The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family was an American television sitcom about a widowed mother an… Read Full Bio ↴The Partridge Family was an American television sitcom about a widowed mother and her five children, that lived in a small fictional town in Northern California. In the pilot episode the musical family records a pop song in their garage. Through the marketing efforts of 10-year- old son Danny the song becomes a hit. The family begins touring the country in a colorful 1957 Chevrolet school bus, performing their music in various types of venues. The episodes would often contrast their suburban life with the adventures of a show-biz family "on the road". The series originally ran from September 25, 1970 until August 31, 1974 on the ABC television network, as part of the Friday night lineup with The Brady Bunch. It had several subsequent runs in syndication.
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.
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.
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The Partridge Family Lyrics
Alone Too Long Funny how you can go on livin' And lose the simple…
Am I Losing You Something's in the wind Something I can't touch Just a feeli…
As Long As There's You When all my dreams are scattered to the wind I'll begin…
As Long As You're There I can take your pictures off my wall, And tell myself…
Baby I Love Isn't it time you tell me am I loosing my…
Bandala My baby! (Bandala, my love) I need ya! (Bandala, my love) Oh…
Blue Christmas Hayes-Johnson I'll have a blue Christmas without you I'l…
Brand New Me Come on down, off of your cloud Why just be a…
Breaking up Is Hard to Do Doo, doo, doo Down, doobie doo down, down Come-a, come-a Dow…
Brown Eyes Brown eyes, you're beautiful and you're all mine I want you…
Cherish Cherish is the word I use to describe All the feeling…
Come On Get Happy Hello world, here's a song that we're singin' Come on, get…
Come On Love Sitting here all alone You know it's just not right Lately i…
Could It Be Forever Could it be forever or is my mind just rambling…
Doesn I go downtown and roam around But every street I…
Echo Valley 2-6809 We grew up together with ferris wheels and sunshine laughter…
Every Little Bit O There's a little bit of you in every girl I…
Every Song Is You Magazines and afternoon dreams get me through the day And ti…
Friend And A Lover Na na na na na, na na na na na,…
Frosty The Snowman Nelson-Rollins Frosty the Snowman was a jolly happy soul …
Girl I can't start my day, girl, without thinkin' about ya I…
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be lig…
Hello Hello Hello, hello, I love you so Yet it all began when…
How Can I Be Sure How can I be sure in a world that's constantly…
How Long Is Too Long You tell me you are through with him You'll soon be…
I I was sleeping and right in the middle of a…
I Am A Clown See the funny little clown See the puppet on…
I Can Feel Your Heartbeat I can feel your heartbeat and you didn't even say…
I Got Your Love All Over Me Ohh, I'm a part of you Ohh, I'm a part of…
I Heard You Singing Your Song Now the walls took along time to crumble And the jumbled…
I Really Want To Know You I want to look behind the mirror of your eyes And…
I Think I Love I was sleeping and right in the middle of a…
I Woke Up in Love This Morning Last night, I turned out the light, lay down and thought…
I Would Have Loved You Anyway [INTRO:] You know that I've been watchin' you for quite some…
I Wouldn No thunder, no lightning, no showers in your eyes No dark…
I'll Leave Myself A Little Time Not long ago you'd find me feeling so low I had…
I'll Meet You Halfway Will there come a day when you and I can…
I'll Never Get Over You You don't know the pain of being left out in…
I'm Here You're Here I'm here, you're here, I don't care where you been…
I'm On My Way Back Home Got on a silver plane and flew away, chased all…
I'm On The Road Today may be a never ending highway And yesterday a half-for…
If You Ever Go If you ever put me down, I would fall right…
It It's you It's you Hello baby, yes it's me again and I'm…
It Means I'm In Love With You I can't sleep at night I ain't been eating right Just seeing…
It Sounds Like You're Saying Hello Hello You're saying hello Like it means goodbye If I could …
It's A Long Way To Heaven If we can't be like a story book Pardon me, if…
It's All In Your Mind You can be what you feel; life is a ferris…
It's One of Those Nights It's one of those nights when you turn out the…
It's You It's you It's you Hello baby, yes it's me again and I'm…
Jingle Bells Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh O'er…
Last Night Last night I couldn't fall asleep, because I wanted to…
Lay It On The Line I don't have to explain what's on my mind Show ya,…
Let The Good Times In Let the good times in The leaves of life are…
Let Your Love Go Peeping, hiding Sneaking, lying Keep it from the rest of the…
Lookin I was looking for a good time I was down so…
Looking The Eyes Of Love In the eyes of the world I'm a loser just…
Love Is All That I Ever Needed What did I want, well I just didn't know So each…
Love Must Be The Answer La la la la la la la la la, la…
Maybe Someday You came like the mornin' sun, And I knew you were…
Money Money Money, money, I wish I had some I'd spend it on…
Morning Rider On The Road Intro: Well I thought my life was over when she…
My Christmas Card To You To you and all your family, your neighbors and your…
Now That You Got Me Where You Want Me Now that you got me, where you want me You don't…
Oh No Not My Baby When my friends told me you had someone new, I didn't…
One Day At A Time Do do do do do do do do do do…
One Night Stand Every night - a different town - I sing my…
Only A Moment Ago INTRO: Why has the music stopped? Where did all the happy…
Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque Window walking downtown feelin mighty good and I noticed fro…
Rainmaker She came with the rain, Scarlet ribbon in her hair I…
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Marks Rockin' around the Christmas tree at the Christmas…
Roller Coaster I recall when I was young My papa said don't cry Life…
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town I just came back from a lovely trip along the…
She Intro: Can't get her out of my mind, I see her…
Singing My Song Singin' it out to the people; singin' it out to…
Sleigh Ride Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing, ring-ting tingle-in…
Somebody Wants To Love You On your own, far away from home There doesn't seem to…
Something New Got Old Something new got old, something warm grew cold Something ri…
Something's Wrong Something's wrong When I call you on the phone, And your voi…
Stephanie Stephanie, whose eyes are blue What would life be like with…
Story Book Love We've got a storybook love and that's all and that's…
Summer Days I feel the sunlight on my face When I just…
Sunshine I've got the sunshine in my hands You've got the sunshine…
Take Good Care of Her Looks like I lost the only love I ever knew, I…
That Did you ever read a book that's the kind of…
That'll Be The Day When the chains around me no longer ground me and my…
That's The Way It Is With You Did you ever read a book that's the kind of…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
There When all my dreams are scattered to the wind I'll begin…
There'll Come A Time There'll come a time, I know You might see me after…
There's No Doubt In My Mind There's no doubt in my mind with your wandering smile You…
There's No Doubt on My Mind There's no doubt in my mind with your wandering smile You…
Think I Love You I was sleeping and right in the middle of a…
To Be Lovers Like a summer wind in the fall Like a color book…
Together We're Better Last night you know I couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep, Tossin…
Twenty-Four Hours A Day INTRO: Twenty-four hours a day, girl, that's not the way I…
Umbrella Man INTRO: Your world is cloudy, blue skies turned to gray Rain…
Walking In The Rain I want him, and I need him, And someday someway woo…
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place In this dirty old part of the city Where the sun…
Where Do We Go From Here Walked in the storm didn't ya baby Got your feet wet…
White Christmas Berlin I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones…
Winter Wonderland Bernard-Smith Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin' ? In …
You Are Always On My Mind INTRO: Wake up in the mornin' feelin' all right 'till I…
You Don INTRO: You don't have to tell me that you're going…