Come on Get Happy!: The Very Best of Partridge Family

by The Partridge Family

Overview

The Partridge Family don't get much respect from the standard history of rock from the early '70s. Much like their fellow made-for-TV brethren the Monkees, their contributions are written off as pre-fab concoctions that are too trifling to be bothered with. If you fall in line with that kind of thinking you are going to miss one of the best pop acts of the era. Utilizing the cream of behind-the-scenes songwriters from Neil Sedaka to Hot Chocolate's Errol Brown, and the lush vocal harmonies of the uncredited (at the time) background singers, the Partridge Family's songs are solid AM pop, with hooks galore and a light but not saccharine sound. Add to that the excellent (and under-rated) vocals of David Cassidy and you have some top-notch disposable pop that has stood the test of time. Come On Get Happy! The Very Best of the Partridge Family replaces the 1989's decent Greatest Hits and streamlines 2001's Definitive Collection by taking away all the David Cassidy solo tracks. The bulk of the songs here appear on both those collections, though, including their smash hit "I Think I Love You" plus other gems like "Echo Valley 2-6809" and "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Loved." The collection also includes four previously unreleased tracks, two of which ("Together (Havin' a Ball)" and "Let the Good Times In") appeared in the show's first episode and were sung not by Cassidy but by Ron Hicklin, a member of the backing vocal crew. The other two feature Cassidy and are as good as any of their hits, "Baby I Love, Love, I Love You" is particularly fun. Whether the unreleased four songs belong on a" Very Best Of" collection is up for debate: On one hand it might have been better to add more songs that people remembered. but on the other it is nice to have the rarities unearthed. Either way, this is the best Partridge Family collection available. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	05/03/2005
Label:	Arista / Bmg / Sony Music
UPC:	0886978780621
Rank:	33683

Tracks

1. Come On Get Happy
2. I Think I Love You
3. I Woke Up in Love This Morning
4. Baby I Love, Love, I Love You
5. Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque
6. I Can Feel Your Heartbeat
7. Echo Valley 2-6809
8. Sunshine
9. Let the Good Times In
10. Stephanie
11. I'll Meet You Halfway
12. Together (Havin' a Ball)
13. Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted
14. Looking Through the Eyes of Love
15. It's One of Those Nights (Yes Love)
16. Roller Coaster
17. Together We're Better

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Partridge Family   Primary Artist
George Bohanon   Horn,Trombone
Jim Hughart   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Max Bennett   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Joe Osborn   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Louie Shelton   Guitar
Jim Gordon   Drums
Ron Hicklin   Vocals (Background)
Michael Omartian   Keyboards
Mike Melvoin   Piano,Keyboards
Bob Hardaway   Saxophone
Brendan Cahill   Bass,Guitar
Al Casey   Guitar,Guitar
Lenny Malaisky   Strings
Don Peake   Bass
Joe Osborne   Bass
Tom Bahler   Horn,Vocals (Background)
Stan Farber   Vocals (Background)
Shirley Jones   Vocals
Ben Benay   Guitar
Larry Muhoberac   Keyboards
Bill Perkins   Saxophone
Chuck Findley   Horn
Larry Carlton   Guitar
Jackie Ward   Vocals (Background)
Larry Knechtel   Piano,Keyboards
Donald Peake   Guitar
Dean Parks   Guitar
Lincoln Mayorga   Keyboards
Richard Bennett   Guitar
Lew McCreary   Trombone
John Bahler   Vocals (Background)
Mike Anthony   Guitar
David Cassidy   Vocals
Tommy Tedesco   Guitar
Hal Blaine   Drums
Gary Coleman   Percussion
Louis Shelton   Guitar
Jackie Kelso   Saxophone
Joe Porcaro   Percussion
Dennis Budimir   Bass,Guitar

Technical Credits

Wes Farrell   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Rhythm Arrangements
Ron Hicklin   Vocal Arrangement
Mike Melvoin   Arranger,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Al Schmitt   Producer
Russell Brown   Composer
Howard Fritzon   Art Direction
Kathy Cooper   Composer
Lawrence Russell Brown   Composer
Danny Janssen   Composer
Richard Klein   Composer
Mandana Eidgah   Project Director
Lenny Malaisky   Leader
Detchapat Arttasan   Design
Don Peake   Arranger
Winston Wong   Assistant Engineer
Abe Velez   Packaging Manager
Errol Brown   Composer
Ken Jacobson   Composer
Tom Bahler   Vocal Arrangement
Gerry Goffin   Composer
Steve Douglas   Producer
Shorty Rogers   Leader,Composer
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
Bobby Hart   Composer
Ken Sharp   Liner Notes
Kenny Jacobson   Composer
Kelly Gordon   Composer
Irwin Levine   Composer
Jackie Ward   Vocal Arrangement
Chris Theis   Mixing
Tony Romeo   Composer
Tony Wilson   Composer
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Donald Peake   Arranger
Jim Cretecos   Composer
Rob Santos   Compilation Producer
Mark James   Composer
Neil Sedaka   Composer
Rupert Holmes   Composer
John Bahler   Arranger,Vocal Arrangement
Mike Appel   Composer
David Price   Composer
Bob Kovach   Engineer
Billy Strange   Arranger
Barry Mann   Composer
Carole Bayer Sager   Composer
Vic Anesini   Mastering
John Henning   Composer