Search - David Cassidy :: Then and Now

Great Then, Great Now

01/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David's new album, Then and Now, is a delight on many fronts. These new recordings of his classic hits are a powerful reminder that it was David Cassidy's voice that made the Partridge Family material so beloved by the millions of young people who sent his albums to the top of the charts. His voice has matured beautifully, yet retains all of the charm and texture that attracted millions of fans to his albums in the 1970s. I was genuinely surprised that I didn't miss the original studio musicians, including Shirley Jones (a wonderful, legendary soloist whom I adore with all my heart, but let's be honest: you would be hard-pressed to pick out her voice on the original recordings). To me, this album is irrefutable proof that David's voice was indeed the engine that drove this music. The arrangements of the Partridge Family songs are astoundingly true to the originals, the production values are very high, and Cassidy seems to honestly enjoy this trip down memory lane. The album contains a good selection of Partridge Family and David Cassidy solo hits. He chose to include many fan favorites and succeeds in breathing new life into classic Partridge Family songs like I Can Feel Your Heartbeat, It's One Of Those Nights, Looking Through The Eyes Of Love and I'll Meet You Halfway. He wisely chose to exclude material from the later Partridge Family albums (Crossword Puzzle and Bulletin Board), the content of which was weak and wasn't destined to be embraced by the public then or now. There is a wealth of solo material that would have made fabulous additions to this CD, but one can't have everything. His new recordings of Rock Me Baby, I Write The Songs, Could It Be Forever (I especially like the version with Hear'Say) and Lyin' To Myself are very good, and I am delighted to have the original version of Last Kiss on CD at long last. (Many fans may be unaware that George Michael provides some background vocals on this song, but is uncredited because George Michael never allows his name on a project in which he sings backup.) David also included two new recordings-Cry and Ain't No Sunshine-which are wonderful.David Cassidy's feelings about the Partridge Family material have evolved over time. He has been forthright in saying that the music of the Partridge Family was not his personal taste when he was 19. He wanted to rock, and was a big fan of Jimi Hendrix in those years. A very small number of Partridge Family fans will never forgive him for saying this. To them this confession is heresy, silly as that seems to most well-adjusted people. After all, how many 19-year-old men loved the Partridge Family music in 1970? Let's see a show of hands. Yep. That's what I thought. This kind of music simply doesn't appeal broadly to men/boys of that age group. The fact that David didn't adore Partridge Family songs at age 19 doesn't make David Cassidy evil. It makes him normal. And honest for saying that he didn't like it at the time. People's tastes evolve as they make life's journey, and David is now proud of the work he did in his youth and chose to celebrate it by recording this album. Yes it is possible to come to terms with, explore and enjoy music at age 51 that you didn't like at age 19. It's even okay for a recording artist to profit by doing so. Kudos to David."

Ace Album

11/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(...) This CD Contains 22 tracks including many solo hits here in the UK plus a host of partridge family hits and songs. And if that wasn't enough it contains some new songs and covers! Notably `Ain't No Sunshine' which he sang superbly on UK TV. 16 tracks have been (Studio) re-recorded by David today, which is so refreshing and some of them give a different angle on the song so well known. Sure his voice sounds mature; The result is stunning!! But by no means detracting from the originals. `Lyin to Myself'; is a slower easy version compared to the `Rock' beat original: How's about that! You have two versions in your collection!! The pulsating UK No.6 smash hit 'The Last Kiss' is an Original recording from 1985 taken from the Romance Album/CD, as well as 'No Bridge I Wouldn't Cross', 'Sheltered In Your Arms', 'Ricky's Tune' from Old Dog New Trick CD. Fans of Hear'Say will get a kick out of the dueted version of 'Could It Be Forever' however I felt that different voices don't mix with the feeling of the song as it was written for a solo. But still great!As most of the Partridge/Cassidy solos original recordings (from the early 70's) are available elsewhere a compilation of these re-recordings are a bonus/addition to David's vast talent as a singer AND his string of albums over his career. Well done David for these new recordings! I'm sure fans around the world will welcome this CD."

Buyer Beware! These are not the original recordings!

laurita_a | Florida USA | 11/28/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I had been looking for a CD with the song Lyin' To Myself and was so excited to order this, then I get the CD and it's some rerecording that I do not like at all."