Partridge Family record albums - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lee G · 01-31-2008, 11:58 AM

Thought I would open this thread to discuss the record albums themselves, I am more familiar with those rather than the TV show episodes. I have the albums basically divided into four groups. The first three, christmas album, albums five and six, then seven and eight.

Partridge Family Album, Up To Date, Sound Magazine. These three albums are the classic ones, the first album while a little uneven is very strong for a debut. Up To Date firmly established the Partridge sound, another solid album although maybe a tad unremarkable. Sound Magazine is clearly the best of the three, nearly a perfect album in my opinion. If a person is going to own just one Partridge Family album, Sound Magazine is the one to have. 11 melodic, inspired songs. In these early Partridge albums, the harpsichord is the signature instrument and is what makes the music unique and so enjoyable.

Christmas Album. This one is a bit of a disappointment. There are two great songs, Tony Romeo's My Christmas Card To You and the Partridge's version of Rockin Around The Christmas Tree is the best version of that song I have heard. Other than that, it's your ordinary run of the mill dime a dozen christmas record. Nothing terrible, nothing special. David Cassidy's version of Blue Christmas will put you to sleep after a couple minutes. But the bluesy version of Frosty The Snowman is unique and comes off rather well. Sleigh Ride isn't bad either. The album is a mixed bag, some songs work well and others not so well. But overall, this album signaled the downward trend and was a sign of things to come.

Shopping Bag and Notebook. This is where the Partridge music started sounding flat and stale. That signature harpsichord is heard less frequent, replaced with horns. And the songs tend to sound the same, unremarkable, unmemorable melodies. Since the Partridge fad was so hot, they were under pressure to make more albums and it starts to show here. The music sounds tired and uninspired. Shopping Bag does contain the last real classic Partridge song, It's One Of Those Nights/Yes Love. In my opinion, this song was the Partridges last hurrah, although there was more music still to come. Notebook is just a further step down from Shopping Bag.

Crossword Puzzle and Bulletin Board. The Partridge fad was on the way out by the time these records were made, to be honest I don't even remember seeing these two albums for sale at the stores. Crossword Puzzle is probably the worst Partridge album, maybe a couple fairly decent songs. They did come back a little with Bulletin Board, a slightly better album so at least they went out on a higher note.

OH Nuts! · 02-02-2008, 10:47 PM

Gotta be honest I was never a big fan of the PF's singing. They were OK, but The Cowsills, the family the show was based on, were IMO vastly more talented--even if not as commercially successful.

The series was OK, some good eps some not so, but overall didn't esp. rock my world. For me the high point was Shirley, who is a great actress,very pretty and did a marvelous job in Elmer Gantry.

Lee G · 02-03-2008, 11:03 AM

I'm not too familiar with the Partridge Family episodes, what I have seen I wasn't too impressed. But the first three record albums are classic early 70's pop music, David Cassidy and Shirley Jones backed by studio musicians.

01-31-2008, 11:58 AM	#1
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	Partridge Family record albums Thought I would open this thread to discuss the record albums themselves, I am more familiar with those rather than the TV show episodes. I have the albums basically divided into four groups. The first three, christmas album, albums five and six, then seven and eight. Partridge Family Album, Up To Date, Sound Magazine. These three albums are the classic ones, the first album while a little uneven is very strong for a debut. Up To Date firmly established the Partridge sound, another solid album although maybe a tad unremarkable. Sound Magazine is clearly the best of the three, nearly a perfect album in my opinion. If a person is going to own just one Partridge Family album, Sound Magazine is the one to have. 11 melodic, inspired songs. In these early Partridge albums, the harpsichord is the signature instrument and is what makes the music unique and so enjoyable. Christmas Album. This one is a bit of a disappointment. There are two great songs, Tony Romeo's My Christmas Card To You and the Partridge's version of Rockin Around The Christmas Tree is the best version of that song I have heard. Other than that, it's your ordinary run of the mill dime a dozen christmas record. Nothing terrible, nothing special. David Cassidy's version of Blue Christmas will put you to sleep after a couple minutes. But the bluesy version of Frosty The Snowman is unique and comes off rather well. Sleigh Ride isn't bad either. The album is a mixed bag, some songs work well and others not so well. But overall, this album signaled the downward trend and was a sign of things to come. Shopping Bag and Notebook. This is where the Partridge music started sounding flat and stale. That signature harpsichord is heard less frequent, replaced with horns. And the songs tend to sound the same, unremarkable, unmemorable melodies. Since the Partridge fad was so hot, they were under pressure to make more albums and it starts to show here. The music sounds tired and uninspired. Shopping Bag does contain the last real classic Partridge song, It's One Of Those Nights/Yes Love. In my opinion, this song was the Partridges last hurrah, although there was more music still to come. Notebook is just a further step down from Shopping Bag. Crossword Puzzle and Bulletin Board. The Partridge fad was on the way out by the time these records were made, to be honest I don't even remember seeing these two albums for sale at the stores. Crossword Puzzle is probably the worst Partridge album, maybe a couple fairly decent songs. They did come back a little with Bulletin Board, a slightly better album so at least they went out on a higher note.
	Last edited by Lee G; 02-02-2008 at 08:57 AM.

02-02-2008, 10:47 PM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Gotta be honest I was never a big fan of the PF's singing. They were OK, but The Cowsills, the family the show was based on, were IMO vastly more talented--even if not as commercially successful. The series was OK, some good eps some not so, but overall didn't esp. rock my world. For me the high point was Shirley, who is a great actress,very pretty and did a marvelous job in Elmer Gantry.

02-03-2008, 11:03 AM	#3
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	I'm not too familiar with the Partridge Family episodes, what I have seen I wasn't too impressed. But the first three record albums are classic early 70's pop music, David Cassidy and Shirley Jones backed by studio musicians.