Customer Reviews

Come On Get Happy! The Very Best Of The Partridge Family

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Of the handful of Partridge Family compilations that have appeared over the past decade or so, this release is the clear winner! While the pristine remastering and informative new liner notes are selling points in their own right, it is the superb track selection that makes C'MON GET HAPPY truly outstanding -- for here we have, for the first time, the two sonically exciting and highly sought-after songs from the premiere episode ("Together" and "Let the Good Times In"), which are among the "Holy Grails" for PF fans, as well as two more unreleased tracks, plus the gutsy "Roller Coaster" from the elusive BILLBOARD album. Of course, the requisite hits ("I Think I Love You," "I'll Meet You Halfway," etc.) are here, too, as are lesser-known, first-rate gems such as "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" and "Together We're Better." Arista and Sony have hit a homerun with this release. Essential!

Come On Get Happy! The Very Best of the Partridge Family is a pretty good CD of some of their greatest hits. Sure, some may argue that a song or two was left out but overall this is a strong single CD compilation. The quality of the sound is very good and the artwork is really nicely done.

The CD starts with the title track, "Come On Get Happy." They sing this very well and their harmonizing is excellent. This sure brings back many memories from my childhood days! This song makes me remember the days when I would turn on the television to watch the episodes of their television show and I liked the show when I was a kid. "I Think I Love You" is definitely one of their greatest hits ever. They sing and play this with panache; David Cassidy sings very well; and the song has great modulations between major and minor keys to make it sound even prettier. I think that's a harpsichord in the musical arrangement; and it all works very well. "I Woke Up In Love This Morning" celebrates the joys of falling in love with your one true love. David Cassidy sings this with passion, heart and soul. The guitar work and the percussion sure does work to make this number shine; and it's quite a strong pop hit from back in the day.

"Baby I Love, Love, I Love You" has a very pretty arrangement and they sing and play this with all their heart and soul. "Baby I Love, Love, I Love You" features this group front and center--and that's quite all right by me! In addition, "Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque" truly does showcase David Cassidy's vocal talents and he aces this number quite easily. He was talented! "Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque" is another highlight of this fine album.

"Sunshine" has a relentlessly upbeat, bouncy flavor to it that will make bubblegum and soft pop lovers happy everywhere! "Sunshine" features the greatness of The Partridge Family and that's terrific. "Let The Good Times In" is another bouncy, upbeat melody that really makes you appreciate the fine music of The Partridge Family--they truly WERE talented. In addition, "I'll Meet You Halfway" is a stunning number and it's probably my favorite song on the entire album. What a moving arrangement--I love every minute of "I'll Meet You Halfway."

"Together (Havin' A Ball)" is classic Partridge Family music; and listen for "Looking Through The Eyes Of Love." "Looking Through The Eyes Of Love" is a charming ballad that holds its own very well. "Roller Coaster" features David Cassidy really opening up to make his mark on this excellent number; and the CD ends well with The Partridge Family performing "Together We're Better." "Together We're Better" is another upbeat tune with a strong arrangement and it makes the perfect ending for this CD.

The Partridge Family entered our lives with some incredible music. Fans of this group will love this CD; and people who like bubblegum pop music will enjoy this CD, too.

Over the years since it's birth in 1970, there have been several greatest hits packages for the Partridge Family, but now in celebration of it's 35th anniversary, Arista/Legacy has seen fit to release "C'mon Get Happy: The Very Best Of The Partridge Family" CD to coincide with its sister company's release of "The Partridge Family: Season One" DVD set. All I can say is: It's about time! Together, in it's newly remastered form, are seventeen of the Partridge's favorite tomes including four previously unreleased songs and one song "Roller Coaster" that to date has not seen CD format. Sadly, Arista has not released the final Partridge LP "Bulletin Board" from their final season, much to the lament of Partridge addicts and I think it is high time that this LP comes to surface. Although this package includes the many-times-over remastered hits such as the Partridge best known anthem "I Think I Love You" as well as hits "I Woke Up In Love This Morning", "Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque", "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat", "Echo Valley 2-6809", "I'll Meet You Halfway", "Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted", "Looking Through The Eyes Of Love",and "It's One Of Those Nights (Yes Love)" it also includes less heard favorites such as the theme song "C'mon Get Happy" which kicks off the CD into high gear, and fan favorites "Sunshine" and "Together We're Better". Sounds great for the casual collector of 70s paraphenalia, right? Well, for the Partridge fan-atics it ALSO includes never before released gems "Baby I Love, Love, I Love You", and breathtakingly clear versions of "Stephanie", "Let The Good Times In",and "Together (Havin' A Ball)"! This is destined to become a favorite for fans and collector's alike. Although some of the other oft-sought classics from their first season and following seasons are still missing here, one can only hope that with the success of this collection, Arista will see fit to gamble on further sets of previously unreleased Partridge tunes. As for those detractors out there.....eat your heart out! These tunes are still well loved and are as popular as ever. Here, in all their glory, 35 years later, the Partridges have never failed to make me "C'mon Get Happy". A must for all Partridge fans, this set is finally one step forward in bringing this classic 70s family's music to light! The music is timeless, the harmonies are tight and beautifully reproduced here! Thank you Arista/Legacy for making my day! I don't want to sound ungrateful....but when will we see MORE????

There have been many "greatest hits" collections of the famed TV group -- but truly, this collection is "the very best" of the Partridge Family, and it includes several previously unreleased tracks. The pure joy of the two songs that were prominently featured in the premiere episode, LET THE GOOD TIMES IN (which is actually a revised, expanded version of the Love Generation's first version) and TOGETHER, is delightful to experience for this first time on this CD. And ROLLER COASTER, from the still-unreleased BULLETIN BOARD album, is an excellent example of how David Cassidy evolved into quite a rock stylist. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Wow! Does this CD take me back. I remember watching the 1st episode when it first aired and hearing Together - Havin A Ball, & Let The Good Times In. Catchy tunes. Now, if you could only see me now; 35 years later, driving to work with my CD cranked up in my Ford Expedition singing these 2 songs on my way to work. Oh Yeah... Together! Havin A Ball and Let The Good Times In!

Guess I'm to old to pretend be Chris now. Banging away on boxes & coffee cans with Mom's chopsticks. The other kids using tennis racquetts at guitar & bass, my sister using the banana seat on my bike as keyboards and a frisbee for a tamborine.

TJ

Although there have already been a couple of Partridge Family Greatest Hits CDs issued, this is one amazing collection! Yes, the biggest PF hits are all here, as well as a few songs that may not have actually been hits but were particularly memorable from the show ("Together We're Better", "Echo Valley 2-6809", "Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque" and "Sunshine"). What really sets this collection apart is the inclusion of four songs from the show that have NEVER appeared on a PF record in any way, shape or form until now.

So after all these years we FINALLY have...

"Let The Good Times In" and "Together (Havin' A Ball)": the two bouncy songs from the memorable pilot episode, recorded before the discovery of David Cassidy and his musical talents; considering how long these tracks have languished in the vaults they sound phenomenal on this CD.

"Baby I Love, Love, I Love You": from the third episode. I'm guessing that this was among the very first songs recorded by the sessions musicians with David Cassidy on lead vocals. The track sounds like a not-quite-finished song (which may be the reason why it's never been available commercially before) and the vocals seem slightly speeded-up, otherwise it's sonically crisp and clear.

"Stephanie": from the final episode of Season 1 (with Bobby Sherman and Wes Stern). Enjoyable musical selection that was also featured in an earlier episode with totally different lyrics ("All Of The Things" a/k/a "Good Times Are Comin' To Me"... maybe a future release will include that version).

This collection also features the first CD appearance of "Roller Coaster" (from the last PF season and their final, long out-of-print album, THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY BULLETIN BOARD -- what's the holdup with THIS album seeing the light of day on CD???!!!). I think I speak for a lot of PF fans who are thrilled that these songs are finally available to us (aside from their appearance during the TV series), and it's evident that great care has been taken with the original masters, so perhaps we'll get to hear some of the other songs that have never been available before (would really love to see Shirley Jones' featured leads on "The Whale Song" and "Ain't Love Easy" on a future issue!), as well as that elusive BULLETIN BOARD album... we can all hope!!!

What a great CD! I remember taping the show's songs with my portable cassette recorder so I could listen to them when I went to sleep. This one sounds great and includes the two songs I loved the most when I was little, "Together" and "Let The Good Times In". All the other hits are here and are as fun as ever to listen to. While not a fanatic about the Partridge Family, it's great to introduce great Top 40 songs to my 10, 5, and 4 year olds. They think they are great...and you will too!

As other reviewers have noted, this CD is essential for Partridge Family fans simply for the inclusion of "Let The Good Times In" and "Together (Havin' A Ball)." Both of those songs are part of the spirit of the initial season of the show and would have fit comfortably on the group's first LP, "The Partridge Family Album." The producers of the CD, as other reviewers have indicated (what a smart lot!), missed a great opportunity to include the theme song from the television show's first season, "When We're Singing!" - which has NEVER been issued on any Partridge Family CD. Why this was NOT included is almost inexcusable - particulary when the CD's release coincided with the DVD release of the first season. "C'mon, Get Happy," which opens this collection, has been available for years on multiple Partridge Family CD offerings. Still, I must give full praise to this compilation; the producers are clearly moving in the right direction with this release. I think a CD of outtakes, remaining unreleased songs, and song variations would be a great idea! I know I'm part of that market that would snatch it up!

On the 35th Anniversary of The Partridge Family mania on TV and Music stores, comes the DVD of the first season with bonus extras including a wasted CD with 4 overused PF tracks (a false insentive). Coinciding with the release of the DVD is this compilation titled appropriately Come On Get Happy: The Very Best Of The Partridge Family. One would think that all of the Best would be here. Most of the best is. What separates this compilation from the others is that it includes the previously unreleased material from the first season and episodes, Let The Good Times In (written by Carole Bayer Sager & Neil Sedaka), Together, Baby I Love, Love, I Love You and Stephanie (which, BTW was the same song as All Of The Things with different lyrics).

While most fans will be happy for these songs and the first time on CD release for Roller Coaster from Bulletin Board (their last LP), it also has at least 1 song from each LP they recorded (excluding the Christmas album for obvious reasons). Sunshine, from Crossword Puzzle, (another overlooked LP before Bulletin Board) is here. The other chart hits are here as well including the LP "should-have-been singles" hits, I Can Feel Your Heartbeat & Echo Valley 2-6809. 17 tracks in all, an odd number. Why not round it off to 20 and include the At Home With Their Greatest Hit top 40 cover hit of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do?

As well as the top 40 hit Am I Losing You and UK top 10 hit Walking In The Rain. OK..OK make it 21 and throw in their last charted hit Friend And A Lover! There...now THAT would be the Very Best Of.

Maybe they should have come out with a CD titled "When We're Singin'" and include all their previously unreleased material from all of the seasons, using the original theme as the openning track. Since this CD is doing so well on Amazon sales in the Top 100, maybe that thought might have made it to the Top 50!

In 35 more years I will hopefully be dead and wont be able to relive my youth as I have with this CD/DVD combo release. I appreciate what has been done, but wish it was complete.

Finally, a PF compilation with the two numbers from the pilot that got us all hooked... bravi to Arista and Sony/BMG for finally releasing these... I recommend this cd to anyone who remembers how fun these songs are and how talented all the musicians were who put these songs together... amazing.