Released August 1981 Length 3:00 | Format 7", 12" | |
B-side "So We Go Whispering"
"Jeepster" (12" only) Recorded Genetic Studios, Berkshire (1981) Label Epic 1522 (UK)
Portrait 24-02661 (U.S.) | ||
"Happy Birthday" is a song by the Scottish band Altered Images released as a single from their 1981 album of the same name. The song entered the UK charts in September 1981, and peaked at number 2 in October, holding that position for three weeks. It has been certified Silver by the BPI for sales in excess of 250,000 copies.
"Happy Birthday" is the only song on the album that was produced by Martin Rushent, who had already scored major success that year producing The Human League and would win the Producer of the Year award for 1981 at the BPI Awards. Accordingly, the band chose Rushent to produce their next album, Pinky Blue (1982), in its entirety.
The song appeared in the 1984 John Hughes movie Sixteen Candles.
"Happy Birthday" has been covered by The Ting Tings, for the children's television show Yo Gabba Gabba! in 2008, and by The Wedding Present, for their 1993 compilation album John Peel Sessions 1987-1990 as well as by Thomas Fagerlund (The Kissaway Trail) with Christian Hjelm (Figurines) in 2010.