I'm a second generation Partridge Family diehard fan, courtesy the reruns in the 80's. I'd take heat from my friends for digging them and playing their albums, but I learned not to care if I got enjoyment from certain music that wasn't as cool. It's all about finding the good stuff and connecting.
At that time you could go to yard sales/flea markets and get Partridge Family albums for 50 cents or a buck. I stocked up. Still have one to go to complete the list, but man was that a fun time. I also bought up a bunch of PF books, biographies and histories, etc in those pre-internet days. Good times.
David Cassidy was a true talent, a musician's musician as a vocalist and a solid stage performer. "I Think I Love You" is still near the top of my all-time favorites list. A terrific single coming near the end of the classic era of the LA session players. David's vocal nails it.
What sticks out to me too is reading about David's casting on the PF television show as 'Keith Partridge'. The focus was originally going to be Shirley Jones. The producers were planning to have a studio pro dub the 'Keith' vocals on the records...but then they found out David could actually sing, and not just that but sing to where he could cut hit records. David recalled walking into one of the first sessions with his guitar, assuming he may play, but then he saw the lineup of some of the best studio players in LA including Mike Deasy and Tommy Tedesco and said "oooohhhh kay then..." and put his guitar case aside.
But he sang the sh*t out of those tunes.
So the producers hit the jackpot casting David, but realized something. He could do it all. Good looks, sense of humor, talented actor, talented singer...they thought he'd come off as too good on screen and cause a backlash. No one can be that good! That's what they thought. So they had to put a dent in the armor. They made the Keith character something of a dim bulb, they dumbed him down. It worked.
David also said the constant touring schedule in the early 70's when he was at his peak as a teen idol nearly killed him, literally. They had him on an impossible treadmill, but he made it through.
RIP to a great musician.
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