters; and even those who might not remember the 1960’s hit song “Happy Together” by the Turtles could still recognize it as the background music for one of those adorable Travelers Insurance ads with the dog who is so worried about his bone (the one with all of the puppies).
(January 2012)
