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"Welcome Back"
#1 weeks: 1
weeks: 1976-05-08
genre: rock
artist: John Sebastian
album: Welcome Back
writers: John Sebastian
producers: Steve Barri, John Sebastian
label:
formats: 7" single
lengths: 2:51

"Welcome Back" is a well known 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 the spring of 1976 after only five weeks on the chart (the show had become an instant ratings success upon its premiere the previous Fall). The song also topped the Hot Adult Contemporary Singles Chart and #93 on Hot Country Songs.

TV producer Alan Sachs wanted a Lovin' Spoonful-like theme song for a new ABC sitcom entitled Kotter. Sach's 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 sitcom to Welcome Back, Kotter. Co-produced by Steve Barri and Sebastian, the song eventually sold over one million copies.

The song was sampled by rapper Ma$e for his song, also titled "Welcome Back". Also by hip hop group Onyx in their song "Slam harder".