📰 The Partridge Family – Article: Feb. 1971
- David Cassidy
- Feb 12, 1971
- 2 min read
A short New Musical Express article comparing the Partridge Family to the Monkees, published February 13, 1971.
📰 Overview
This small New Musical Express article from February 13, 1971 highlights the Partridge Family’s rapid rise in the American charts with their single “I Think I Love You.” The piece draws clear parallels between the group and the Monkees, noting their shared television origins and their appeal to the mainstream pop market. It also outlines the studio‑driven nature of the group’s recordings and the key figures behind their sound.
📰 Source Details
Publication: New Musical Express
Date: February 13, 1971
Issue: Small article
Provenance Notes: Original print edition; part of NME’s early‑1970s pop coverage.
📰 The Story
The article positions the Partridge Family as a modern counterpart to the Monkees, both groups having been created for television and built around a charismatic young male lead. It notes the commercial strength of “I Think I Love You,” which had already made an impact in the American charts and was expected to climb further. The piece also highlights producer Wes Farrell’s role in shaping the group’s sound, drawing on his experience with major pop and R&B artists.
The Partridge Family’s recordings are described as studio‑assembled, with David Cassidy providing lead vocals and Shirley Jones contributing background parts, supported by session musicians. The article closes by noting the group’s strong chart performance in the United States, where their album was riding high at the time.
📰 Key Highlights
Compares the Partridge Family to the Monkees
Notes the success of “I Think I Love You”
Highlights the group’s TV origins and studio‑driven recordings
Mentions producer Wes Farrell’s involvement
Reports strong US chart performance
📰 Visual Archive
New Musical Express article on the Partridge Family, February 1971.
📰 Article Nots
The article notes that the Partridge Family had enjoyed a strong run in the American charts, with their single “I Think I Love You” described as sweet, catchy, and poised to climb higher. Their success is compared directly to the Monkees, with both groups created for television and built around a young actor‑turned‑singer — in this case, David Cassidy, echoing Mickey Dolenz’s role in the Monkees.
Producer Wes Farrell is credited with shaping the group’s sound, drawing on his experience with artists such as Chubby Checker, Timi Yuro, and Dion. On record, the Partridge Family consisted primarily of David Cassidy on lead vocals, with Shirley Jones providing background parts and studio musicians handling the instrumentation and backing vocals. The article concludes by noting that their album was riding high in the US charts at the time.
📰 Related Material
Links to other Chronicle posts
📰 Closing Notes
This short feature captures the Partridge Family at the height of their early success, reflecting the era’s appetite for television‑driven pop acts and the commercial formula that had previously propelled the Monkees to fame.
📰 Sources & Copyright
All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators.
This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only.
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