I’ve written many posts over the years, and I know I mentioned the Partridge Family at least once in previous posts, but here I am, ready to talk about them again. Soon…

The 70s really were my era. I wholeheartedly embrace those years. I became a teenager during that decade, and I still get all mushy inside when I hear certain songs that remind me of those initially ‘uncomfortable’ junior high dances. I was the tallest girl in my class, and it was nearly impossible to find boys tall enough to slow dance with. It wouldn’t have been an issue if I didn’t mind having a boys face eye level with my chest. At that time, I barely had a chest at all, still… A girl had to set standards! Fortunately, their were two boys tall enough to accommodate by long, lanky form. Thank you, Brent and Terry!

I’ve been listening to a lot of 70s music lately, singing my little heart out, right along with the radio. Thanks to a free trial of satellite radio that I received when I got a new ‘used’ car, I found a station that plays only 70s music. Woo-hoo! This girl is dancing again! Not in the car, but I wanted you to understand my enthusiasm.

I’m surprised how many lyrics I remember. Of course, it helped that I sang in several bands for a while that covered some of those songs. There’s just something about a song that lingers in the brain longer than anything else. I’m sure you can recall certain commercial jingles from ‘way back when.’ Somehow, by putting music to words, our brains retain them better. That comes in handy for opera singers!

All that brings me to the Partridge Family. Since I’ve been listening to the 70s station for about three weeks now, during that time, I’ve only heard one Partridge Family song. I Think I Love You. Yes, it was probably their most popular song, but what about Echo Valley 26809? Or Rainmaker? Or how about Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque? (Whew! Can’t believe I spelled that right the first time!) If you’re from my era, you’re probably singing those songs in your head right now. Do you have a favorite?

Granted, the only members of the Partridge Family who actually sang were David Cassidy and Shirley Jones, but still…those records shot up the charts! We should be hearing them on all the ‘golden oldies’ stations.

To my utter joy, I recently discovered reruns of The Partridge Family on Tubi. My husband rolls his eyes when he walks in and hears me singing along with the TV. He’s nine years older than me, and he doesn’t share my passion for ‘my’ decade. He’s a Beatles fan! Oh–and Rod Stewart. I like them, too, but they don’t tug at my heart the way the Partridge Family does. Well, maybe sometimes they do. It just depends on the song.

For a time, I tended to flip on the news when I wanted background noise in the house. I’d even listen to it in the car. I like to stay informed, but listening to so much negativity brought me down. I still keep up with current events, but I’d rather ‘Get Happy!’

The older I get, time has somewhat smooshed together. It’s hard to remember some exact dates, so I don’t recall the year I went to Nashville and saw David Cassidy in concert. It had to have been at least twelve years ago. I felt like a kid again going to that concert. I took an old poster I had of him, hoping for a possible autograph. I was so foolish. I left that concert feeling sorry for the man. Women my age crowded the stage, trying to reach him. I was afraid to get close to that mob, let alone lift my poster and pen toward David. The women acted crazy, and it interrupted his excellent performance. It got so bad that he stopped singing and said something to the effect of, “do you really expect me to go home with you? I’m married, you know.”

It broke my heart that he died so young. I wished I could have told him how much his show inspired me in my youth. I was young and innocent (only eight when the show first aired), and at that time all I knew was that I loved their music. My mother searched all over Seattle to find me a tambourine like Tracy’s. Little did I know that her tambourine didn’t actually jingle. It makes sense to me now. They lip-synced after all, and they couldn’t have the sound of an off-tempo tambourine messing things up. Still, I believed it was real back then, and that’s what mattered. A friend and I would put her record-player speakers outside her front door, and we’d stand on her porch and sing along to the Partridge Family. I’d play that tambourine like there was no tomorrow and belt out the words to the songs. I still have the tambourine, but it sits idle. I tried to play it when I was singing with the band, Jambeau, but our drummer told me I was off beat and I needed to let him keep the time. (grin) He made me promise to leave it home! I should have found one that didn’t jingle. At least then, I could have looked the part.

Still, I became a singer, and now I’m a writer. I pour out all the heartfelt songs I once sang, and I weave the memories they provoked into my work. Sometimes, I do actually sing. Music brings memory-packed joy and takes me back to my youth. I may not be up on a stage any longer, but I love sharing my experiences. I hope that this post has taken you back in time. Maybe you were a Partridge Family groupie like me! I just hope you don’t end up being one of those crazed women I saw at that concert. If you are, I do understand. We all want to embrace what makes us happy, and David Cassidy turned many heads. I was too young to have my head turned the way the older viewers saw him. I thought he was cute and I loved the way he sang, but I was thoroughly smitten with Donny Osmond. That’s another story! I got to meet him face to face. Almost got a hug. Sigh…

That’s me with Jambeau in 1992! Our drummer, Ted Williams, could play the bass guitar and drums at the same time. He sang, too! Chuck Borris played the guitar and sang. We had a great time working and singing in harmony at the Coeur d’Alene resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on their floating stage. Great memories with these two wonderful friends! I treasure them and the time we spent bringing happiness to the listeners at the resort.

So, what music takes you back to your best memories? I’d love to hear your comments!