Nice and New to Me

Thank you Mr. Allan Warren for this 1974 portrait. New York Plaza Hotel.

Let's Hope it's not a La Perla

I wonder what he does with them? Displays them at home in a custom-built curio cabinet?

Credit to John Schultz for photograph found here.

It WAS Extraordinary for That Time

"In 1970, the top pop-radio station in Cedar Rapids was the first in the nation to play "I Think I Love You" -- a song from "The Partridge Family" -- and it became the biggest-selling record of the year, Mr. Cassidy recalled in a recent interview.

"It had never happened before -- went nowhere to No. 1 in one week. It created such a buzz," he said. "I haven't been to Iowa in forever. I want to pay respects and homage to those people who have been such fans of mine.""

Mr. Cassidy is getting good press these days. No excessive boasting, just true statements expressed with lots of enthusiasm. I like this guy. Oh, and did you notice? The Partridge Family Rock Band is mentioned. Sorry, but I'll need the actual product in hand to convince me that it's not an April's Fool joke. Yeah, I'm that cynical.

Had to Hear It to Believe It

Andy Williams singing "I Think I Love You". Here. Is it me or does he look ready to burst out laughing at the beginning? "Can you believe I'm about to sing this teeny-bopper ditty?"

It really is a great song and while the sentiment is universal, I think it's one of those pop tunes that sounds better left to the young and/or innocent ;-) It expresses those "first love" sentiments only too well and is a lot more convincing sung by a "teen idol" than by an established crooner. In my humble opinion, of course.

If you need to rinse your ears out and replace this only-too-respectable attempt with the "definitive" version, here it is.

Of Bygones and Icons.

"On distancing himself from “The Partridge Family”: “Absolutely never. Peoples’ interpretations of me saying I want to do other work didn’t mean I never wanted to talk about ‘The Partridge Family.’ I’ve carried the flag, so to speak, and I hold it in such esteem because it’s touched so many lives. Although I had done 10 leads in dramatic shows and had done a Broadway show before “The Partridge Family,” it’s responsible for making me familiar with people and becoming successful and being able to have the rest of my life to make that. I don’t know how to describe it, but it was a very precious experience for me. As an actor, I care about the work, I just didn’t want to talk about it over and over and over ..."

Found here. Um? No. Especially not the "absolutely never" part. But that's okay because this really seems like a sincere effort at smoothing dissed fans' ruffled feathers. Do notice that he says as an actor, he cares about the work. He doesn't comment on the Partridge Family music. Bah, I nitpick, right? Earlier in the interview is the inevitable mention of having been good friends with John Lennon. He holds his icon as dear to his heart as some of his fans hold him. Too bad these declarations smack so much of reflected glory.

Interesting and candid interview. I like the format.

About that Partridge Family Cruise Episode...

Keith might just be the cutest Peter Rabbit EVER in that episode (any doubters, please refer to pic in April 6 post) but he's also sexy as all get out in the group's "musical performance". Serious Yowza around the the 0:26 mark and then from 0:38 to 0:44. (And to think girls today squeal over that AutoTuned Bieber baby. For shame.) By the way, who decided to mess with the YouTube format? It looks so wishy-washy now. Gah. Can't stand it.

Vroom, Vroom - The Perfect Vehicle?

(Resurrected this entry from a draft written in January, so please excuse any anachronisms.)

In this post's comments, an anonymous reader wondered what vehicle could help David Cassidy expand his audience base since "Ruby & The Rockits" wasn't renewed. What would help him reconnect with his audience or reach a new one?

Cultural references to David Cassidy's heyday ("ITILY" in the Lipton Sparkling Tea commercial, his posters in the recent "The Lovely Bones" movie, for example) are always positive because they prompt "whatever happened to him?" Googling from curious former fans and expose a younger generation to his work. I was thinking along these lines when the ultimate pop culture vehicle du jour appeared to me like that sweet ride DC got during his Partridge Family contract re-negotiations.

Glee.

If you know to what I'm referring, skip the next couple of paragraphs. If you don't, here goes: "Glee" is a Fox TV series about a Spanish high school teacher who decides to revive the school's Glee Club (singing group) and renew its former competition glory. Think "Fame" ("I'm going to live forever!") but replace the pretense with snark and add a dash of convoluted, satiric, plots. It's an hour long cartwheel of drama, comedy and music created by "Nip/Tuck"'s Ryan Murphy.

The show won the Golden Globe for "Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy". It appeals to both kids and adults because the music is varied and story lines revolve around both teachers and students. The cast is brilliant and manages to improve the songs they cover. Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" actually sounds inspirational when sung by a conflicted high school student. "Glee" is enjoying major buzz right now: Madonna granted FREE use of her catalog to the producers for the All-Madonna season-opener episode (which I haven't seen yet, so, please, no spoilers); Olivia Newton-John and Jennifer Lopez are set to guest star; Clint Eastwood watches the show. 'Nuff said.

Anyway, for those who do watch the show, imagine these scenes:

-Mr. Shue introducing The Partridge Family or David Cassidy to the gang with lines like "bubblegum pop that stood the test of time" and "a teen idol who could actually sing"
-Finn singing "Brown Eyes" to Quinn
-Kurt leading the group with "I Woke Up in Love This Morning" after meeting a potential love interest. And he is set to get a boyfriend in the second-half of the season (or is it the second season?).
-Artie playing that rockin' opening bass line in "Love is All That I Ever Needed"

So many good pop songs the cast could cover - "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat", "Summer Days", "Every Little Bit of You"...- they don't even need to touch "ITILY" or "C'mon Get Happy" with a sky-high Cheerios pyramid. It would be amazing if David Cassidy's solo stuff could be featured. These songs still sound current (or am I biased because of the PF/DC bubble I've been living in these past few months?):

-Rock Me Baby
-Mae
-Daydreamer
-I Never Saw You Coming
-Fix of Your Love
-Common Thief
-Damned if this ain't Love
-Run and Hide
-Warm My Soul

What could make David Cassidy fans giddier than seeing his music acknowledged on a cool show?

Here's Bran Van 3000's "Drinking in L.A.". Just because it's from their 1997 debut album, Glee, and I love to plug Canadian talent :-)



And here's DC's "Oh No (No Way)" in the event my idea is loonier than a Canadian dollar coin. (His voice is so very perfectly sexy in this track.)

Who Knew?

Wayne Newton also recorded "Echo Valley 2-6809". It really is a good song. I much prefer The Partridge Family's version though.

Incidentally, hope no one feels old knowing DC turned 60 yesterday. Sixty is the new fifty, dontcha know? ;-) (Want a secret for staying young? Weight training. Gives you strong bones too.)

I'm back with news...

for any of my Canadian readers who subscribe to the channel "Vision TV". Tune in tonight at 10 pm for their show "Unscripted". Seems our man of interest is the featured guest. Was this posted on his Facebook page? It's not on his website nor mentioned anywhere else save for that channel's site and in online TV listings. Thank you Google Alerts for this bit of news today. Wish I could have given more advance notice but I suppose we should be thankful I didn't receive the alert tomorrow. (To be fair to Google, I haven't checked all my alerts yet - hey, I really needed the break - it could have been flagged before today.) If anyone does watch the show, please report :) It might be possible to view online - I'll update this entry with a link, if so.

Hope you had a nice Easter.