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.
Summer Days
The Partridge Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I just close my eyes and I trace
The footpath to your daddy's summer place
Where we spent our early summer days
The hill we climbed that went on forever
We reached the top of the world together
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
When you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
Come climb that hill again with me; come live that love again with me
Baby, baby, baby, baby; hold my hand and we'll be free; said we'll be
Free
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
When you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
[Fade]
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
When you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
The song "Summer Days" by The Partridge Family is a nostalgic and sentimental reflection of a past summer romance. The lyrics describe the memories of spending time with a lover at a summer house and climbing a hill together. The singer remembers the feeling of the sun on their face and the happiness shared with their partner.
The first verse suggests that the singer can still feel the warmth of the summer sun on their face and see the path leading to the summer house they shared with their lover. They reminisce about the times spent together, playing and exploring the natural surroundings, particularly the hill they climbed. The second verse continues to describe the experience of climbing the hill that seemed to never end, but reaching the top was worth it because they were together. The chorus reflects on the power of love and memories, stating that the memory of their summer love is still vivid and real, existing beyond time and space. The final verse is a call to the former lover to come back and relive those moments, to be free and in love once again.
Overall, the song captures the essence of youthful love and the longing to go back to a simpler, carefree time. The sentimentality of the lyrics combined with the upbeat tempo and catchy melody make this song a classic summer-time hit.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel the sunlight on my face
I am reminded of the warmth of your love and the beauty of our memories
When I just close my eyes and I trace
When I reminisce about our love, my heart fills with indescribable joy
The footpath to your daddy's summer place
The path to your family's summer home holds beautiful memories with you
Where we spent our early summer days
Our early days spent together in the summer hold such joy in my heart
The hill we climbed that went on forever
The hill we climbed together was endless, representing our never-ending love
We reached the top of the world together
Our love brought us to the highest peak of happiness and contentment
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
Your love has impacted me so deeply, that I remember every detail so perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
Our love existed in a realm beyond time and space, living on through these beautiful summer days
Come climb that hill again with me; come live that love again with me
Let's relive our love and climb to the peak of happiness once again, together
Baby, baby, baby, baby; hold my hand and we'll be free; said we'll be
With your love guiding me, we can both feel free and happy, together
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
Your love has impacted me so deeply, that I remember every detail so perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
Our love existed in a realm beyond time and space, living on through these beautiful summer days
When you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
Your love has impacted me so deeply, that I remember every detail so perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
Our love existed in a realm beyond time and space, living on through these beautiful summer days
[Fade]
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tony Romeo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emilygonzalez7654
I feel the sunlight on my face
When I just close my eyes and I trace
The footpath to your daddy's summer place
Where we spent our early summer days
The hill we climbed that went on forever
We reached the top of the world together
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
When you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
Come climb that hill again with me; come live that love again with me
Baby, baby, baby, baby; hold my hand and we'll be free; said we'll be
Free
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
When you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
Yeah, you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
When you gave your love to me and I remember perfectly
High above all time and space and I remember summer days
@gerardmignone1411
My favorite Partridge Family song. Pure pop bliss from start to finish. What a missed opportunity to not release this as a single.
@cathymeyer3760
I was boarding a plane recently 2020 and this was playing at Tampa International. Made me so happy
@lizab.stough9396
What a cool airport!
@christianediegel8665
@Liza B. Stough I heard David the first time after nearly 40 years again on the way to Maurice in a plane as well - I was so happy :))) and I enjoyed the flight of 11 hours !!!!
@jimogrady1131
Cathy Meyer Went to lots of 70s concerts never got to see David. Maybe he didnt like all the snow we get, dont blame him we still get 12-14 feet every winter. Sorry I live in Buffalo,NY its sucks were called SNOW CAPITAL OF USA.
@ericbarash8496
SiriusXM 70s on 7 still plays all of the hits from the early 70s of the Partridge Family.
@mgrella63
wow Im shocked because this wasnt released as a single so cool
@annaacierno9195
This song brings back so many memories. Hits me right in the feels. Miss him still
@bridgetd7390
David Cassidy has a unique style with his velvety voice. Added to this are his skills on the guitar, drums and piano. And all this is only surpassed by his incredibly beautiful face in his prime! RIP David Cassidy, you will never be forgotten.
@timothyharris8670
David sang SO skillfully on this tune. In my own singing i learned a lot from him on songs like this. Thanks.