The Partridge Family

In November of 2003, American cable TV network VH1 announced plans to create an updated version of the show. The new Partridge Family cast was decided in the vein of The Monkees meets American Idol; the audition episodes started airing in the summer of 2004. A subsequent album Portrait of the Artist as a Young Ram achieved little success. The show was cancelled after 96 episodes; during the four years of the television run ten Partridge Family albums were released. Despite the controversy, the song reached number 18 on the singles charts in 1977 in the US and top ten in Australia while the Ram Jam album reached top 40. The Partridge Family television show lasted for four years until David Cassidy, a reluctant teen idol who was actively pursuing a solo career, decided he did not want play the role of Keith Partridge any more. The song caused quite a stir with the NAACP and CORE calling for a boycott due to the lyrics. Ironically, the song was first recorded by blues artist Leadbelly. His follow-up single, "I Woke Up In Love This Morning", released in 1971, was a slower seller but was still a very popular title. Ram Jam decided to rerecord the song with producers Jerry Kasenatz and Jeff Katz, best-known for their work with The Ohio Express and Buddah Records.

The lead singer, actor David Cassidy, solidified his growing teen idol status with that recording. Bartlett had also been a member of "Starstruck", a Cincinnati band which had recorded a song called "Black Betty" which had achieved little success. The album which followed reached number four on the Billboard magazine album chart. Bill Bartlett was formerly lead guitarist for bubblegum group the Lemon Pipers while Blauvett played with Billy Joel in two bands the Hassles and El Primo. The Partridge Family's biggest recorded hit came in 1970 with the number one hit song "I Think I Love You" (lyrics (http://www.superseventies.com/sl_ithinkiloveyou.html)). Its members were Bill Bartlett (guitar), Pete Charles (drums) Myke Scavone (lead singer) and Howey Arthur Blauvett. Even though the only singers were Shirley Jones and David Cassidy, and none of the television characters actually played their instruments, people did buy the albums and the Partridge Family became a phenomenon. Ram Jam is the name of a 1970s rock band.

As it had with the Monkees, the production company capitalized on the success of the show by releasing a series of albums featuring the music of the "group". Golden Classics (1996). The show was produced for ABC by Screen Gems television, which had also made The Monkees, another show about a fictional music group. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Ram (1978). The story was loosely based around The Cowsills, who were a real singing family. Ram Jam (album) (1977). Dave Madden played Reuben Kincaid, who was their manager and booked all their tours.

Susan Dey played Laurie, Danny Bonaduce played Danny, Jeremy Gelbwaks (later replaced by Brian Forster) played Chris and Suzanne Crough played Tracy Partridge. The show starred Shirley Jones as mother Shirley Partridge and David Cassidy as Keith Partridge. The series originally ran from 1970 until 1974 on the ABC television network, with many subsequent runs in syndication. The Partridge Family was an American television sitcom about a widowed mother and her five children who traveled around in a very colorful bus to different venues to perform songs.

World of the Partridge Family. Bulletin Board. Crossword Puzzle. The Partridge Family Notebook.

At Home With Their Greatest Hits. Shopping Bag. Christmas Card. Sound Magazine.

Up To Date. The Partridge Family Album.