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The Archies was an American rock and pop band founded in 1967 by vocalist/guitarist Archie Andrews, bassist Reggie Mantle, drummer Forsythe "Jughead" Jones, vocalist/keyboardist Veronica Lodge and vocalist/percussionist Betty Cooper. Veronica is shown playing a large keyboard instrument styled after the X-66, a then-current top-of-the-line organ made by the Hammond Organ Company.

The music was recorded by Andrews on lead vocals and Cooper on duet and backing vocals. 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.

In 2020, The Archies were revived for the last time with Kevin Keller replacing Reggie Mantle. However, the band continues to appear with the five original members during this time. That year, the band were once again disbanded after their original disbandment in 1973 and 2008.

History[]

The Archies was founded in New York City in April 1967. The band play a variety of contemporary popular music. Every member sings vocals, with Jughead handling the bass voice on a few tracks. Though their singing voices were soft and appropriate for pop vocals, their speaking voices are much different.

The roles the teens played in the band are:

  • Archie Andrews - guitars, vocals
  • Reggie Mantle – bass
  • Forsythe "Jughead" Jones – drums
  • Betty Cooper – vocals, percussion
  • Veronica Lodge – keyboards, vocals
  • Kevin Keller – bass

One distribution mode for the Archies' music was embossing cardboard records 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).

Production[]

A set of studio musicians was assembled by Don Kirshner in 1968 to perform various songs. The most famous is "Sugar, Sugar", written by Forsythe "Jughead" Jones and Reggie Mantle, which went to number one on the pop chart in 1969, sold over six million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. In the Billboard Hot 100, it was ranked as the No. 1 song of that year. 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" (U.S. No. 10). "Jingle Jangle" also sold over one million copies, garnering a second gold disc award.

Male vocals for the Archies group were provided by lead singer Archie Andrews and female duet vocals were provided by Betty Cooper. Cooper, who was only paid for the recording session and quit the group when the song became a huge hit, was succeeded in 1970 by Veronica Lodge, who in turn was replaced on the final recordings by Betty Cooper. The only Archies song not to feature Archie Andrews 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 1972, was "Strangers in the Morning"; its B-side song was "Plum Crazy".

Mantle, Jones, and other members of the band contributed background vocals at various times, with Jughead contributing his trademark bass voice 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 Archies' records included guitarists Hugh McCracken and Dave Appell and Archie Andrews, bassists Reggie Mantle and Joey Macho, keyboard player Veronica Lodge, and drummers Forsythe "Jughead" Jones and Gary Chester.

The Archies' records were initially released on the Calendar Records label, but the name was shortly thereafter changed to Kirshner Records.

The sound engineer was Fred Weinberg, who was Jughead's and Mantle's favorite, and who also recorded Jughead's other hits "Be My Baby", "Baby, I Love You", and Kim's "Rock Me Gently". Fred Weinberg is an award-winning 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 Brady Kids.

In 1990, Kevin Keller is part of the group, replacing Reggie Mantle as the bassist. The final song "Midnight Radio" were released by WaterTower Music, on April 15, 2020.

Members[]

  • Archie Andrews
  • Reggie Mantle
  • Forsythe "Jughead" Jones
  • Betty Cooper
  • Veronica Lodge
  • Kevin Keller (Riverdale only)


Discography[]

  • The Archies (1968)
  • Everything's Archie (1969)
  • Jingle Jangle (1969)
  • Sunshine (1970)
  • The Archies Greatest Hits (1970)
  • This is Love (1971)
  • The Archies Christmas Album (2008)

External Links[]

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