View source for Happy Together (song)

{{Short description|1967 single by the Turtles}}
{{about|the Turtles song|other songs|Happy Together (disambiguation)#Music{{!}}Happy Together § Music}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = Happy Together
| cover         = Happy Together (song).jpg
| alt           = 
| caption       = Picture sleeve for the US single
| border        = yes
| type          = single
| artist        = [[the Turtles]]
| album         = [[Happy Together (The Turtles album)|Happy Together]]
| B-side        = {{Plainlist|
* "Like the Seasons" (US/Canada/South Africa/Mexico/Denmark)
* "[[We'll Meet Again]]" (Japan and most of Europe)
* "Can I Get to Know You Better?" (Brazil)
* "Get Away" (Australia/New Zealand)
}}
| released      = {{Start date|1967|01}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9SgEAAAAMBAJ&q=turtles+happy+together|title=Billboard|date=January 28, 1967}}</ref>
| recorded      = January 1967
| studio        = [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood
| venue         = 
| genre         = * [[Pop rock]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYkwAQAAIAAJ|title=Psychedelic music in San Francisco: style, context, and evolution|last=Morrison|first=Craig|date=2000|publisher=Concordia University|page=79}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aYbZZUAOpdAC&pg=PA68|title=Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's Legendary Neighborhood|last=Walker|first=Michael|date=2010|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux|isbn=978-1-4299-3293-6|page=68}}</ref>
* [[psychedelic pop]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oJlDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150|title=The Rock Cover Song: Culture, History, Politics|last=Greene|first=Doyle|date=2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-1507-3|page=150}}</ref>
* [[sunshine pop]]<ref name="AllMusic Deming">{{AllMusic |class=album |id=mw0000822851
|title=Various Artists - ''Chartbusters USA: Sunshine Pop'' (2009) Review |last= Deming|first= Mark |access-date= May 22, 2024}}</ref>
| length        = {{Duration|m=2|s=50}}
| label         = [[White Whale Records|White Whale]]
| writer        = * [[Alan Gordon (songwriter)|Alan Gordon]]
* Garry Bonner
| producer      = * [[Joe Wissert]]
| prev_title    = Can I Get to Know You Better
| prev_year     = 1966
| next_title    = [[She'd Rather Be with Me]]
| next_year     = 1967
| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|BqZ6sRHpWIk|"Happy Together"}}}}
}}

"'''Happy Together'''" is a song written by Garry Bonner and [[Alan Gordon (songwriter)|Alan Gordon]] and recorded by the American [[rock music|rock]] band [[the Turtles]]. It was released as a single, backed with (b/w) "Like the Seasons", in January 1967, and peaked at number one on the US [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'']] [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]], becoming the band's first and only chart-topper there. It also reached the top 20 in various countries, including number 2 in Canada and number 12 in the UK. It was later included on the Turtles' third studio album [[Happy Together (The Turtles album)|''Happy Together'']] (1967).

Bonner and Gordon composed the song while members of [[The Magicians (band)|the Magicians]]. Its lyrics tell about an unrequited love, despite the joyous sound. The composition was rejected by many artists, before being accepted by the Turtles, who were passing through a lowdown in their career. They recorded their version in the [[Sunset Sound Recorders|Sunset Sound]] studio, with the newly arrived bassist [[Chip Douglas]] arranging the horns and backing vocals.

After the song's successful release, the band was called to perform on TV shows such as ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' and ''[[The Smothers Brothers Show]]'' in 1967. [[Music journalism|Music critics]] have continued to praise the Turtles version for its [[pop music|pop]] qualities. It was covered by several acts, with the most successful being by the [[soft rock]] duo [[Captain & Tennille]], and has been featured on numerous movies and TV shows. In 1999, [[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI]] included the song in the list of the most-performed songs in the United States in the 20th century and, in 2007, it was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":1">{{cite news|date=December 13, 1999|title=BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century|publisher=BMI|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232893}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=List of Grammy of Fame Inductees|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/hall-of-fame#h|access-date=June 10, 2021|website=Grammy.com|date=October 18, 2010}}</ref> [[Howard Kaylan]] and [[Mark Volman]], singers of the Turtles, were involved on various legal battles due to their attempts to copyright "Happy Together" against unauthorized [[Broadcasting|broadcasts]], notably with [[Sirius XM Radio]].

==Background==
[[Alan Gordon (songwriter)|Alan Gordon]] had served as the drummer and one of the primary songwriters of [[The Magicians (band)|the Magicians]], which had recently evolved from Tex & the Chex.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |title=The Magicians {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-magicians-mn0000759371/biography|access-date=June 11, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref> He wrote and co-wrote a number of songs for the band, most famously "An Invitation to Cry" (with Jimmy Woods).<ref>Bush, John. {{Cite web|title=An Invitation to Cry - The Magicians {{!}} Song Info |website=[[AllMusic]]|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/an-invitation-to-cry-mt0008883906|language=en|access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref> 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. The [[melody]] was based on the constant tuning of guitarist Allan "Jake" Jacobs during the band's concerts.<ref name=":12">{{Cite AV media|title=The Turtles History - Happy Together Documentary|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ubb3kHHI70 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/_ubb3kHHI70 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> After a failed attempt to convince Jacobs to write the song with him, Gordon finished it with vocalist Garry Bonner.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|last=|title=Happy Together by The Turtles - Songfacts|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-turtles/happy-together|access-date=June 11, 2021|website=Songfacts.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13" />

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.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=The Alan Gordon Music Library - The MusicAlley part 3 |url=https://www.wearehappytogether.com/themusicalley03.html |access-date=June 12, 2021 |website=Wearehappytogether.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book|last=Wadhams|first=Wayne|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVJDvitqIvIC|title=Inside the Hits|publisher=Berklee Press|year=2001|isbn=978-0-634-01430-7|editor-last=Nathan|editor-first=David|page=254|language=en|editor-last2=Gedutis|editor-first2=Susan}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=O'Rourke|first=Sally|title=It Was 50 Years Ago Today: The Turtles Elevate "Happy Together" With a Dose of Irony|url=http://www.rebeatmag.com/it-was-50-years-ago-today-the-turtles-elevate-happy-together-with-a-dose-of-irony/|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=Rebeatmag.com}}</ref>

[[File:The Turtles.png|thumb|[[The Turtles]] in 1967. One of the few photos showing [[Chip Douglas]] (pictured in the upper left) with the group.|left]]

Around the same time, [[California]] band [[the Turtles]] had been struggling with financial and personal problems. After scoring three [[Top 40]] hits in 1965 and 1966, including [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[It Ain't Me Babe]]" and "[[You Baby (song)|You Baby]]", their next five singles had not charted well. [[Chip Douglas]] and [[John Barbata]] had stepped in as replacements for the original members.<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Logan |first1=Nick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=boo4AQAAIAAJ&q=Happy+Together+the+turtles |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock |last2=Woffinden |first2=Bob |date=1978 |publisher=Harmony Books |isbn=978-0-517-53410-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hochman |first=Steve |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RyAKAQAAMAAJ&q=Happy+Together+the+turtles |title=Popular Musicians: Sonny and Cher-ZZ Top |date=1999 |publisher=Salem Press |isbn=978-0-89356-990-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Joynson |first=Vernon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQc5AQAAIAAJ&q=Happy+Together+the+turtles |title=The Acid Trip: A Complete Guide to Psychedelic Music |date=1984 |publisher=Babylon Books |isbn=978-0-907188-24-7|language=en}}</ref> As an act focused on singles, member [[Mark Volman]] explained that their lack of success almost caused the Turtles to break up.<ref name=":14">{{Cite book |last=Voger |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Y8-DwAAQBAJ&q=happy+together+the+turtles&pg=PA34 |title=Groovy: When Flower Power Bloomed in Pop Culture |date=November 15, 2017 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1-60549-080-9 |pages=34 |language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}}

Lead vocalist [[Howard Kaylan]] mentions in his autobiography, and in the Turtles' documentary, that the group found "Happy Together" after spending some time to listen to demos submitted by publishing companies.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":12" />{{Refn|According to Alan Gordon's website, Koppelman/Rubin arranged for their West Coast associate, [[Gary Klein (producer)|Gary Klein]], to submit the demo for the Turtles' label, complementing Kaylan's version of the "publishing companies" [[White Whale Records|White Whale]].<ref name=":13" />|group=nb}} Volman remembers it slightly differently, saying that, between the sets of a [[Manhattan]] gig, Bonner and Gordon themselves asked the band if they needed material, and then subsequently sent some demos that included "Happy Together".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pinnock |first=Bruce |date=April 22, 2019 |title=The Turtles on 'Happy Together': "Everybody needs a big hit" {{!}} Page 2 of 5 |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/turtles-happy-together-everybody-needs-big-hit-110324/ |access-date=June 14, 2021 |website=UNCUT |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2007 |title=Classic Tracks: The Turtles' "Happy Together" |url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-turtles-happy-together-365864 |access-date=June 9, 2021 |website=Mixonline |language=en-US}}</ref> Because of its circulation to many other artists, the demo [[acetate disc|acetate]] was worn out and, according to [[Fred Bronson]], "practically unlistenable", with Kaylan describing the acetate as "scratchy and sticky".<ref name=":03" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Bronson |first=Fred |url=http://archive.org/details/billboardbookofnbro00bron |title=The Billboard Book of Number One Hits |publisher=Billboard Publications |others=Internet Archive |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-8230-7545-4 |location=New York |pages=221}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}}

During an interview with [[Grammy Awards]], Howard Kaylan said that, when he heard it the first time, he considered the recording to be "terrible", but later understood that the rejection by other artists was due to the performance.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|title=Howard Kaylan - Story Behind "Happy Together" |via=[[YouTube]]| date=July 2, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrPzSEnXqzA |language=en |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref> Kaylan recalled that the demo consisted of "one guy (Gary Bonner) strumming an acoustic guitar while the other (Alan Gordon) sings in a bizarre [[falsetto]] to get a semblance of rhythm going. Their voices were abysmal".<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|last1=Kaylan|first1=Howard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SQ5OjILuPywC&q=shell+shocked+howard+kaylan|title=Shell Shocked: My Life with the Turtles, Flo and Eddie, and Frank Zappa, etc.|last2=Tamarkin|first2=Jeff|date=March 1, 2013|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-1-4803-4293-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jerry Reuss - The Turtles - Happy Together|url=https://www.jerryreuss.com/theturtleshappytogether.html|access-date=June 12, 2021|website=Jerryreuss.com}}</ref> Volman agreed with Kaylan, calling the demo "amateurish, lacking any kind of professional performance".<ref name=":7" />

Conversely, [[Brill Building]] [[session musician|session guitarist]] Ralph Casale, in an interview with [[Songfacts]] affirmed that he had played on the demo and that other session musicians were involved. The performance was in a "[[The Lovin' Spoonful|Lovin' Spoonful]] feel" and praised it as much like a "finished product".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Songfacts |title=Ralph Casale - Session Pro : Songwriter Interviews |url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/ralph-casale-session-pro |access-date=June 12, 2021 |website=Songfacts.com |language=en}}</ref>{{Refn|Casale's recollection about the demo is possibly mistaken, according to Bonner and Gordon's supposed performance of the demo in the Turtles' documentary,<ref name=":12"/> also the Kaylan/Volman's version is the most cited.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":5" />|group=nb}}

{{Quote box
| quote = It was pretty basic, but you could tell by the melody line it was gonna be strong.<ref>{{Cite web|title="The Turtles on 'Happy Together': "Everybody needs a big hit" |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/turtles-happy-together-everybody-needs-big-hit-110324/2/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Uncut|date = 22 April 2019|page = 2 of 5"}}</ref>
| author = – [[John Barbata]], 2019
| source = 
| width = 25%
| align = right
| style = padding:8px;
}}
[[Stereogum]] critic Tom Breihan comments that the Turtles were "hungry" for a hit and with Bonner and Gordon's song "it all fit".<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|date=October 8, 2018|title=The Number Ones: The Turtles' "Happy Together"|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2017651/the-number-ones-the-turtles-happy-together/columns/the-number-ones/|access-date=June 15, 2021|website=Stereogum|language=en}}</ref> Volman observed:
{{Blockquote|text=It [the demo] only included a singer and a guitar, but we could hear the melody and chorus. We were very careful because we had had those records that had been done poorly and we needed something to be great. It could have easily been our last recording. After all, how many failures were we going to be given by a small, independent record label?<ref name=":14" />}}

==Recording==
[[File:Sunsetsoundrecorders.JPG|thumb|[[Sunset Sound Recorders|Sunset Sound]] was where [[the Turtles]] recorded "Happy Together". ]]

Wanting to record the song, the Turtles had the writers travel from [[New York (state)|New York]] to California where Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon performed for them live at [[the Beverly Hills Hotel]].{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}}<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite web|title=Turtle Talk with Howard Kaylan (Interview)|url=https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/turtle-talk-interview-howard-kaylan-turtles/|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=Rock Cellar Magazine|date=June 4, 2013 }}</ref> According to Kaylan, "they sounded even worse than the demo, but it didn't matter. We wanted this song, and they and their publishers [Koppelman-Rubin] certainly wanted us to have it."{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}} The group rehearsed "Happy Together" in live performances for eight months, although music author Wayne Wadhams states the rehearsals lasted only two weeks.<ref name=":03" />{{Refn|Based on Kaylan's statements, the Turtles found the song on April or May 1966, but Wadhams wrote that the band found the demo on early January 1967.<ref name=":16"/><ref name=":03" />|group=nb}} With the audience's response becoming very positive, the band members decided to record the song in January 1967.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":7" />

Koppelman/Rubin, as the publishers of Bonner and Gordon songs, chose how "Happy Together" was going to be recorded, substituting the original producer [[Bones Howe]] with [[Joe Wissert]], and the Turtles' familiar [[United Western Recorders|United Western]] studios with [[Sunset Sound Recorders|Sunset Sound]], which had been the studio for emerging artists like [[the Doors]].<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":17">{{Cite web|date=April 22, 2019|title=The Turtles on 'Happy Together': "Everybody needs a big hit" {{!}} Page 3 of 5|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/turtles-happy-together-everybody-needs-big-hit-110324/|access-date=June 15, 2021|website=UNCUT|language=en-GB}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}} The "Happy Together" session was engineered by Sunset Sound regular [[Bruce Botnick]].<ref name=":7" />{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}}

As with all their previous records, the band – Kaylan, Volman, guitarists Al Nichol and Jim Tucker, bassist [[Chip Douglas]] and drummer [[John Barbata]] – played on the recording of "Happy Together" (their independent label, [[White Whale Records|White Whale]], could not afford [[The Wrecking Crew (music)|LA session musicians]] to augment or replace them like other artists on bigger labels<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":17" />), while being accompanied by an orchestra of horns and [[Woodwind instrument|woodwinds]].<ref name=":7" />{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=256}}<ref name=":5" />

According to engineer Botnick, the Turtles benefited from an [[multitrack recording|eight-track recorder]] being used. The first three tracks were for the basic instrumentation, the other three were for the vocals, and the seventh was for the orchestra overdubs.<ref name=":7" /> Barbata recalled that they recorded the drums, bass and guitars at the same time, and then overdubbed the vocals and the orchestra.<ref name=":17" /> Volman said that the band usually didn't experiment in the studio, and, for him, the process of recording was unremarkable. Botnick agreed with him, stating that the session was short and he would be surprised if it lasted more than three hours: "maybe another three hours to do vocals, and it was basically done".<ref name=":7" /> Kaylan wrote that he recorded his lead vocals in one take.{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}} The basic track was cut in 15 takes according to Fred Bronson's book ''The Billboard Book of Number One Hits'',<ref name=":10" /> but Barbata presumed that they had achieved a satisfying sound in only two takes.<ref name=":17" />

{{Quote box
| quote = Chip [Douglas] was, besides being a really fine bass player and excellent singer, also a great arranger, who did most of the arrangements on 'Happy Together.' He is very instrumental in what would be thought of as the production.<ref name=":18">CD booklet to ''The Turtles Anthology: Solid Zinc'' (Rhino, 2002), p. 19.</ref>
| author = – [[Mark Volman]], 2002
| align = left
| width = 25%
| style = padding:8px;
}}
Although some members of the band contributed to the record's arrangements, probably the most cited is 
Chip Douglas.<ref name="allmusic">{{Cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title=The Turtles {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-turtles-mn0000564239/biography|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":12" /> With only nine months in the group, Douglas proved to be important for the record, arranging the horns and the backing vocals.{{Sfn|Kaylan|Tamarkin|2013}} Both Kaylan and Volman praised his arrangement, the former stating that "Chip knew what he wanted to hear and he actually heard in his head the blend of horns and voices. He wanted to have the flutes echo the high voices and the horns be the middle voices".<ref name=":16" /> John Barbata credited himself with creating "those drum parts that helped make it [the record] magical".<ref name=":17"/>

After the orchestra was [[overdubbing|overdubbed]], Kaylan said he remembered that he took the [[monaural|mono]] acetate home and listened to it numerous times: "I just couldn't believe how well the orchestra sat with the track, and how well the vocals blended, and just the overall mysterious sound we got. We knew it was gonna be a No.1 record".<ref name=":17" /> He noted that the song's production had sparse instrumentation in some portions while other segments were described as being "so '[[Wall of Sound]]'", referring to the production methods of record producer [[Phil Spector]], consisting of heavily layered instrumentation optimized for mono, indicating his influence on Wissert.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharp |first1=Ken |title=Singles box set brings the best of the Turtles to your turntable |url=https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/singles-box-set-brings-best-turtles-turntable |website=Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia |access-date=March 22, 2022 |language=en |date=January 16, 2015}}</ref>

==Composition==
The sheet music for "Happy Together" is notated in the common key of [[E minor]],<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0068549#arrangement |title=The Turtles "Happy Together" Sheet Music in E Minor |website=Musicnotes.com |date=October 6, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2018 }}</ref> but the Turtles' recording is one whole step higher, in [[F-sharp minor|F{{sharp}} minor]] during the verses and [[F-sharp major|F{{sharp}} major]] (F{{sharp}} Mixolydian<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/the-turtles/happy-together|title=Happy Together by The Turtles Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis |website=Hooktheory.com}}</ref>) during the chorus.{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=253}}<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Langerholc|first=Emily|title=Changing Moods & Modes: Minor to Major Modulation (and Picardy Third) in The Turtles' "Happy Together"|url=http://www.rebelmusicteacher.com/blog/2016/4/8/minor-to-major-modes-in-the-turtles-happy-together|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425091431/http://www.rebelmusicteacher.com/blog/2016/4/8/minor-to-major-modes-in-the-turtles-happy-together|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 25, 2019|access-date=December 5, 2020|website=Rebelmusicteacher.com|date=April 28, 2016 }}</ref> The song is in [[Time signature#Characteristics|common time]] with a [[tempo]] of 120 beats per minute.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Turtles - Happy Together bpm|url=https://songbpm.com/@the-turtles/happy-together|access-date=November 3, 2018|website=Songbpm.com}}</ref> It starts with an electric guitar, followed by drums and electric bass, then Kaylan starts to sing the first two verses, reinforced by another guitar and [[reverberation|reverberated]] vocal harmonies in the second verse,<ref name=":03" /> before the chorus begins (consisting of [[Double tracking|double-tracked]] lead vocals now backed by four part "ah" singing and trumpets).<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":03" />{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=255}}

The switch of mode from minor key verse to major key chorus is called by Langerholc "one of the most effective minor to major switcharoos of all time". The pivot chord for the change of mode is C{{sharp}} (V), the dominant of [[Modulation (music)|both]]<ref name=":6" /> F{{sharp}} minor and major.{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=253}} This structure accompanies Kaylan in the third verse, the second chorus, the first repeat of the third verse (harmonizing with Volman), the "baa, baa" chorus and the [[conclusion (music)|outro]]: the second repeat of the third with the [[Coda (music)|coda]], that consists of another "baa, baa" section with the joining of the orchestra and the band, before the reverb fades the song.{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=256}}{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=255}}<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" /> The outro (F{{sharp}} minor verse with the F{{sharp}} major coda) is a [[Picardy third]].<ref name=":6" />{{Refn|1=A [[Mellotron]] and an organ are used in the third verse and its second repeat, as well as in the chorus,{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|pp=255–256}} while [[oboes]] (or organs mimicking them) are heard in the first repeat.<ref>{{Cite web|title=13 unbelievable oboe solos you didn't even notice in pop music|url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/instruments/oboe/oboe-solos-in-pop-music/|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=Classic FM|language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=256}}|group=nb}}

Many listeners (such as Langerholc<ref name=":6" />) thought that the lyrics of "Happy Together" were about a couple in love with each other due to its cheery chorus and the title, but, according to historian James E. Perone, a closer reading in the lyrics ("imagine me and you", "if i should call you") reveals that the love expressed by the narrator is not reciprocated by the other person, with Perone stating that the relationship "is only in dreams, wishes, desires and the mind of the singer".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=68xwDwAAQBAJ&q=Happy+Together+the+turtles&pg=PA92 |title=Listen to Pop! Exploring a Musical Genre |date=September 1, 2018 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-4408-6377-6 |pages=93 |language=en}}</ref> O'Rourke felt that the song "stretches the contrast between the loneliness of being apart and the thrill of being together to bipolar extremes".<ref name=":5" /> Joe Viglione compared "Happy Together"'s lyrics to [[Tommy James and the Shondells|Tommy James]]'s hit "[[Mirage (Tommy James and the Shondells song)|Mirage]]", but while "Mirage" was about an ex-girlfriend, "the Turtles never even get to first base in their laments".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Viglione |first=Joe |title="Mirage" review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/mirage-mt0001415891 |access-date=June 17, 2021 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> O'Rourke observed that is the listener's option to determine if in the final line "We're happy together", the narrator conquered his beloved, "or if he's just retreated into his fantasy world for good".<ref name=":5" />

==Release and commercial performance==
[[File:Turtles edsullivanshow.jpg|thumb|The Turtles performing "Happy Together" on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', May 14, 1967. The band performed on several TV shows due to the success of the song.]]

"Happy Together" was released as a single in January 1967, backed with the [[Warren Zevon]]-penned "Like the Seasons".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Pinnock |first=Tom |date=April 22, 2019 |title=The Turtles on 'Happy Together': "Everybody needs a big hit" {{!}} Page 5 of 5 |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/turtles-happy-together-everybody-needs-big-hit-110324/ |access-date=June 9, 2021 |website=UNCUT |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{cite web|author=Eder|first=Bruce|title=Review of The Turtles' Happy Together (album)|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-together-mw0000113202/credits|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=AllMusic}}</ref> To promote the single, the band members performed in a couple of shows, including ''[[The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour]]'' in February.<ref>{{Cite web|via=YouTube|title=Happy Together on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour| date=August 10, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4Ebvb07rjQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Q4Ebvb07rjQ |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=June 18, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|via=YouTube|title=Happy Together performed on February| date=December 7, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi_3UMhZ1UI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Oi_3UMhZ1UI |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=June 16, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Turtles would be called to perform on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' on May 14, 1967,<ref>{{Cite web|via=YouTube|title=First appearance of the Turtles "Happy Together" on The Ed Sullivan Show|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK7PevjCfQM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/UK7PevjCfQM |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=June 21, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and again, as a quintet, on November 12 (Tucker had left for personal reasons).<ref>{{Cite web|via=YouTube|title=Second appearance of the Turtles "Happy Together" on The Ed Sullivan Show| date=December 2, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPAmrWXRog |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QdPAmrWXRog |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=June 16, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 15, 2012|title=The Turtles on The Ed Sullivan Show|url=https://www.edsullivan.com/the-turtles-on-the-ed-sullivan-show/|access-date=June 21, 2021|website=Ed Sullivan Show|language=en-US}}</ref>  During this time, Douglas had left the Turtles to produce [[the Monkees]].<ref name="allmusic" /> His replacement was [[Jim Pons]], formerly from [[the Leaves]].<ref name=":10" /> With Pons, they participated in a film shot in March that consisted of "the group running, jumping, rolling and mugging in a park in [[Los Angeles]]". Guitarist Tucker said in an interview that the park location was possibly [[Griffith Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|via=YouTube|title=The Turtles - Happy Together video clip| date=August 10, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVX0fP8bUho |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GVX0fP8bUho |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=June 18, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite web|last=Matthews|first=Larry R.|title=Interview With A Turtle|url=https://eterritorialdispatch.blogspot.com/2013/06/interview-with-turtle.html|access-date=June 18, 2021|language=en}}</ref>

According to Volman, the song slowly climbed through the charts, saying that "it took maybe three or four weeks before it even got into the Top 20". He credits the [[Airplay|radio airplay]] for helping the song to top the charts, on March 25, overtaking [[the Beatles]]' "[[Penny Lane]]".<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":10" /> It stayed at number one for three weeks before being knocked out of the number-one position by [[Frank Sinatra|Frank]] and [[Nancy Sinatra]]'s duet "[[Somethin' Stupid]]".<ref name=":10" /> In total, the record stayed on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] charts for 15 weeks.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The Turtles Chart History|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-turtles|access-date=June 18, 2021|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> "Happy Together" was the breakthrough hit for the Turtles in Britain, where it peaked at number 12.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Logan|first1=Nick|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=boo4AQAAIAAJ&q=Happy+Together+the+turtles|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock|last2=Woffinden|first2=Bob|date=1978|publisher=Harmony Books|isbn=978-0-517-53410-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Clifford|first1=Mike|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aLxZAAAAYAAJ&q=Happy+Together+the+turtles|title=The Harmony Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock|last2=Frame|first2=Pete|date=1992|publisher=Harmony Books|isbn=978-0-517-59078-2|language=en}}</ref> The single, mainly distributed by [[London Recordings]] on other countries, became a Top 10 hit in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, and Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Library and Archives|date=July 17, 2013|title=Top Singles - Volume 7, No. 5 Apr 01, 1967|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.10050&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.10050.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.10050|access-date=June 18, 2021|website=Bac-lac.gc.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1icEAAAAMBAJ&dq=happy+together&pg=PA49 |title=Billboard |date=June 17, 1967 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wycEAAAAMBAJ&dq=happy+together&pg=PA53 |title=Billboard |date=July 8, 1967 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HygEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Happy+Together%22+++%22The+Turtles%22&pg=PA54|title=Billboard|date=July 22, 1967|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}</ref>

The associated album [[Happy Together (The Turtles album)|''Happy Together'']] was released in April 1967.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" /> Gary Bonner and Alan Gordon also wrote the next three singles for the Turtles, including the top 10 "[[She'd Rather Be with Me]]".<ref name="allmusic"/> The "Happy Together" single sold three million copies, and was certified [[Music recording certification|3× platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) on February 7, 2024.<ref name="RIAA"/>

==Reception and accolades==
The single received primarily positive reviews in the American press at the time. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard (magazine)|magazine]] described "Happy Together" as a "groovy folk-oriented item" that could repeat the chart success of the Turtles' earlier hit single "It Ain't Me, Babe (also predicting that the song would reach the Top 20) and praised Joe Wissert's production.<ref name="bb">{{cite news|date=January 28, 1967|title=Spotlight Singles|page=16|newspaper=Billboard|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-01-28.pdf|access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref> It is similarly described in [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cashbox'' magazine]], where they write that it is a "happy go-lucky melody-rocker" regarding a boy who has fallen in love. They end the review by noting that it might become a hit for the group.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Record Reviews: Best Bets|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1967/CB-1967-01-28.pdf|journal=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|issue=January 28, 1967|page=34}}</ref> In ''[[Record World]]'', the song was ranked a "sleeper of the week", stating that the group are "happy together", which they had to be in order to get the song "into the grooves".<ref name=":32">{{Cite journal|title=Sleepers Of The Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/67/Record-World-1967-01-28.pdf|journal=[[Record World]]|issue=January 28, 1967|page=1}}</ref> In the UK, the single also received praise. In [[Disc (magazine)|''Disc & Music Echo'']], critic [[Penny Valentine]] writes that the group has a "divine sound going" on the song. She positively notes the guitars, which she considers "warm", and closes the review by stating that the lead singer "threads" the lyrics together.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Valentine|first=Penny|author-link=Penny Valentine|title=Quick Spins|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1965/Disc-1965-04-10-S-OCR.pdf|journal=[[Disc (magazine)|Disc & Music Echo]]|issue=February 25, 1967|page=14}}</ref> Peter Jones from ''[[Record Mirror]]'' believes that "Happy Together" starts off tamely which escalates into a "most commercial sort of sound." He also adds that the chorus appealed to him the most. All in all, he gave the single four stars.<ref name=":92">{{Cite journal|last=Jones|first=Peter|title=New Singles Reviewed by Peter Jones|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/67/Record-Mirror-1967-03-18.pdf|journal=[[Record Mirror]]|issue=February 25, 1967|page=9}}</ref>

Since then, the song has continued to receive positive reviews. the Denise Sullivan of [[AllMusic]] stated that the Turtles had combined "all their [[Pop music|pop]], [[Folk music|folk]], [[Psychedelic music|psychedelia]], and [[The Zombies|Zombies]]-style harmony expertise" into "Happy Together", while considering it a "pop perfection" and "a most sublime slice of pop heaven".<ref name=":19" /> In his book, ''Sixties Rock, a Listener's Guide'', Robert Santelli called the song "arguably one of the two or three greatest pop constructions with its intricate arrangement and great harmonies".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Santelli|first=Robert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IP1DAQAAIAAJ&q=Happy+Together+|title=Sixties Rock, a Listener's Guide|date=1985|publisher=Contemporary Books|isbn=978-0-8092-5439-2|language=en}}</ref> Wadhams called it a "brilliant pop production, deftly crafted by Joe Wissert", while observing that "good pop can be produced by [[formula]], but great pop—like The Turtles' best—combines real music art with a pure, ear-charming entertainment".{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=256}} A reviewer from ''The Daily Guru'' claimed that "the way in which The Turtles take a base of folk music, yet give it a more [[Rock music|rock]]-style edge and mood is the most obvious difference, and the manner with which the chorus sections seem to soar away from the rest of the song is where "Happy Together" truly becomes an unforgettable moment in music history".<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|last=Guru|first=The Daily|date=February 26, 2011|title=The Daily Guru: February 26: The Turtles, "Happy Together"|url=https://thedailyguru.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-26-turtles-happy-together.html|access-date=June 20, 2021|website=The Daily Guru}}</ref>

Some reviewers and authors labeled it "[[Bubblegum music|bubblegum pop]]",<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pollock|first=Bruce|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QBYiAwAAQBAJ&q=Happy+Together+The+Turtles+bubblegum&pg=PT603|title=Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era|date=March 18, 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-46303-8|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Mansour|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7GN0E_diWbAC&q=Happy+Together+The+Turtles+bubblegum&pg=PA58|title=From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century|date=June 1, 2011|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|isbn=978-0-7407-9307-3|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Weidman|first=Rich|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wNCGDwAAQBAJ&q=Happy+Together+The+Turtles+bubblegum&pg=PT18|title=The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock|date=October 1, 2011|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-61713-114-1|language=en}}</ref> but Sullivan and ''The Daily Guru'' reviewer observed that, despite its bubblegum sensibilities, the song "rises above it" and its "[later] continued legendary status makes it far more than that".<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":20" />

Tom Breihan of ''[[Stereogum]]'' praised "Happy Together" for its instrumentation but felt that the Turtles were only capitalizing on [[Beatles]] and [[Beach Boys]] innovations to "put them in service of the sort of silly no-stakes love songs that those bands might've recorded a few years earlier in their career." He rated it an 8/10.<ref name=":19" />

Due to its subsequent popularity, in 1999, [[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI]] named "Happy Together", with approximately five million performances on American radio, the 44th most-performed song in the United States of the 20th century,<ref name=":1" /> placing it in the same league as "[[Yesterday (song)|Yesterday]]" by the Beatles and "[[Mrs. Robinson]]" by [[Simon & Garfunkel]]. In 2007, it was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":3" />

==Cover versions==
"Happy Together" has been [[cover version|covered]] by artists as diverse as [[Odyssey (band)|Odyssey]], [[Mel Tormé]],<ref name="Bessman"/> [[Captain and Tennille]],<ref name="Bessman"/> [[the Nylons]],<ref name="Bessman" /> [[Jason Donovan]] and [[Gerard Way]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |date=2019-02-08 |title=Listen to Gerard Way's cover of The Turtles' 'Happy Together' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/gerard-way-cover-turtles-happy-together-2445231 |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Nme.com|language=en-GB}}</ref>  At the same year of the original release, argentinian singer [[Palito Ortega]] recorded a cover called "Qué Importa La Gente".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/20008339-Palito-Ortega-Que-Importa-la-Gente-Que-Pasara|title=Palito Ortega - Que Importa la Gente / Que Pasara|access-date=October 13, 2025|website=Discogs.com}}</ref> Spanish [[flamenco]] duo [[Las Grecas]] made a cover called "Los dos tan felices" (We both so happy) in their album ''Tercer Album'' (1976)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/|title=Google|website=Google.com|access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref> and there is also a Spanish cover, sung by [[Roberto Jordán]], called "Juntos y Felices". [[Miley Cyrus]] covered the song on the [[Backyard Sessions]] YouTube series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKmd60VSJgE |title=Miley Cyrus - Happy Hippie Presents: Miley Cyrus - Happy Together |website=[[YouTube]] |date=May 19, 2015 }}</ref>

Norwegian comedy group [[Prima Vera (band)|Prima Vera]] recorded a version with altered lyrics titled "Så Lykkelig I Sverige" (So Happy in Sweden) from their album ''Brakara'' (1978).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/brakara-mw0000847640 |title= Prima Vera - Brakara |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=November 15, 2018 }}</ref>

[[Hugo Montenegro]]'s cover version was released as a single in 1969 and reached number 29 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|Easy Listening chart]].<ref>Hyatt, Wesley (1999). ''The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits'' (Billboard Publications), p. 66</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/hugo-montenegro-his-orchestra-and-chorus/chart-history/adult-contemporary |title=Hugh Montenegro, His Orchestra and Chorus - Happy Together |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=July 12, 1969 |access-date=October 6, 2018 }}</ref>

At a live performance in New Orleans in 2018, American rock band [[Weezer]] performed a cover version of the song. The cover was described by Doug MacCash of [[The Times-Picayune]] as "fierce yet faithful", taking "that chunk of 50-year-old bubblegum and chew[ing] it into grungy rock n roll glory".<ref>{{cite web |last=MacCash |first=Doug |url=https://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2018/06/weezer_pixies_review_new_orlea.html |title=Weezer and The Pixies were happy together in New Orleans |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]] |date=June 27, 2018 |access-date=September 25, 2018 }}</ref>

==Copyright lawsuits==
[[Flo & Eddie]], legal successors to the Turtles, filed a lawsuit (''Flo & Eddie, Inc. v. Sirius XM Radio'') in the [[New York Court of Appeals]] against [[Sirius XM Radio]] to establish [[common law copyright]] on their original recording of "Happy Together". As the song was recorded in 1967, five years before federal sound copyright was established, the group sought to establish that such recordings were covered under common law copyright, a nebulous form of copyright held at the state level, in the hopes of earning royalties from Sirius XM; as they did not write the song, they could receive only performance royalties. The Court of Appeals had previously ruled that such a common law copyright may exist for the sale of recordings in New York in the 2005 ruling ''[[Capitol Records, Inc. v. Naxos of America, Inc.]]''. On December 20, 2016, the Court ruled that no such common law copyright exists in New York for public performances of a sound recording, and that Flo & Eddie could not claim royalties.<ref>{{cite court |litigants=Flo & Eddie, Inc. v Sirius XM Radio, Inc. |vol=28 |reporter=N.Y.3d |opinion=583 |court=[[New York Court of Appeals|N.Y.]] |date=December 20, 2016 |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/court-of-appeals/2016/172.html}}</ref><ref name="lawsuit">{{Cite news|last=Klepper|first=David|date=December 20, 2016|title=OWNERS OF 1967 HIT SONG 'HAPPY TOGETHER' LOSE COPYRIGHT CASE|publisher=Associated Press|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RECORDING_COPYRIGHT_RULING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-12-20-16-50-38|url-status=dead|access-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221093429/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RECORDING_COPYRIGHT_RULING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-12-20-16-50-38|archive-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref>

On March 20, 2016, Scottish rock band [[Biffy Clyro]] released their single "[[Wolves of Winter]]", which originally featured the lyric "we have the chance to be happy together" in the pre-chorus, sung in a similar manner to the Turtles' recording. However, the lyric was changed due to copyright infringement, becoming "we have the chance to survive the winter", as sung in the second pre-chorus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=r/BiffyClyro - Anybody with the "happy together" version of Wolves mind sharing?|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/BiffyClyro/comments/4rp5yc/anybody_with_the_happy_together_version_of_wolves/|access-date=May 11, 2020|website=reddit|date=July 7, 2016|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Usage in media==
In 1999, the song was used in a commercial for the [[Nintendo 64]] crossover fighting game ''[[Super Smash Bros. (video game)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' The commercial depicts [[Costumed performer|mascot costumes]] of [[Mario]], [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]], [[Yoshi]], and [[Pikachu]] skipping through a field of flowers, until Mario trips Yoshi, at which point the four start fighting each other, all while the song plays in the background.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Behind The Dangerous Stunts Of Nintendo's Iconic Mario Commercials|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/2023/07/03/behind-the-dangerous-stunts-of-nintendos-iconic-mario-commercials|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703203627/https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/2023/07/03/behind-the-dangerous-stunts-of-nintendos-iconic-mario-commercials|url-status=live|archive-date=July 3, 2023|first=Alex|last=Van Aken|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=July 3, 2023|access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref>

Jim Bessman reported for ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' that the "key usage in the acclaimed movie" ''[[Adaptation (film)|Adaptation]]'' is "as a means of juxtaposing a soundtrack song against the story's mood, à la '[[As Time Goes By (song)|As Time Goes By]]' in ''[[Casablanca (film)|Casablanca]]''". Bessman goes on to say that "the song's inclusion in ''Adaptation'' has also spurred the solo side of Kaylan's career."<ref name="Bessman">{{Cite magazine|last=Bessman|first=Jim|date=April 26, 2003|title=Words & Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=40|access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref>
{{blockquote|When I saw the film, the audience started singing along with it ... It indicated to me that this thing had a life of its own—and that it was time for me to get off my butt and finish my solo album.|[[Howard Kaylan]]|''Billboard''<ref name="Bessman" />}}

== Personnel ==
According to Tom Pinnock<ref name=":2" /> and Wayne Wadhams.{{Sfn|Wadhams|2001|p=254–256}}

'''The Turtles'''
* [[Howard Kaylan]] – lead and backing vocals
* [[Mark Volman]] – backing vocals
* Al Nichol – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
* Jim Tucker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* [[Chip Douglas]] – bass guitar, backing vocals, horn and woodwind arrangements
* [[John Barbata]] – drums

== Charts ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1967)
!align="left"|Peak<br />position
|-
|Australia (''[[Go-Set]]'')<ref>{{cite web|title= Go-Set Australian charts |magazine=[[Go-Set]] |date= May 31, 1967 |url=https://gosetcharts.com/1967/19670531.html}}</ref>
|align="center"|25
|-
|align="left"|Canada [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=873& |title=RPM Weekly Top Singles - April 8, 1967 (Volume 7, No. 6) |date=April 8, 1967 |website=[[Library and Archives Canada]] |publisher=RPM Weekly (archived) |access-date=August 30, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=6316&|title=RPM Weekly Top Singles - April 1, 1967 (Volume 7, No. 5) |date=April 1, 1967 |website=[[Library and Archives Canada]] |publisher=RPM Weekly (archived) |access-date=September 26, 2018 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|{{single chart|Ireland2|19|song=Happy Together|access-date=July 11, 2017|artist=|refname=}}
|-
|align="left"|New Zealand ([[New Zealand Listener|''Listener'']])
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|align="left"|Norway ([[VG-Lista]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Happy Together|url=https://www.vglista.no/sanger/happy-together/|access-date=July 7, 2021|website=VG-lista 2021|language=nb-NO}}</ref> 
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
| Rhodesia (''[[Lyons Maid]]'')<ref>{{cite book |last=Kimberley |first=C |title=Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book |year=2000 |page=23|language=en}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(T).html|access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|Sweden ([[Kvällstoppen]])<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hallberg|first=Eric|title=Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975|publisher=Drift Musik|year=1993|isbn=978-9163021404}}</ref>
|align="center"|20
|-
|[[Sweden]] (''[[Tio i Topp]]'')<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hallberg|first1=Eric|title=Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74|last2=Henningsson|first2=Ulf|publisher=Premium|year=1998|isbn=919727125X}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|align="left"|UK ([[Record Retailer]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1967.shtml|title=Top 100 1967|work=top-source.info|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002''</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://98.130.35.56/archives/60s_files/60s.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |date=April 1, 1967 |access-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513011423/http://98.130.35.56/archives/60s_files/60s.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|align="left"|West German [[GfK Entertainment charts|Media Control]] Singles Chart<ref>{{Cite web|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-8086|access-date=July 7, 2020|website=Offiziellecharts.de}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1967)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Canada<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+8-No.+19-January+6%2C+1968.pdf |title=The RPM 100 Top Singles of 1967 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |date=January 6, 1968 |volume=8 |issue=19 |page=5 |access-date=March 19, 2019 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1967.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1967/Top 100 Songs of 1967 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|U.S. ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |title=CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1967 |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/1967YESP.html |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |date=December 23, 1967 |access-date=April 30, 2018 |archive-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523165733/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/1967YESP.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|}

===All-time charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1958–2018)
! Position
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 10, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|448
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Turtles|title=Happy Together|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|id=15474-4880-1|access-date=March 15, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Turtles|title=Happy Together|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1967|certyear=2024|access-date=February 7, 2024|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t738498|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic.com 'Happy Together']
* [http://www.theturtles.com The Turtles official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209035243/http://theturtles.com/ |date=February 9, 2011 }}
* [http://www.howardkaylan.com Singer Howard Kaylan's website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205044402/http://www.howardkaylan.com/ |date=December 5, 2008 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141227192301/http://www.burgendeutschland.com/BG/bonner-gordon.htm Bonner-Gordon songs website]
* {{YouTube|BqZ6sRHpWIk|Turtles - Happy Together}}

{{The Turtles}}
{{Captain & Tennille}}
{{T. G. Sheppard}}
{{Jason Donovan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Happy Together (Song)}}
[[Category:1967 songs]]
[[Category:1967 singles]]
[[Category:London Records singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:The Turtles songs]]
[[Category:Hugo Montenegro songs]]
[[Category:T. G. Sheppard songs]]
[[Category:Petula Clark songs]]
[[Category:Caterina Valente songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Alan Gordon (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements]]