Created by Bernard Slade, the series was inspired by and loosely based on The Cowsills, a real singing family in the late sixties. In fact, in its early development the Cowsill children were approached to be featured on the show, though that idea was quickly discarded (The Cowsills rejected the offer when producers wanted to replace their real-life mother Barbara in the cast). The show starred Shirley Jones as mother Shirley Partridge and David Cassidy (Jones' real-life stepson) as her son Keith. The remaining Partridge children were played by Susan Dey as Laurie, Danny Bonaduce as Danny, Jeremy Gelbwaks (replaced after one year by Brian Forster) as Chris, and Suzanne Crough as Tracy Partridge. Dave Madden played Reuben Kincaid, who was their manager and family friend.
The back of the bus, became an icon for the show, due to its Mondrianesque paint design.
The Partridge Family was produced for ABC by Screen Gems television, which was just finishing its run with The Monkees, another show about a fictional music group. The company promoted the success of the show by releasing a series of albums featuring the music of the family band, though most cast members did not actually play on the recordings. A group of studio singers and musicians, led by producer Wes Farrell actually created the Partridge Family sound. Although he was originally cast with the intent to lip sync, just weeks into production David Cassidy convinced Farrell he could sing, and was allowed to join the studio ensemble as the lead singer. Several songs were made without Cassidy as lead, they were featured in some of the early episodes and on the first album. He and Shirley Jones, who sang background, were the only cast members who were actually featured on the recordings. The whole cast would lip sync to the recordings when they performed on each episode, though it was obvious to most viewers that the actors were lip-synching, The Partridge Family became an instant success, not only as a TV show, but as a band that produced actual hit songs.
The Partridge Family's biggest hit came in 1970 with the song "I Think I Love You," which began climbing the Billboard chart in September and peaked at number one in December of that year. The companion LP, "The Partridge Family Album" reached number four. Other Partridge Family singles including, "I'll Meet You Halfway", "Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted", and "I Woke Up in Love This Morning" would also chart high on the Billboard chart. The theme songs "When We're Singing", and its successor "C'Mon, Get Happy" were composed by Danny Janssen and Wes Farrell.
The title card for the pilot episode of The Partridge Family was, "What? and Get Out of Show Business?".
As the show and associated merchandizing took off, David Cassidy became an overnight teen idol. Cassidy launched a solo singing career, touring with his own group of musicians and performing Partridge Family songs as well as hits from his own albums. In the midst of his overwhelming rise to fame, Cassidy soon grew tired of the show. In the summer of 1972 he gave a very candid interview to Rolling Stone magazine in which he attempted to distance himself from the squeaky-clean image of Keith Partridge.
By the fourth season, due to declining ratings and Cassidy's looming departure, a feeble effort was made by the producers to breathe new life into the show. They introduced a precocious 4-year-old neighbor named "Ricky Stevens" played by Ricky Segall to occasionally sing children's songs with the band. To no avail, the ABC network moved the show from its 8:30 Friday night slot to Saturday at 8:00, directly opposite the hit All in the Family, against which they knew it would not survive. The show was cancelled, after 96 episodes and ten Partridge Family albums.
The Partridge Family had a brief resurgence in animated form, which saw the family propelled into the future. The animated Partridge Family first appeared when the kids did a series of guest spots on "Goober and the Ghost Chasers". That idea evolved into a CBS Saturday morning Hanna-Barbera-produced cartoon, "Partridge Family 2200 A.D.". It featured new characters Veenie (Keith's Venusian friend) and Marion (Laurie's Martian friend). Danny had a pet robot dog named Orbit. Shirley Jones and David Cassidy did not voice their animated counterparts, and Susan Dey and Dave Madden had very limited involvement with this series. Sixteen half-hour installments were produced for the animated series, which lasted for half a season on CBS Saturday morning (September 7, 1974 - March 8, 1975); on the syndicated Fred Flintstone and Friends, it was retitled The Partridge Family in Outer Space.
Nickelodeon featured a heavily publicized run of the original series in the early- to mid-90s, along with the Brady Bunch, as part of its Nick-At-Nite line-up. The network used interviews and commercials featuring cast members, and even created a new version of the Mondrian-esque Family bus for promotion.
In 2000 two different made-for-TV movies aired on different networks; Both "Come On Get Happy" and "The David Cassidy Story" attempted to tell the story behind the series. While the movies were criticized as being somewhat inaccurate, they did recreate some of the imagery and music from the original series. "Come On Get Happy" even featured another replication of the bus, which was later auctioned off on eBay.
A modernized version of the bus was created for a new promotion in 2004, when VH1 premiered In Search of The New Partridge Family. This talent competition in the format of American Idol sought a new cast for a contemporary version of the sitcom. The elimination type program aired seven episodes in which a panel of judges selected a new Partridge Family cast from auditioners across the country. The resulting pilot episode of The New Partridge Family aired in January of 2005, but due to low ratings VH1 opted not to produce any more episodes.
The first two seasons of the original series were released as of October 2005 on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Also, at the same time Arista Records released a new music compilation, "Come On Get Happy!: The Very Best of The Partridge Family," which included four previously unreleased tracks.
Despite the prefabricated nature of the "band", the Partridge Family's records were some of the best arranged and produced of their day. Much care was given not only to the overall sound, but even to show that sound would translate to AM radio, then the major outlet for pop music. The writing was equally good, at least on the early albums. However, as ratings and record sales began to drop, so did the quality of the material.
Money Money
The Partridge Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish I had some
I'd spend it on you, babe
Cause your really somethin'
Even though I don't have a lot
You can have what I've got
(Chorus)
Money money
Money money
Money money
I just don't have none
But you're the kind of girl that
Makes me want to get some
So I can go where I've never seen myself
And you've never been
Money money
Money money
I've got get myself up, out of bed
Get some work today
If I'm ever going to keep a girl like you around
Got nine to five all week long
Till I get some take home pay
Cause everybody knows
That you like your fancy clothes
And that's where my money goes
(Chorus)
Money money
Money money
Money money
I've got to have it
And if I get the chance again
You know I'm gonna to grab it
I got to make some money today
If I want you to stay
Money money
Money money
Money money
The lyrics to The Partridge Family's song "Money Money" convey a sense of desire and desperation for money, for the purpose of pleasing a love interest who enjoys the finer things in life. The singer expresses a willingness to work hard and sacrifice in order to obtain the money needed to impress their significant other. The chorus is a repeated plea for money, and a declaration of the importance of having it in order to maintain the relationship.
Throughout the song, the lyrics depict a sense of longing and aspiration, the quest for financial stability, and a desire to provide for one's partner. The song could be seen as a reflection of the materialistic values of the time. The lyrics convey the message that material possessions and financial security are crucial in maintaining a successful romantic relationship.
Overall, "Money Money" is a catchy pop tune that mixes somber lyrics with upbeat music, creating a sense of contrast between the melancholy of the lyrics and the lively rhythm of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Money, money,
The singer emphasizes his need for money.
I wish I had some
He laments his lack of money.
I'd spend it on you, babe
He would rather spend his money on his beloved.
Cause your really somethin'
He highly regards his partner, hence wanting to do something special for her.
Even though I don't have a lot
He recognizes his financial limitations.
You can have what I've got
He wants to give what he can, even if it isn't much.
(Chorus)
Repetitive emphasis on the need for money.
I just don't have none
Continuation of lack of funds.
But you're the kind of girl that
He greatly appreciates his partner.
Makes me want to get some
He is motivated to earn more money, given his affection towards his partner.
So I can go where I've never seen myself
He wants to explore new experiences, only if he had the financial means to do so.
And you've never been
He wants to share these new experiences and locations with his partner.
I've got get myself up, out of bed
He recognizes that he needs to work hard to earn a living.
Get some work today
He is driven to find stable employment.
If I'm ever going to keep a girl like you around
He knows that he has to work hard to maintain his relationship with his partner.
Got nine to five all week long
He has to work long hours throughout the week to have a stable income.
Till I get some take home pay
He won't be paid until the end of the week, hence the long wait.
Cause everybody knows
He acknowledges that his partner enjoys the finer things in life.
That you like your fancy clothes
She appreciates luxurious apparel.
And that's where my money goes
He will spend his money on the things his partner enjoys.
(Chorus)
Repetitive emphasis on the need for money.
I've got to have it
He has strong desire to earn more money.
And if I get the chance again
He will take every chance possible to earn more money.
You know I'm gonna to grab it
He will do anything within reason to earn a larger income.
I got to make some money today
He has a deadline and a strong need to earn more money quickly.
If I want you to stay
He knows that his financial limitations can cause problems in his relationship.
Money money
Final emphasis on the need for financial stability.
Money money
Repetitive emphasis on the need for money.
Money money
Continuation of the repetitive emphasis on the need for money.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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