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{{Short description|Fictional music group}}
{{About|the musical group|the 1968–1978 animated television franchise of which they were a part|The Archie Show|their debut album|The Archies (album)|their 2023 Indian live-action feature film adaptation|The Archies (film)|the soundtrack of the feature film adaptation|The Archies (soundtrack)|the comic book publisher|Archie Comics|the Indian greeting card company|Archies (company)}}
{{distinguish|The Archers}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = The Archies
| image            = The Archie Show.jpg
| background       = group_or_band
| origin           = * [[Riverdale (Archie Comics)|Riverdale]] (fictional)
* [[New York City]], U.S. (actual)
| genre            = [[Bubblegum music|Bubblegum]]
| years_active     = {{flatlist|
* 1968–1973
* 1990
* 2008
* 2020–2023
}}
| label            = {{flatlist|
* [[Don Kirshner|Calendar/Kirshner]]
* [[RCA Records|RCA]]
* [[Brylen Records|Brylen]]
* [[Fuel 2000]]
* [[WaterTower Music]]
* [[Sony Music India]]
}}
| associated_acts  = [[Ron Dante]], [[Andy Kim (singer)|Andy Kim]]
| past_members     =
* '''Fictional:'''
* [[Archie Andrews]]
* [[Jughead Jones]]
* [[Reggie Mantle]]
* [[Betty Cooper]]
* [[Veronica Lodge]]
* [[Kevin Keller (comics)|Kevin Keller]] (''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]]'' only)
* '''Actual:'''
* [[Ron Dante]]
* [[Toni Wine]]
* [[Jeff Barry]]
* Donna Marie
* Merle Miller
* Bob Levine
* [[Andy Kim (singer)|Andy Kim]]
* [[Ritchie Adams]]
* [[Bobby Bloom]]
* [[Ellie Greenwich]]
* [[Lesley Miller]]
* [[Hugh McCracken]]
* [[Gary Chester]]
* [[Buddy Saltzman]]
* [[Chuck Rainey]]
* [[Dave Appell]]
* Susan Morse
* Maeretha Stewart
* Joey Macho
* Ron Frangipane
* Sal DiTroia
| website= {{URL|https://twitter.com/TheArchiesMusic|TheArchiesMusic on Twitter}}
}}

'''The Archies''' are an American fictional [[rock music|rock]] band featured in media produced by, and related to, [[Archie Comics]]. They are best remembered for their appearance in the animated TV series ''[[The Archie Show]]''. In the context of the series, the band was founded by guitarist/vocalist [[Archie Andrews]], drummer [[Jughead Jones]], bassist [[Reggie Mantle]], percussionist/vocalist [[Betty Cooper]] and keyboardist/vocalist [[Veronica Lodge]].

The music featured in the series was recorded by [[session musician]]s, including [[Ron Dante]] on lead vocals and [[Toni Wine]] on duet and backing vocals.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=49}}</ref> The recordings were released as a series of singles and albums that achieved worldwide chart success. Their most successful song, "[[Sugar, Sugar]]", became one of the biggest hits of the [[bubblegum pop]] genre that flourished from 1968 to 1973.<ref name=naked>{{cite book |editor-last=Cooper |editor-first=Kim |editor2=Smay, David |title=Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth: The Dark History of Prepubescent Pop, From the Banana Splits to Britney Spears |publisher=Feral House |year=2001 |url=https://archive.org/details/bubblegummusicis0000unse |isbn=0-922915-69-5 |url-access=registration }}</ref>

In 2020, a new version of the band was introduced in the TV series ''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]]'', with [[Kevin Keller (comics)|Kevin Keller]] replacing Reggie Mantle. However, the band continues to appear with the five original members in the comic books published by Archie Comics.<ref name=Comics>{{cite web|editor-last=Bell|editor-first=Crystal|title=The Archies Get band back together for new ongoing series|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=July 12, 2017|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3024757/the-archies-ongoing-comic-series/|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=April 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404075543/http://www.mtv.com/news/3024757/the-archies-ongoing-comic-series/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A feature [[The Archies (film)|film of the Archies]] was produced for [[Netflix]], and was released on December 7, 2023.<ref name="Bollywood">{{cite web |title=The Archies starring Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor to premiere on Netflix on December 7, 2023 |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/archies-starring-suhana-khan-agastya-nanda-khushi-kapoor-premiere-netflix-december-7-2023-see-unique-announcement/ |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=29 August 2023 |date=29 August 2023 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829052118/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/archies-starring-suhana-khan-agastya-nanda-khushi-kapoor-premiere-netflix-december-7-2023-see-unique-announcement/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
===Conception===
The Archies first appeared in a comic book, ''[[Life with Archie]]'' No. 60 (April 1967). The fictional band was inspired by the success of the 1966 TV series ''[[The Monkees (TV series)|The Monkees]]'';<ref name=Chron>{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=158}}</ref> in particular, [[Don Kirshner]], who had managed the initially fictional band, wanted a musical act that he could fully control: as the Monkees were fictional but still used the real musicians' names, the musicians themselves became increasingly irritated at being [[micromanagement|micromanaged]], leading to a dispute that culminated in Kirshner being fired. To avoid a repeat of the Monkees fiasco while still allowing himself full control, Kirshner commissioned a band based on cartoon characters—if the [[session musician]]s tried to rebel or leave, they could be replaced seamlessly.<ref name="WP-obit">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/18/AR2011011805662.html|title=Don Kirshner, hit-making rock impresario of the 1960s, dies at 76|last=Schudel|first=Matt|date=18 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=21 January 2012|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111200018/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/18/AR2011011805662.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The early stories copied the TV show's fast cuts and action: "There were pages that had no panel-to-panel continuity at all, just pure strings of nonsense, fantasy, fourth-wall breaking, and exasperated commentary from Betty and Veronica."<ref name=Chron/> The feature ended in issue No. 66.

===Production===
A set of [[studio musician]]s was assembled by [[Don Kirshner]] in 1968 to perform various songs. Their most famous song is "[[Sugar, Sugar]]", written by [[Jeff Barry]] and [[Andy Kim (singer)|Andy Kim]],<ref name="Larkin"/> which went to number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] in 1969, sold over six million copies, and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
| first= Joseph
| last= Murrells
| year= 1978
| title= The Book of Golden Discs
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd
| location= London
| pages= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/252 252–253]
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6
| url-access= registration
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/252
}}</ref> In the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], it was ranked as the No. 1 song of that year, the only time a fictional band has ever claimed ''Billboard''{{'}}s annual Hot 100 top spot. Other [[Top 40]] songs recorded by the Archies include "[[Who's Your Baby?]]" (U.S. No. 40), "[[Bang-Shang-A-Lang]]" (U.S. No. 22), and "[[Jingle Jangle (The Archies song)|Jingle Jangle]]" (U.S. No. 10).<ref name="Larkin"/> "Jingle Jangle" also sold over one million copies, garnering a second gold disc award.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> Their records were released on the Calendar Records label,<ref name="Larkin"/> which was shortly thereafter renamed to Kirshner Records.

Male vocals for the fictional Archies group were provided by [[The Cuff Links]]' lead singer [[Ron Dante]] and female duet vocals were provided by [[Toni Wine]].<ref name="Larkin"/> Wine, who was only paid for the recording session and quit the group when "Jingle Jangle" became a huge hit, was succeeded in 1970 by Donna Marie, who in turn was replaced on the final recordings by Merle Miller. The only Archies song not to feature Ron Dante on lead was 1971's "Love Is Living In You", sung by Bob Levine (co-author of the song) and produced by Ritchie Adams. The last single, released in 1972, was "Strangers In The Morning".

[[Jeff Barry]], [[Andy Kim (singer)|Andy Kim]], [[Ritchie Adams]], [[Bobby Bloom]], [[Ellie Greenwich]], [[Lesley Miller]], Susan Morse and Maeretha Stewart contributed background vocals at various times, with Barry contributing his trademark bass voice (assigned to Jughead in the cartoons) on cuts such as "Jingle Jangle", "Rock 'n' Roll Music", "A Summer Prayer For Peace" (which hit number one in South Africa and Scandinavia in 1971), and "You Little Angel, You". Musicians on the Archies' records included guitarists [[Hugh McCracken]] and [[Dave Appell]], drummers [[Gary Chester]] and [[Buddy Saltzman]], bassists [[Chuck Rainey]] and Joey Macho, and keyboard player Ron Frangipane.

The sound engineer was Fred Weinberg, who was Jeff Barry's and Andy Kim's favorite and also recorded Barry's other hits "[[Be My Baby]]", "[[Baby, I Love You]]", and Kim's "[[Rock Me Gently (Andy Kim song)|Rock Me Gently]]". Fred Weinberg is a composer and producer in his own right. However, the music for ''[[The U.S. of Archie]]'', which aired in 1974, was produced by Jackie Mills, a Hollywood producer, who also produced [[Bobby Sherman]] and the [[The Brady Kids|Brady Kids]]. The vocalist for these shows was Tom McKenzie, who also sang on some ''[[Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies|Groovie Goolies]]'' segments, and was a regular member of the popular singing group [[The Doodletown Pipers|Doodletown Pipers]].

According to Ron Dante, over 100 songs were recorded, but at least 40 went unreleased.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview With Ron Dante |url=https://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/interviews/ron-dante/ |website=Allbutforgottenoldies.net |access-date=16 November 2011 |date=2004 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330181657/http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/interviews/ron-dante/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, Sunset Blvd Records released ''Ron Dante's Funhouse!'', which includes some of the unreleased songs and most of the "Dance of the Week" segments, all of them pulled straight from ''Archie's Funhouse'' and ''[[The Archie Show]]'', respectively.

Some of the group's songs have appeared on episodes of the TV series ''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/artist/the-archies|title=Music from The Archies|work=[[Tunefind]]|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326022156/https://www.tunefind.com/artist/the-archies|url-status=live}}</ref> The group made its debut in ''Riverdale'', in the musical episode "[[Chapter Seventy-Four: Wicked Little Town]]", for only the second time in a live-action adaptation after the television film ''[[Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again]]'' in 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://tvline.com/2020/01/28/riverdale-hedwig-musical-episode-season-4/|title=Riverdale Sizes Up Hedwig for Season 4 Musical Episode — See Who's Singing|last=Swift|first=Andy|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 28, 2020|access-date=February 21, 2020|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221093834/https://tvline.com/2020/01/28/riverdale-hedwig-musical-episode-season-4/|url-status=live}}</ref> It includes [[KJ Apa]] as Archie, [[Cole Sprouse]] as Jughead, [[Lili Reinhart]] as Betty, [[Camila Mendes]] as Veronica and [[Casey Cott]] as [[Kevin Keller (comics)|Kevin Keller]].<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Archie Comics|author-link=Archie Comics|user=ArchieComics|number=1251224156814716928|title=Meet #TheArchies.|date=April 17, 2020|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201205129/https://twitter.com/ArchieComics/status/1251224156814716928|url-status=live}}</ref> For the first time, Kevin Keller is part of the group, replacing Reggie Mantle (played by [[Charles Melton (actor)|Charles Melton]]). Kevin sings and plays keyboard. The song "Midnight Radio" was included in the series' musical episode soundtrack, which was released by [[WaterTower Music]] on April 15, 2020.

===Live-action adaptation===
{{Expand section|date=April 2022}}
On November 10, 2021, [[Netflix]] announced [[The Archies (film)|the Indian live-action feature film adaptation of the Archies of the same name]]. The film was produced by [[Tiger Baby Films]] and Graphic India with [[Zoya Akhtar]] as director,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Zoya Akhtar to Direct 'The Archies' Comic Book Adaptation for Netflix (EXCLUSIVE) |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2021/streaming/news/the-archies-comic-book-adaptation-for-netflix-1235109056/ |access-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111115049/https://variety.com/2021/streaming/news/the-archies-comic-book-adaptation-for-netflix-1235109056/ |url-status=live }}</ref> starring [[Amitabh Bachchan|Agastya Nanda]] as Archie, Mihir Ahuja as Jughead, Vedang Raina as Reggie, [[Sridevi|Khushi Kapoor]] as Betty and [[Suhana Khan]] as Veronica, alongside others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/the-archies-teaser-suhana-khan-khushi-kapoor-agastya-nanda-zoya-akhtar-film-7916719/lite/|title=The Archies teaser: Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda make a chic debut in Zoya Akhtar's Netflix film|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=15 May 2022|access-date=16 May 2022|location=[[New Delhi]]|archive-date=16 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516052638/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/the-archies-teaser-suhana-khan-khushi-kapoor-agastya-nanda-zoya-akhtar-film-7916719/lite/|url-status=live}}</ref> Filming started on April 18, 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/the-archies-zoya-akhtars-musical-starring-suhana-khan-agastya-nanda-and-khushi-kapoor-officially-goes-on-floors/articleshow/90904770.cms|title='The Archies' : Zoya Akhtar's musical starring Shana Khan, Agastya Nanda and Khushi Kapoor officially goes on floors|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2022}}</ref> and then ended on December 19, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/netflix-india-archies-wraps-production-1235465017/|title=Netflix's Indian Comic Book Adaptation 'The Archies' Wraps Production|work=Variety|date=December 19, 2022|access-date=December 20, 2022|archive-date=December 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219181623/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/netflix-india-archies-wraps-production-1235465017/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film was released on December 7, 2023.<ref name="Bollywood"/> [[The Archies (soundtrack)|The film's soundtrack]] was released by [[Sony Music India]] on November 25, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/asia/the-archies-sony-music-india-1235823841/|title='The Archies': Sony Music India Chief on How Soundtracks Enhance Films: 'Music Is Intrinsic to the Fabric of Society' (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Naman|last=Ramachandran|date=December 7, 2023|access-date=December 9, 2023|archive-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207092110/https://variety.com/2023/tv/asia/the-archies-sony-music-india-1235823841/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Fictional line-up==
The Archies play a variety of contemporary [[popular music]], consistent with the era in which the comic is drawn. Most of the members sing vocals, with Jughead handling the bass voice on a few tracks. Their singing voices were soft and appropriate for pop vocals, but their speaking voices were much different, as their speaking roles were played by voice actors. The roles that the teens play in the fictional band are:
* [[Archie Andrews]] – guitars, vocals
* [[Jughead Jones]] – drums
* [[Reggie Mantle]] – bass, vocals
* [[Betty Cooper]] – percussion, vocals
* [[Veronica Lodge]] – keyboards, vocals<ref> the cartoons, Veronica is shown playing a large keyboard instrument styled after the X-66 by [[Hammond organ|Hammond Organ Company]]</ref>
* [[Kevin Keller (character)|Kevin Keller]] – keyboards, vocals (''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]]'' only)

One distribution mode for the Archies' music was embossing [[cardboard record]]s directly onto the back of cereal boxes, which were cut out and played on a turntable (although their music was also available on standard issue LPs and 45s).<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/i4npg_o5Snk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170219203312/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4npg_o5Snk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4npg_o5Snk|title=Vintage Old 1970's Post Alpha Bits and Honeycombs Cereal Commercial with free record|date=18 June 2013 |website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=October 19, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKIJKqMTAw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219203301/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKIJKqMTAw|archive-date=2017-02-19|url-status=dead|title=Post Honeycomb With Archie Records Promotion|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=October 19, 2019}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=August 2025}}</ref>

Though the group no longer appears in animation, they are still frequently used in stories published by [[Archie Comics]]. In 2020, the group made its second live-action appearance on ''[[Riverdale (American TV series)|Riverdale]]'', with [[Kevin Keller (comics)|Kevin Keller]] replacing Reggie Mantle. In this incarnation, Kevin sings and plays keyboard, and Veronica sings only.

==Discography==
{{Main|The Archies discography}}
* ''[[The Archies (album)|The Archies]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Everything's Archie (album)|Everything's Archie]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Jingle Jangle (The Archies album)|Jingle Jangle]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Sunshine (The Archies album)|Sunshine]]'' (1970)
* ''This Is Love'' (1971)
* ''[[The Archies Christmas Album]]'' (2008)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.classicbands.com/archies.html The Archies]
* {{imdb name|2074486}}
* {{discogs artist|The Archies}}

{{The Archies}}
{{Archie Comics IOM}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 1960–1979}}
{{UK best-selling singles (by year) 1952–1969}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Archies}}
[[Category:1968 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Animated musical groups]]
[[Category:Archie Comics characters]]
[[Category:Fictional musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1968]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1973]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2020]]
[[Category:Bubblegum pop groups]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender bands]]
[[Category:Brylen Records artists]]
[[Category:RCA Records artists]]
[[Category:The Archies| ]]