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.
As Long As There's You
The Partridge Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll begin again and you're the reason why
When all our friends no longer know my name
And say that I'm not the same
I know that I'll get by
(Chorus)
As long as there's you
To give me all your love, and a gentle hand to hold
As long as there's you
At the end of every night to tell me it's alright
And shield me from the cold
I'll be strong and I'll be tall
There is nothing I can do
I may stumble I may fall
I won't care if there is you
At the end of it all
I won't care if there is you
At the end of it all
You are the sun that shines upon my face
And smiles upon my life in everything I do
So let the rain come pouring to the ground
Cause nothing gets me down
As long as there is you
(Chorus)
I'll be strong and I'll be tall
There is nothing I can do
I may stumble I may fall
I won't care if there is you
At the end of it all
(Repeat)
I won't care if there is you
At the end of it all
I don't care if there is you
At the end of it all
At the end of it all
At the end of it all
The Partridge Family's song "As Long As There's You" portrays a reassuring message about the power of love and the importance of having someone special in one's life. The lyrics reflect the bond between two individuals in a loving relationship as they navigate through life's challenges. The opening line "When all my dreams are scattered to the wind, I'll begin again and you're the reason why" highlights the central theme of the song - that the love shared between two individuals can be a source of strength and resilience even in the most trying times.
The chorus, "As long as there's you, at the end of every road to give me all your love, and a gentle hand to hold" echoes the idea that no matter what hurdles life throws at them, the love and support of their partner is enough to help them triumph. The final verse, "You are the sun that shines upon my face and smiles upon my life in everything I do, so let the rain come pouring to the ground cause nothing gets me down as long as there is you" further emphasizes the significance of having someone by your side who brings joy, comfort and reassurance to your life.
Line by Line Meaning
When all my dreams are scattered to the wind
If all my hopes and aspirations are lost or destroyed,
I'll begin again and you're the reason why
I will start over and it will be because of you.
When all our friends no longer know my name
If all of our companions can no longer identify me,
And say that I'm not the same
If they claim that I have changed beyond recognition,
I know that I'll get by
I'll be okay regardless.
As long as there's you
As long as you're present,
At the end of every road
At the culmination of every journey,
To give me all your love, and a gentle hand to hold
To provide me with your entire affection and a soft, comforting hold.
At the end of every night to tell me it's alright
At the conclusion of each day, to reassure me all is well.
And shield me from the cold
And protect me from the harsh, unforgiving climate.
I'll be strong and I'll be tall
I shall be brave and resilient.
There is nothing I can do
There is no solution in my power.
I may stumble I may fall
I might falter and trip.
I won't care if there is you
I won't mind while you're present.
At the end of it all
At the conclusion of everything.
You are the sun that shines upon my face
You are the light that brightens my countenance.
And smiles upon my life in everything I do
And enhances my existence in all my endeavors.
So let the rain come pouring to the ground
Thus, allow the precipitation to fall to the earth.
Cause nothing gets me down
For nothing can bring me down.
I won't care if there is you
I won't mind while you're present.
[Chorus]
The refrain repeats the key message.
I don't care if there is you
I don't mind while you're present.
At the end of it all
At the conclusion of everything.
At the end of it all
At the conclusion of everything.
At the end of it all
At the conclusion of everything.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@junegraves5064
Such a beautiful voice, never will be another like him with so much talent, He’s just a natural in everything, Beautiful David, RIP, Forever missed, ❤️❤️
@judydenver5362
Wonderfully gorgeous Song, sung by the most gorgeous singer, ever! LOVE this album! It's mostly all romantic songs!!!!! David's voice was the most beautiful, at this time!
@pjames8712
Fantastic song and the voice of David was the BEST!
@marylounelson4460
David could do something special with any song. As long as there's David singing the world is a better place.
@coconutgrove7
David's powerful voice is perfect for sending chills to such meaningful lyrics.
@jimcroote3527
This is one of the best Partridge songs, and I know them all. All 100 plus of them! It should have been a massive hit for them!
@j.denino5732
Yes, it definitely should have, very emotional song.
@TheEchovoices
I totally agree
@gusperez6144
I agree it should have been a huge hit
@RosePetal17
I know David wanted to be taken seriously as an actor and musician, but I know for sure the songs produced for The Partridge family were fantastic and beautifully crafted pop songs. Along with David's velvet voice, they are timeless!