So I've been listening to this K-tel cassette called 70s Teen Heart-Throbs and it's pretty good. I like K-tel products as a rule, and this one was a must buy because it had songs by both Shaun Cassidy and Leif Garrett. Unfortunately, it's been sitting on the floor of my vehicle for somewhere in the neighborhood of a year because I bought it for my car the day before my cassette player quit working.
But the other day I shoveled the empty Tab cans and Happy Meal boxes from the floor of the passenger side and there it was! Teen idols! Although I don't think Heart-Throb is spelled like that. I would spell it heartthrob myself. Oh good, Merriam-Webster would also spell it that way. I thought that hyphen looked goofy.
I bought the tape mainly for Shaun Cassidy and Leif Garrett but there are some other good tracks on the collection. My favorite pop bonus is I Think I Love You by The Partridge Family. I always forget how much I like that song because the intro is a little too Partridge Family. The keyboards and group vocals make me think of those ruffled shirts and velvet Partridge outfits. I like the Partridge Family okay, but for wacky music-based comedy I prefer the Monkees, and for wacky family-based comedy I prefer the Brady Bunch. The Partridge Family is an unfortunate middle ground that I will watch if I am also reading a book or baking a pie.
Also, aren't you supposed to swoon over David Cassidy when watching The Partridge Family because he's so dreamy? Not only is he not dreamy, he's not even my favorite Partridge. I much prefer Shirley, Laurie, and Danny. In fact, I prefer Reuben Kincaid to Keith Partridge. Those open collars of Keith's just don't do it for me. David Cassidy is not my favorite Partridge or my favorite Cassidy.
When it comes to Cassidys there can be only Shaun! I enjoy his wholesome image. Even though David was supposed to be a harmless teen idol, Keith Partridge comes off as a little unsavory. I may have started thinking that after Linda read his autobiography that is full of sleazy stories. It is entirely possible that I used to have an unbiased opinion of David Cassidy. But I never liked him as much as Shaun. Shaun's albums are better. I assume that to be true, I've never acquired any David Cassidy records. I mean, have you seen his collar on the cover of Cherish?
And when he came to town in 1994 to promote his book, me and Linda were all excited to go. The record store that I worked for at the time even figured if I was going I could go on the clock (it was a block or two away) and get some Partridge Family records signed for the store. Then we found out that David would not be signing any Partridge Family memorabilia. That night Linda went to get some work done on her car and I went to the mall with Joejung. No David Cassidy for us! Not if he's going to be that way.
However, as I listen to this teen heartthrob collection I am noticing that I might not give David Cassidy enough credit. He's a much better singer than I think he is. It pains me to say this, but I think David Cassidy is a better singer than Shaun Cassidy. The Shaun track on this album is Da Doo Ron Ron and it just doesn't compare to I Think I Love You. Shaun's vocals are breathy and light and it sounds like he is singing in his throat and not from the belly. David sounds like he is putting some oomph into his vocals.
But...but...ew! I like Shaun Cassidy! Perhaps the problem is that I am comparing two songs of a different caliber. If I choose a Shaun song that rocks as much as I Think I Love You maybe it will be a fair fight. My best bet would probably be a comparison of their live albums. I already have Shaun's live album and as much as it distresses me, it looks like I am going to have to find a copy of David's own Cassidy Live. I don't want David to be the better Cassidy! But if he is, he is, and I can't do anything about it. I'll just finally have to break down and buy a copy of Cherish.