Album of the Day

With four albums under his belt at Reprise, John Sebastian was nearing the end of his contract at the company when a television show intervened. Welcome Back, Kotter focused on a class of high school underachievers; the series turned John Travolta into a star and sent Sebastian's theme song to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 on this day in 1976. With his label eager for an LP, the singer-songwriter teamed with 1960s hitmaker Steve Barri, who brought top players including keyboardist Michael Omartian, drummer Jeff Porcaro and guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter aboard to help. In addition to the famous title track, WELCOME BACK features such fine originals as follow-up single “Hideaway,” “I Needed Her Most When I Told Her To Go” and “A Song a Day in Nashville,” as well as new versions of two favorites from Sebastian's days fronting The Lovin' Spoonful.