Today’s classic song of the day is “Welcome Back” by John Sebastian. Released as a single in March of 1976, this track hit #1 on all the major charts: Billboard Hot 100, Cash Box Top 100, and Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. It also hit #1 on Canada’s RPM chart.
John Sebastian, formerly of the Lovin’ Spoonful, wrote “Welcome Back” as the theme song for the ABC television sitcom, Welcome Back, Kotter. The track was produced by Sebastian and old pro Steve Barri. Apparently the show’s producer, Alan Sachs, wanted a Lovin’ Spoonful-like theme song for the show, so he went to guy who wrote and performed all the Spoonful’s big hits. Sebastian delivered the goods.
I saw John Sebastian in concert at the Indiana University Auditorium on October 7, 1976, when I was a wee freshman in college. He was the opening act for comedian Steve Martin (who was hilarious, as you might expect) and Sebastian surprised me by holding the attention of a rowdy college crowd with just himself, his acoustic guitar, and his harmonica. (No band, just solo.) He sang a lot of old Spoonful hits but the highlight of his set was “Welcome Back,” of course. It’s just such a cheery, laid back, dare I say welcoming little song. You can’t help but like it—and sing along, as 3,000 or so of us did back then.
“Welcome Back” was John Sebastian’s only top forty solo hit. He’s still performing and recoding today; his last album was 2021’s John Sebastian and Arlen Roth Explore the Spoonful Songbook. He turned 80 in March of 2024.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, the opening and closing credits of season one of Welcome Back, Kotter, theme song by John Sebastian. We tease him a lot ’cause we got him on the spot—welcome back!
