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Showing posts from June, 2023

Meeting David. A Short Story

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I've promised, so here it is. The things we do for love..Me writing short stories in English, amazing. But this short story is important for me, writing it has been a kind of therapy. Completely fictional, but with some real elements. I once took care of my uncle's dog and he (the dog) nearly died while with me, and in the early 70s my beautiful aunt married a wealthy Italian engineer. And I was in Rome in January (1980), also some other things are true. And who knows what adventures, conversations and meetings David Cassidy experienced in Europe, in 1972. It was a special, magical and unique holiday for him.. 'Gustavo! Gustavo!' It was supposed to be loud and decisive, but she was fighting back her tears, her voice was hoarse. All the misery, stress, and yes, also anger, everything she experienced during the last three weeks, all those feelings she had been trying so hard to hide, suddenly they found the way, and she started sobbing in the middle of that deserted park.

Daydream / John Sebastian

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When I was going on holiday several days ago, I didn't feel very happy. Writing about the last years of David Cassidy's life wasn't easy, and I really felt sad and nothing made me cheerful. I didn't have high hopes that the holidays would change anything. My dear friend Pauline, wishing me a nice trip, told me that while in Greece, I should write a short story. About a girl who meets there David Cassidy, they spent an afternoon together, that they both held dear over the years..I laughed a little bit when I read this, but already on my way to Samos I started to think about it. Daydreaming.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZBBMTrjSig Every day is good for dreaming about David. His version of The Lovin' Spoonful's hit is really extraordinary, his voice warm, dreamy but when it needed strong, and full of passion, hope or joy. Amazing, I love it, and I think it's more interesting than the original. John Sebastian is (he was born in 1944) a wonderful songwriter,

It Should Have Been Me / William Stevenson, Norman Withfield

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The David's version from 1979 is really one in a kind. Such longing, passion, love, desire..His voice rich, seductive, soulful. I've been listening to this song many times on the beach while on holiday.  But always first moved away from other holidaymakers. The dreamy look on my face..of course, it should have been me.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLZwkXK3ut0 This is so extraordinary, it should have been a great hit. And very interesting comment has appeared since the last time I've watched/listened to that song on YT. That John Beland, a very known LA musician, who worked with Glenn Frey, Linda Ronstadt, with everybody, he also worked with David, on 'Dirty Work', another cover (Steely Dan), recorded by DC in 1979. At Larrabee Studios in Hollywood. Timothy B. Schmit played bass and did the harmonies. Carlos Vega played drums. Produced by Ken Mansfield of course.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_gr4y1u0kQ Amazing how all the time new info appears and we learn s

'And If Someone Asked Me..'

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 '..what I needed to count on...to make me as happy as I've ever been.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCXQS88p4cM and if someone asked me, yes, it was a masterpiece. Tony Romeo's and David's. From the first DC solo album, 'Cherish', in March 1972, number 15 on the Billboard 200, an amazing achievement for a debut. Of course David already was a TV star and a recording artist, a teen idol, but this album and the singles from it became hits also on the Adult Contemporary chart.  From the AllMusic's review : " There is a maturity there that many of his previous songs lacked (..) Overall, ‘Cherish’ is an admirable first fine out and, above all , continues to display the vocalist theatrical sensibilities performance style’ " 'Cherish' is an outstanding album, the 70's pop classic, and there are only great songs on it..btw it's wonderful that on YT we also have videos without pics, just music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SOBUALOHXY

Could It Be Forever / Wes Farrell, Danny Janssen

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  I'm still impressed by David's recovered recordings from Spain. It's really a miracle, they have appeared on YT out of the blue. And it's made me wonder why it always looked like that.  I mean why it's just depends on the case that something appears. Why no one ever thought, someone close to David, that it was worth archiving his career, that it was important. Fans have been doing this for years, The David Cassidy Official Website is huge thanks to them, but basic information is still missing, concerts' set lists for example, we even don't know if all concerts are listed. Enough. That's the way it is and I'm sooo happy we now have those precious videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0j9EGVZ-GY And another thing..Why such a poor, weak response ??? The videos have been on YT for 5 days and just below 1k views each. Jane has published them on the website, she has taken really great screen shots..and after 24 hours not many 'likes', not many

Can't Take My Eyes Off You / Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio

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There are some songs like written for David. "You are just too good to be true (..) there are no words left to speak..' Frankie Valli had a hit with it in 1967, but I love the Spanish, flamenco version sung wonderfully, with emotion and passion and sadness by Alba Molina. I've learnt about her thanks to Araceli, my FB friend and the author of that amazing, great video. David Cassidy in Spain, 50 years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzhmobS8BtY Early March, 1973,  David arrived in Europe on his own plane. A 99 - passenger Caravelle jet. Chartered for £ 7000. His name was painted in giant letters on it. Unforgettable concerts, Empire Pool, and Belle Vue, De Doelen, fans still remember them. But he also took part in TV programs, in France and in Spain And especially that visit in Spain became legendary, David had a great time,  flamenco lessons, went to ski, recorded two songs for Estelar De Sabado (TV), met a lot of beautiful girls, and generally was treated like a gre

For All The Lonely / David Cassidy, Sue Shifrin

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David Cassidy was singing love songs all his life, and he knew what he was singing about. He said in 1999 : ' There is a story behind every song I write '. Most of them are about love, heartbreaks and passion, giving and taking, desire and pain..'Love Is All That I Ever Needed'. 'Junked Heart Blues', 'Two Time Loser', 'Love, Love The Lady', 'Let Her Go', to name a few.  Let's listen to the song which should have been released on DC self-titled 1990 album. 'Crazy Over You'. Why oh why he didn't include this song on that album, instead 'All Because Of You' was chosen? Cher had a hit with  it the previous year, so what for.. It's just an average pop song, nothing special. Yes, I know David was in love, the song was co-written  by Sue, and they sang it together. But 'Crazy Over You'..Nearly 190k views has this video with the David Cassidy's great unreleased rock number. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9

Talking About David

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First a song, an unreleased one, btw it's quite a long list, the songs didn't release by Bell. Those which were on the show but didn't appear on a PF album, among them real gems. 'Find Peace In Your Soul', 'Listen To The Sound', 'It's Time That I Knew You Better', 'I'm Into Something Good', 'Crying In The Rain'..and when we think about the demo tapes, lost for us forever. Who knows how many. That's sad. Really, The Partridge Family is one of the 'lost' bands of the 70s. And of course so underrated. So the song, written by John Bahler, Wes Farrell and Tony Asher, Season 4, Episode 7, first aired on October 27, 1973. 'The Last Howard', a special episode in every respect, also because we know quite a lot about making of it, thanks to Bruce Kimmel, and we have a short video from the set, and last but not least, there are some great photographs thanks to Henry Diltz.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=220JIywCzvk

Wishing Danny The Very Best

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We know those dialogues by heart. We have watched those scenes hundreds of times. I don't like this word, 'iconic', but can't find another. They are iconic, and I don't have to tell you that Dante Daniel Bonaduce was one of the greatest child actors in the TV history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywLji6rFd64&t=124s   A lot of young viewers watched The Partridge Family not because of David but for Danny. Many could identify with him. Who didn't have problems at school..or knew how to cope with the first crush or  wanted to  show off, who didn't think that was adopted, who was not punished or told to go to his own room. And Danny really could get himself into trouble.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbNqyj5hhrs He had a great comic talent, was so natural and funny on screen that many episodes were written just for him. He was so good that even that he couldn't play the bass, actually there were a lot of teens who started playing bass because of hi

I'm On The Road / Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

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I've been thinking about writing about that song for at least 2 weeks. Publishing last chapters of my book, 'Love Is All That I Ever Needed', was rather emotional, and I wanted after it to write just about music, happy and uplifting, and that song, 'Im On the Road' seemed just perfect.  From the first Partridge Family album, Shirley and her kids for the first time in the recording studio..smiling David https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0K1p51pBLo The song was performed by Love Generation, and written by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. And it happened that Cynthia Weil  died a few days ago, on June 1st, at the age of 82.  Cynthia Weil was born in New York, she wanted to be an actress and a dancer, but very early her songwriting talent was discovered.  Barry Mann, also from New York, a year and half older than Cynthia, had his first success as a songwriter in 1959,  he also performed as a singer, and had a Top 40 hit. But when he met Cynthia (they were staff songwriters a

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. The World Without David.

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When David Cassidy died on November 21st, 2017, the world stopped for a moment. Suddenly it turned out how important he was for a whole generation of pre-teen and teens from the first part of the 70s.  His image and  his music. His wonderful voice. David the artist and David the human being.  There was an outpouring of love for him, and during those first days in November 2017, millions of comments and stories were put online. Written by known and unknown. People who knew David, worked with him, and by millions of his fans, from all over the world.  Elton John -'David Cassidy and I were really good friends in the 70s'. Julian Lennon - 'R.I.P. David. You were a hero of mine growing up.' Hal Blaine -'I'm still in shock, we all knew the end was near..I still feel saddened. He was a very hard studying and working kid. Never complaining or being demanding. (..) The music will go on forever'. Howard Kaylan (The Turtles, Flo&Eddie) - 'So very sad. A great m

Love Is All That I Ever Needed. Chapter 41. I Know I Love You..

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  2015 started better. In January David ended a long three year battle with Sony, He sought millions but got just $158,000.  And it was good to be on tour again, with people he loved and trusted, his band and his fans. That year he played 12 concerts, all in the USA. On January 10 he performed at the B.B.King Blues Club in New York. He looked older, tired, he suffered back pains, on the photographs it’s painful to see his tragically sad eyes, but his voice was still great, the concert was fantastic. "We witnessed a vocal showcase as he proved how good his voice is, still after 40 years. David talked to his crowd as if we were old friends sitting at the table having a coffee with him. The personal touch in each story makes you feel as if you just spoke one to one. If he had the long hair it would have looked like the moves of a young man all done with his natural rhythm. Total class act. This man, David Cassidy, still has it." On January 24 speaking by phone he took p