Partridge Family

[dlew919]

Caught up with some old episodes on a streaming channel. Some thoughts, from least relevant (to here) to most relevant.

1) was there a better child comic at the time than Danny Bonaduce? He was a natural talent. David Cassidy and Susan Dey were terrific, but Danny had a natural comic timing.
2) the kids were real finds - even the younger ones.
3) Shirley jones should have sung more leads. Only her and David are on the records
4) the songs are excellent examples of early 70s bubblegum pop. You can hear the so called wrecking crew.
5) instrument porn. Lots of Gibson stuff, Hammond, Gretsch drum kits, Gretsch guitars.

 

[bumnote]

was there a better child comic at the time than Danny Bonaduce? He was a natural talent.

No....and I'd be hard pressed to think of a better one even today.
He really was great in the role and being paired with Dave Madden was arguably the main draw of the show beyond a teen heartthrob. Madden used to take Bonaduce home to his house during filming so Danny could avoid the abuse he suffered at home.

 

[haggardfan1]

I always liked it. Still catch reruns on TV now and then, the cast chemistry, storylines, and humor have aged pretty well IMO.

Sure enjoy all the gear they used too. It was a great show.

 

[rcole_sooner]

I watched it ... maybe in syndication .. not sure ... think it was after school ... but maybe on weekends.

I never thought of it as great, but I never thought it or the people involved were untalented.

I follow him on Twitter. Usually has some cool posts.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

I’m so old I remember seeing it first run, but then I had to go to bed at 9.

Brady bunch at 8 o’clock, partridge family at 8:30 on Friday nights.

I remember everyone had a crush on Laurie and I remember the episode where her braces were getting radio stations, so she was singing out of tune on stage.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I love what Stu Hamm said about Danny, he was a great bassist because he managed to play those lines without moving outta 1st position...

 

[dlew919]

really was great in the role and being paired with Dave Madden was arguably the main draw of the show beyond a teen heartthrob

Brilliant chemistry. And Danny still speaks highly of both Dave and Shirley in looking out for him.

 

[Silent Otto]

Of course Shirley Jones was a pretty big Hollywierd star in her day. A real beauty with a beautiful voice.


I was looking for an arrangement of their theme song for acoustic, and fell into the hole of watching a few episodes the other day, the pilot and one with Richard Pryor.
We were seventies kids and saw it back in the day, along with Brady Bunch and reruns of the Monkees. We soooo wanted to tour in a funky bus and have cool parents like Mike & Carol.

 

[dlew919]

the pilot and one with Richard Pryor

And Lou gossett was also in the episode with Richard Pryor. Keith had just written an ‘African song' so they could play it at the gig at the club….

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I loved that show! I was 12 or 13

 

[GGardner]

I always thought young Susan Dey was cast because she resembled Michelle Phillips.

 

[FendrGuitPlayr]

John Cowsill is still out there playing.

John Jorgenson (Hellecasters/Desert Rose Band/Elton John...) and John Cowsill (Yes that Cowsills band) before jamming.

 

[kennl]

5) instrument porn. Lots of Gibson stuff, Hammond, Gretsch drum kits, Gretsch guitars.

I actually thought that show was one big Ovation ad.
Only place I ever saw their amps

 

[wabashslim]

My gripe with TPF was making the electric harpsichord their signature sound, thereby rendering it unsuitable for any more serious music that followed. The Left Banke made good use of it during their short run of Baroque-rock, and would "Because" have been the same without it? But after so many "C'mon get happy"s that sound was just too associated with the bubblegum-training bra set.

P.S. I speak as one who was already a grown man during TPF's first run and got some good use out of my RMI Electra-Piano's Harpsi button - I even learned & played that theme for my stepkids who appreciated it much more than I did...

 

[bumnote]

And Lou gossett was also in the episode with Richard Pryor. Keith had just written an ‘African song' so they could play it at the gig at the club….

I honestly don't remember that episode....the song starts around 19:30. It's a....an attempt.
Replace Lou with Rudy Ray Moore and you would have had one the greatest episodes of a sitcom ever.

 

[uriah1]

Sort of like the Cowsills

 

[wabashslim]

I’m so old I remember seeing it first run, but then I had to go to bed at 9.

I remember everyone had a crush on Laurie and I remember the episode where her braces were getting radio stations, so she was singing out of tune on stage.

Now that you're a little older you should check her out in Michael Crichton's "Looker". It might still send you to bed at 9...

"OK, perverts!"

 

[dkmw]

Shirley Jones won a best supporting actress Oscar for her work in the 1960 film
Elmer Gantry.

If you watch that movie you’ll never see The Partridge Family the same again

 

[bumnote]

Shirley Jones won a best supporting actress Oscar for her work in the 1960 film
Elmer Gantry.

If you watch that movie you’ll never see The Partridge Family the same again

Or explain the large family where only the two oldest kids look related.

 

[burntfrijoles]

arguably the main draw of the show

It was Susan Dey for me. .