David Cassidy Being Together

I've had trouble today with the title. First I've wanted it to be, ' A band was a fake but David Cassidy was the real thing', or 'David was the engine that made this music work'. Both quotes are from the doc about The Partridge Family, from the series called 'Behind The Music'. It was aired for the first time exactly 25 years ago.  Maybe a song first, it was played (fragments) several times during the 44 minutes of  the documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqBc549rcF4 I watched The Partridge Family Behind The Music a few years ago, when I didn't know much about the show, the people who created the music for it, and even about DC himself. I've watched it again today in the morning, and I'm still under the spell.  I've posted the link to it on our David Cassidy Great Britain Legacy Group, but I think it's not enough, and I want to write something more about this very interesting documentary.  1. First of all we can see some wond...

  I've been writing Christmas cards (traditional kind) and one of them was to my dear American friend, and without thinking what I was doing I wrote at the end, 'To you and all your family, your neighbors and your friends, may all your days be happy with a joy that never ends..'. That's the power of this very special song, considered by many to be one of the best in Partridge Family's catalog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDstBj8h8UI It's really hard not to be moved, the song captures the spirit of that time, David Cassidy's vocal, he sings so effortlessly, so natural, as if he personally wished us Merry Christmas. There is such a tremendous joy and magic in that song. We can see (imagine) those decorated houses everywhere, falling snow.. Tony Romeo, who btw. was born on Christmas Day in 1938, found in David the perfect singer for his wonderful bitter-sweet pop masterpieces, and 'My Christmas Card To You' should have been a Christmas standard, kno...

I've learnt about Mark James only because of David Cassidy. Mark James was born in 1940, a very talented songwriter, also a singer, musician and a recording artist himself.  In 1973 Mark James released self-titled album, on Bell, with his own songs, among them there were 'Roller Coaster' and 'Where Do We Go From Here'. I've listened to his album once..He was much better songwriter than a singer. A very talented songwriter. He wrote songs for Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley, and his childhood friend, B.J. Thomas, to name a few. And what songs - 'Hooked on a Feeling'.  'Suspicious Minds' or 'Always On My Mind', and many more. The latter song became a worldwide hit three times -  for Elvis, Willie Nelson and Pet Shop Boys. Mark James is regarded by Broadcast Music, Inc. as one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century. And to think that I've never heard about him before.. Three of his songs were recorded by The Partridge Family, an...

I've had such problems to find a right title today. Or a pic. Whatever, it's not important. First a personal memory. It was 1977 and my mum agreed me watching a film on tv. Aired very late and not exactly for young audience. I was 15, and my parents were very strict, but I had to watch it, only for that one scene : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSJGEn4FDys The Yardbirds, the most legendary band ever. They were legends already in the 60s. Guitar gods played in it. Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. And that amazing vocalist, Keith Relf, who died just 33. David Cassidy : 'My dream would be to play like Eric Clapton, but I don't have the commitment or talent. Sometimes, though, I sure wish I could make the instrument speak like very few people can. Jeff Beck makes it speak' And now we have to use the past tense.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC02wGj5gPw Many people mourn Jeff Beck today, but he is not the only one great guitarist who's died this week. Thi...

When I was in England last May, I visited charity shops wherever I went. In Swindon, Bath or Sailsbury. Or Marlborough. We share a pssion for them, me and my friend B. We don't have many charity shops in Poland (I wonder why), so for me it was such a great opportunity. I was looking for some collector items for my mum, and for books and records for myself. And judging by old vinyls you can find at English charity shops, DC was really once a huge star there.  So I bought in England - 2 singles from 1985 - 'Romance (Let Your Heart Go)/Romance' and 'The Last Kiss/The Letter', and from the 70s - 'If I Didn't Care/Frozen Noses', 'Looking Thru The Eyes Of Love/Storybook Love' and 'I'll Meet You Halfway/ Breaking Up Is Hard To Do/ I Think I Love You'.  And because of buying them, I discovered a new world, very mysterious and full of traps for naive. The world of the David Cassidy's and Partridge Family's singles.  It started when I w...

  I've had at last some time to listen to those DC's vocals (without instruments) recently published on YT. And I still don't know what to think about them. Of course I don't have to have an opinion on everything regarding DC, but Jane has posted several links on the website FB page, and it looks like a lot of fans enjoyed those tapes. So I gave them a try, and still don't know. This is not a first experiment with TPF'songs and I'm a great fan of John Gomolka's tapes, he altered the original tracks to better reflect David's true voice. That recording for example, is just unbelievable. Everytime I listen to it have goosebumps. Like being with him in the studio. Such a fabulous, irresistible voice.. http://www.davidcassidy.com/fansite/DiscographyPages/I'm%20Here%20You're%20Here_JohnGomolkaVersion.mp3 The music and background singers, they do not interfere with admiring the DC's vocals. Because his voice was the most important instrument in ...

'This is a wonderful rendition of this song. Had never really paid much attention to the words until David sang this'. Someone wrote such a comment a few years ago, and it's so true, I absolutely agree, the same. The way he sang Frosty The Snowman, a popular song wrote in 1950..like it was the most wonderful story in the world, like he thought about each and every word, and probably he did, an actor was singing, young and sensitive, a perfectionist blessed with such a fabulous, magical voice.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5thP8z_SK2g The Partridge Family Christmas Card was released 51 years ago. Who writes Christmas cards in 2022 (I do). That album is like a fabulous card from the world which not exist any more. But of course we still listen to it. Like always with David, the songs are bitter-sweet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BTwalwPTQo There is always that 'touch of blue', sadness, whatever we call it, in many of his songs. Also with those from TPF Christm...

  In October 1973, two David Cassidy's albums were released. One very successful (in the UK), called 'Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes', and that other one, the last Partridge Family's studio album, not successful at all, called 'Bulletin Board'.  'Dreams', the first real DC's recording, his first own album, and 'Bulletin Board'...so different from the previous TPF's records, more mature sound, less pop, more rock, more R&B influenced. More like David's solo album than TPF's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AL8oxCCi-M It's not easy to write about Bulletin Board, because fans have different opinions on it. I think it was a bold attempt to change the sound of TPF, made in very unfavorable cirumstances. Everybody knew that it was probably the last album, the lead singer was tired and burned out, and wasn't on speaking terms with the producer, the album was arranged and produced in fact not by Wes Farrell, but by J...

It's not too soon. Actually the song originally became an instant hit in November 1934. Released at the height of Great Depression, it brought love and light, and that first version included lyrics encouraging listeners to be charitable..Something we should remember about this year too. That Christmas standard was recorded by over 200 artists, including The Partridge Family, the song from  'Christmas Card', released by Bell in ..yes, November 1971. I'm glad the info about it is on Wikipedia. And I'm happy because this is my grandsons' fav Christmas song, and all the neighbours have to listen to us singing with David.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c75EXt38co So it's not too early, just have returned from shopping, and listened for the first time this season to..I'm sure you know what to. Every year the same, and I'm sorry for poor George Michael and his evergreen standard. He wrote it himself  in December 1983. 'Last Christmas' was release...

Since Friday I haven't listened to the David Cassidy's songs. A little bit unusual situation for me. Recently I've had no time for reading at all, so on my flight to London instead headphones I took a book. I was very busy in London. The 5th anniversary. Meeting with other DC's fans. Every night after returning to my hotel I went to bed right away. I didn't turn tv on, even once. But of course we all know all David's recordings by heart, and on my way home this song just started playing in my head https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utV6giIxkcw From 'Crossword Puzzle', the album released in March 1973. The final Partridge Family record to make the album charts, peaked at 167 on Billboard 200, and only for 5 weeks there. Bell Records lost its faith in the group. In 1970, 1971 and 1972 it released as many albums as possible, 7 The Partridge Family's  (including Greatest Hits) and 2 DC's solo albums. As someone wrote :'Bell Records after oversaturat...

One of my favourite. So very uplifiting, performed and sung with such a bravado, I can bet they had a lot of fun recording it, those wonderful experienced musicians : Dennis Budimir, Louie Shelton, Tommy Tedesco, Joe Osborn, Max Bennett, Larry Knechtel, Mike Melvoin, Hal Blaine and that 20 year old boy, for the first time in the recording studio, David Cassidy. This song was recorded on the same day as "I Think I Love You'. On May 16 th, 1970.  DC : ' I was nervous. I didn't want to screw up or cause problems for all these pros who had no idea who I was. We'd be chatting and I'd hear some voice on the loudspeaker saying, 'Could you please ask the singer, whatever his name is, to shut up?' Or we'd start to do a take and some voice would request, 'Can you ask the singer not to slow down?', or 'Can you ask the singer not to rush?' I was totally overwhelmed by the experience." (David Cassidy : Could It Be Forever?, 2007) Only Dennis...

And yes, I know it was recorded by The Partridge Family. Recently I found out that some fans take my words very literally, so.. 51 years ago, in September 1971 this extraordinary album peaked at # 9 on the Billboard 100 chart, and stayed there for 35 weeks. The single from it, 'I Woke Up In Love This Morning / Twenty-Four Hours A Day' was also a hit, peaked at #13. The song from the side B has a special place in my heart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1cfYEviQVE All the songs with hit potential, I've read only today that it was originally titled 'The New Partridge Family Album', but was renamed just prior to release. It should have had quite another title, maybe, 'The Real And Fabulous David Cassidy'. I'm joking, but it was the first album with the DC's real voice. David Cassidy : 'In his opinion (Wes Farrell's) my voice had too much power. He wanted my voice to sound light and young and airy. He didn't want any character in it. (..) W...

One of my fav TPF's song (I write that statement so many times), but I really mean it. Wrote by an outstanding songwriter, Mark James (born in 1940). He wrote for Elvis 'Suspicious Minds'. 'Where Do We Go From Here', a song from that amazing last The Partridge Family album, 'Bulletin Board', released nearly 49 years ago, in October 1973. Also at the same time the David Cassidy's third solo album was released too. His first without Wes Farrell. For him it was the end of being Keith Partridge. He was almost free. 'Where do we go? Where do we go from here?' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dreVCZhvbk Of course it is a very sad song, about the end of love, but I've thought about it because we nearly finish our  project for the David Cassidy Official Website, 'TPF Episode Synopsis'. We started in July last year, 96 episodes and only 9 left. 2 for me to write, and 7..I don't know, some fans volunteered to write the synopsis for those le...

I know nothing about Steve Dossick, but he wrote one of my fav TPF's songs. Btw I think it's time for me to buy myself the wonderful Johnny Ray Miller's book , 'When We're Singin''. Shipping to Poland is..expensive, more than the book itself, but I really want to have it, and there is no other way to get it. The must have for me for sure.  So let's listen to this amazing song, recorded by the 20 year old David Cassidy. He was so young, but we can hear that he already knew that 'lovers and friends will come and go like a wind and there's nothin' any man can do..'. The song from  Season 1, Episode 2, ' The Sound Of Money', aired on October 2, 1970. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub5S8g8Hk1U How I wish to know what Wes Farrell really had thought in 1970 about David. A lot of things can be written about Wes, but first of all he was a great professional and had a real passion for making music. The songs he chose or wrote or co-wrote, ...

or 'The Partridge Family's episode I've never seen'. 'Maid In San Pueblo'. I saw it only yesterday. So the song first..   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRN792lClEg How to put it..Not very suitable for Chris or Tracey, or the PF's young audience. David's interpretation of The 5th Dimension's hit from 1969 is very sensual. His voice like melted honey. Wonderful, but not for kids. Anyway this recording was never released on vinyl. Let's listen to The 5th Dimension. The arrangment and vocals from another era.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O61xIdRTTDQ But how did it happen that I watched that episode only yesterday? I got the whole TPF's collection 4 years ago as a present. It was so extraordinary, so generous, and very unexpected. I felt like a little girl who got on Christmas the largest doll house in the world.. I just couldn't believe it. So for a few days I was too overwhelmed to actually watch them. At last I decided to start, from ...

I'm a little disappointed after my yesterday's blog about the Music Walk of Fame in London. So much work, some talking first with Sharron, the first draft wasn't good, I was carried away a little bit and wrote a kind of fairy tale about David (funny really), later  gathering all that info, writing again and it wasn't easy, and the result -  just 2 persons more who signed the petition..I'm sure there are more David's fans than 666..Or maybe others don't believe he will ever get such recognition.. And of course there are fans who don't understand why  DC should be remembered. I know such fans, English ones. :  'It was half a century ago..In the 70s you weren't interested in music played in the 20s Weronika, and now you want people start listening to DC again?' 'I know there will not be new fans, but he should be more known, more appreciated  I don't like when people say  : 'David Cassidy? First heard'. Or even worse  - 'Davi...

I don't know how it's possible but it's June again..  'I feel the sunlight on my face..' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtAv3gY8iLo And since I've become an avid DC's fan, June is my personal Tony's Romeo month. He died in June, on the 23rd, in 1995. At the age of 56. I'm afraid that he always be a kind of mysterious figure for me, even that I still trying to find something more about him. I've checked The Cowsills website, and it seems they have nothing really to say about him. But they've included Tony's obituary from the Sunday Gazette (June 25, 1995) with some info.  Before working for TPF, he wrote two hits, 'Indian Lake' for The Cowsills and 'I'm Gonna Make You Mind' for Lou Christie. I've listened to them..once is enough. They lack sth for me. Yes, young David Cassidy's voice. In David, Tony's found the perfect interpretator for his songs.. And I've discovered sth strange when I wanted to post a...

It's always hard..a day after..whatever it is. Even after happy events like weddings or winning something. I'm a huge tennis fan and recently a brilliant number 1 tennis player Ash Barty has resigned. Because she's won everything she's ever wanted. Barty is only 25.  Or when I finished my book about DC in 2018. I was so happy but also sad..what next? That's the question..What are we going to do now? Maybe let's listen to DC. I always search for inspiration ..or hope in his music. Yes, 'Blind Hope' seems an obvious choice, but I sing today (to myself) another song.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dreVCZhvbk For such a long time we've been talking about it, preparing, thinking - going or not going, marked out months, later days, hours..and now the goal has been achieved and some fans are already at home and some on their way or leave soon. Wendy Copeland (a fellow fan) wrote - 'I didn't want the day to end'. But everything has its end. An...

  It's not a mistake.. I've written many times how fabulous, unique singer David Cassidy was. How an outstanding live performer. About his acting career. The kind of a man he was. About his struggles, ups and downs. His fans, in the past and what are we do everyday for his legacy. But I think I haven't written enough about David Cassidy a songwriter. And what a shame he didn't write more. The people he worked with during TPF's years, creme de la creme of the LA session musicians, absolutely the best, many of them were also known music producers and songwriters. Those great professionals genuinely liked that kid, David Cassidy. They appreciated his talent, they wanted to do everything to help him, to teach him. And DC was a very quick learner and he could use the things he was taught.It was like going to the best music academy. And very quickly, in spite of being very busy, he started writing songs himself. DC : 'During the four years I was recording The Partridg...

Neil Sedaka has birthday today. Born in 1937, in New York. 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do' was his great number 1 hit in 1962, A real pop classic. A woldwide hit. An evergreen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbad22CKlB4 Of course I knew that song in the 70s, when I was a teen ..but at the time I thought Neil Sedaka was someone from another  era, very old and forgotten, and you know..I wasn't interested in such music. And I had no idea about The Partridge Family's cover of course.  Many years passed, and around 2010 I rediscovered Neil Sedaka. It's a little bit complicated and not many people know about it, but it was because of Neil and his album called 'Solitaire', that in 1972 one of my favourite bands was formed - 10cc. Neil Sedaka recorded that album in the famous Strawberry Studios, in Stockport, England. And he recorded it with the future 10cc members (they worked there, and Eric Stewart was a co-founder and co-owner of Strawberry Studios). The album was ...