DAVID CASSIDY – Rock Me Baby – (Bell) – 1972

what Frank is listening to #216 – DAVID CASSIDY – Rock Me Baby – (Bell) – 1972

A quick wikipedia bio: David Bruce Cassidy (born April 12, 1950) is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and still performs today.

way back in what Frank is listening to #27 – DAVID CASSIDY – Home is where the Heart Is – (RCA) – 1976 and what Frank is listening to #165 – DAVID CASSIDY – The Higher They Climb The Harder They Fall – (RCA) – 1975 I said the following, of which nothing has changed in relation to Cassidy's reputation….

At the outset I will say I don't know why David Cassidy gets knocked as much as he does. The kids (of the time) certainly loved him, but, despite being a teen idol, his albums were thematically and lyrically quite adult. Musically he wasn't an innovator, but the songs are catchy enough. Cassidy also seems to understand his celebrity, and he was very, very popular. In terms of adulation Elvis and the Beatles werent that different … they also had millions of 13 year old girls fawning over them, and both, also, recorded a healthy dose of pop. That's not to say he is as good as Elvis or the Beatles but he deserves more investigation, and respect, than that accorded to him.

When people are willing to concede anything to Cassidy they usually say the Partridge Family had a few good catchy tracks. And, this is true, but Cassidy solo, is still dismissed. This is unfortunate because at his best he is Paul McCartney Jr … he has a good pop sensibility, McCartneyesque phrasing, and his lyrics (whether he wrote them or not) are thoughtful enough to place him higher than his teen idol contemporaries. In many ways he seems to be mining the same ground as another underappreicated 70s pop idol, David Essex. And that's not a bad thing as Essex had quite a few great tracks.

You may think the Elvis and Beatles references are a bit silly and they are when we speak of Cassidy in musical terms but in terms of fans, popularity and hysteria you would be hard pressed to find a bigger focal point for teen mania in the early to mid 70s than David Cassidy. (OK the mania surrounding him was smaller but it still was "mania")

This is Cassidy's second solo album and he is clearly trying to move away from the "Partridge Family" sound. This album has it's fair share of blue eyed soul and funky rock and it's all played well. His session musos are top notch also – see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Me_Baby_(album). Underrated producer Wes Farrell produced and given he produced the Partridge Family he knows Cassidy well. Clearly he lets Cassidy inject a little more of himself in this record and take it to newer pastures but he doesn't let him go off the rails totally and keeps him firmly on line with a pop sensibility. That last line reads like shit but I couldn't be bothered trying to change it.

Cassidy is also making some tentative steps into song writing – something which he does quite well.

I have read in the past in relation to Cassidy that if some of his records had some other singers name attached they would be more respected today. I have to agree with that, especially in relation to this record which is good pop rock with enough individuality to distinguish it from the hacks, but it's not highly regarded.

Tracks (best in italics)

Rock Me Baby– Clinger, Cymbal – Written by singer, early 60s pop star, and prolific song writer Johnny Cymbal with Peggy Clinger. The writers released it under their pen names in 1973. This is a funky rock tune and perfectly 1972 …. apparently the "Brotherhood of Man" also recorded a version which was shelved when Cassidy's version hit. I can see them doing it.
Lonely Too Long – Brigati, Cavaliere – a #16 hit for the Young Rascals in 1967. Blue eyed soul moving into MOR pop ….very catchy and a toe tapper….
Two Time Loser -Cassidy – a teen power ballad? Quite convincing regardless.
Warm My Soul -Ortiz – a song also done by the Partridge Family – nothing like a little cross promotion. Comes over as a teen pop version of a Doors song … nothing wrong with that.
Some Kind of a Summer -Carnes, Cassidy, Ellingson – strictly MOR. Co written by Kim Carnes (of later "Bette Davis Eyes" fame)
(Oh No) No Way -Clinger, Cymbal, Farrell – catchy
Song for a Rainy Day -Carnes, Cassidy – another power ballad with jazzy overtones. Fun.
Soft as a Summer Shower -Miller – MOR
Go Now -Banks, Bennett – 60s type white soul.
How Can I Be Sure -Brigati, Cavaliere -a #4 hit for the Young Rascals in 1967. The original Rascals version was quite MOR by their standards …here it's taken even further but it's such a good tune.
Song of Love -Miller – hmmmm … a nice love ballad …understated and dramatic at the same time ….