Bulletin Board (album)
Encyclopedia
Bulletin Board was the last studio album recorded by The Partridge Family
and originally released by Bell Records
. The album was recorded between July and September of 1973 and released in October of 1973. Bulletin Board was the first Partridge Family album to fail to chart on the Billboard 200
album chart. "Looking For A Good Time" b/w "Money Money
" was released as a single in November 1973 (Bell Records Catalog number: Bell 45-414), but failed to chart. This was the last regular U.S. Partridge Family single.
The album cover featured a hand-written track listing pinned to a bulletin board, as well as a "family" photograph and a memo detailing the show's new Saturday night time slot. According to the liner notes for the CD release, the album cover was created within only a few hours due to time constraints. While Wes Farrell
is credited as producer on the album, it was, in fact, produced and arranged by John Bahler
, a member of 60s pop band The Love Generation
and, later, the Ron Hicklin Singers
, who provided backing vocals on all the Partridge Family albums. Bulletin Board is the only Partridge Family album recorded in a studio different to the preceding albums (which had all been recorded at Western Recorders (Studio 2) Los Angeles).
Reviewer Dave Thompson of Allmusic gave the album a rating of three stars out of five, claiming it was more representative of David Cassidy
's solo material than the usual Partridge Family album: "the performances all lean a lot closer towards the Cassidy solo ideal -- soft ballads, tight rockers -- than the all-for-one harmonies and joy that characterized the Partridges' earlier releases." Howard Pattow, a member of the Partridge Family tribute band Sound Magazine
, states that "the music here is groovy and funky, a definite reflection of pop music's embrace of disco ... overall, the music on Bulletin Board is quite different from previous Partridge Family efforts ... [and] features musicians that had previously not appeared on a Partridge record."
The compact disc was reissued by Collectors' Choice Music
in September 2008. Initially, the disc was available exclusively through the company's web site. The disc contains two bonus tracks, comprising both sides of the Bones Howe-produced Shirley Jones
single "Ain't Love Easy / Roses in the Snow", from 1972.
Side 2
CD Bonus tracks
Bonus tracks produced by Bones Howe
.
Money, Money,
I’ll Never Get Over You,
Alone Too Long,
Oh No Not My Baby,
July 26, 1973:
I Wouldn’t Put Nothing Over On You
September 4, 1973:
I Heard You Singing Your Song,
Roller Coaster,
Looking For A Good Time,
How Long Is Too Long
September 5, 1973:
That’s The Way It Is With You,
Where Do We Go From Here
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family is an American television sitcom about a widowed mother and her five children who embark on a music career. The series originally ran from September 25, 1970 until August 31, 1974, the last new episode airing on March 23, 1974, on the ABC network, as part of a Friday-night lineup...
and originally released by Bell Records
Bell Records
Bell Records was an American record label founded in 1952 by Arthur Shimkin in New York, the owner of children's record label Golden Records, and initially a unit of Pocket Books, after the rights to the name were acquired from Benny Bell who used the Bell name to issue risque novelty records. A...
. The album was recorded between July and September of 1973 and released in October of 1973. Bulletin Board was the first Partridge Family album to fail to chart on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart. "Looking For A Good Time" b/w "Money Money
Money Money
"Money Money" is a song by Latin pop group RBD, which appears on their first English language studio album, Rebels. However, the lyrics of the song are entirely in Spanish except for one line sang by the group member, Dulce María. The song samples an excerpt from"Lento", a single released in the...
" was released as a single in November 1973 (Bell Records Catalog number: Bell 45-414), but failed to chart. This was the last regular U.S. Partridge Family single.
The album cover featured a hand-written track listing pinned to a bulletin board, as well as a "family" photograph and a memo detailing the show's new Saturday night time slot. According to the liner notes for the CD release, the album cover was created within only a few hours due to time constraints. While Wes Farrell
Wes Farrell
Wes Farrell was an American musician, songwriter and record producer, who was most active in the 1960s and 1970s...
is credited as producer on the album, it was, in fact, produced and arranged by John Bahler
John Bahler
John Bähler is an American vocalist, arranger, conductor, composer and producer.John Bähler is brother of Tom Bähler and husband of Janet Lennon .-Early career:...
, a member of 60s pop band The Love Generation
The Love Generation
Not To Be Confused with the Swedish Group Love GenerationThe Love Generation was an American pop rock band from the 1960s. The band was together from 1967 to 1969.-History:...
and, later, the Ron Hicklin Singers
Ron Hicklin Singers
The Ron Hicklin Singers were a group of Los Angeles studio singers contracted and organized by Ron Hicklin. They are most famously known as the real singers behind the background vocals on The Partridge Family recordings....
, who provided backing vocals on all the Partridge Family albums. Bulletin Board is the only Partridge Family album recorded in a studio different to the preceding albums (which had all been recorded at Western Recorders (Studio 2) Los Angeles).
Reviewer Dave Thompson of Allmusic gave the album a rating of three stars out of five, claiming it was more representative of David Cassidy
David Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy 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...
's solo material than the usual Partridge Family album: "the performances all lean a lot closer towards the Cassidy solo ideal -- soft ballads, tight rockers -- than the all-for-one harmonies and joy that characterized the Partridges' earlier releases." Howard Pattow, a member of the Partridge Family tribute band Sound Magazine
Sound Magazine
Sound Magazine was the third album from The Partridge Family. It was released on the Bell Records label in August 1971 and, like all of the Partridge Family recordings, was produced by Wes Farrell for Coral Rock Productions...
, states that "the music here is groovy and funky, a definite reflection of pop music's embrace of disco ... overall, the music on Bulletin Board is quite different from previous Partridge Family efforts ... [and] features musicians that had previously not appeared on a Partridge record."
The compact disc was reissued by Collectors' Choice Music
Collectors' Choice Music
Collectors' Choice Music is a company primarily in two businesses. They are best known for re-issuing albums originally recorded in LP record form as compact discs...
in September 2008. Initially, the disc was available exclusively through the company's web site. The disc contains two bonus tracks, comprising both sides of the Bones Howe-produced Shirley Jones
Shirley Jones
Shirley Mae Jones is an American singer and actress of stage, film and television. In her six decades of television, she starred as wholesome characters in a number of well-known musical films, such as Oklahoma! , Carousel , and The Music Man...
single "Ain't Love Easy / Roses in the Snow", from 1972.
Track listing
Side 1- "Money Money" (Wes Farrell, Danny Janssen, Bobby Hart)
- "Roller Coaster" (Mark JamesMark James (songwriter)Mark James is a songwriter, famous for writing hits for singers B.J. Thomas, Brenda Lee, and Elvis Presley, most notably Elvis' last US number one hit single, "Suspicious Minds."-History:...
) - "Looking for a Good Time" (Wes Farrell, Danny Janssen, Bobby Hart)
- "Oh No Not My BabyOh No Not My Baby"Oh No Not My Baby" is the name of a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The song's lyrics describe how friends and family repeatedly warn the singer about a partner's infidelities, but the singer refuses to believe them...
" (Gerry GoffinGerry GoffinGerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
, Carole KingCarole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
) - "I Wouldn't Put Nothing over on You" (Wes Farrell, Danny Janssen, Bobby Hart)
- "Where Do We Go from Here?" (Mark James)
Side 2
- "How Long Is Too Long" (Tom BahlerTom BahlerThomas Lee Bähler , is an American singer, composer, songwriter, arranger and producer.He is the brother of John Bähler.-Early career:...
, Tony AsherTony AsherTony Asher is an American lyricist who co-wrote much of The Beach Boys 1966 album Pet Sounds in conjunction with front man Brian Wilson, including such classic songs as "God Only Knows" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice"...
) - "I'll Never Get over You" (Tony RomeoTony RomeoTony Romeo was an American songwriter. He is famous for writing the No.1 hit "I Think I Love You" by The Partridge Family as well as many other hit records, mostly during the 1960s and 1970s....
) - "Alone Too Long" (Mark James, Cynthia WeilCynthia WeilCynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
) - "I Heard You Singing Your Song" (Barry MannBarry MannBarry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
) - "That's The Way It Is with You" (Harriet Schoch)
CD Bonus tracks
- "Ain't Love Easy" (Shirley JonesShirley JonesShirley Mae Jones is an American singer and actress of stage, film and television. In her six decades of television, she starred as wholesome characters in a number of well-known musical films, such as Oklahoma! , Carousel , and The Music Man...
) (Carol Hall) - "Roses in the Snow" (Shirley JonesShirley JonesShirley Mae Jones is an American singer and actress of stage, film and television. In her six decades of television, she starred as wholesome characters in a number of well-known musical films, such as Oklahoma! , Carousel , and The Music Man...
) (Randy McNeill)
Personnel
Produced by Wes Farrell for Coral Rock Productions, Inc.- Drums: Hal BlaineHal BlaineHal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
- Bass: Max BennettMax Bennett (musician)Max Bennett is an American jazz bassist and session musician.Bennett grew up in Kansas City and Oskaloosa, Iowa, and went to college in Iowa. His first professional gig was with Herbie Fields in 1949, and following this he played with Georgie Auld, Terry Gibbs, and Charlie Ventura...
, Jim Hughart - Guitar: Larry CarltonLarry CarltonLarry Carlton is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands...
, Richard Bennett, Ben Benay, Dean ParksDean ParksDean Parks is an American session guitarist and record producer from Ft. Worth, TX.-Albums:Dean was member of The North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band before moving to Los Angeles to work with Sonny and Cher in 1970. Dean is best-known through his many contributions to albums by Steely Dan... - Horns: Chuck FindleyChuck FindleyChuck Findley is an American session musician. Most widely-known as a trumpet player, he also plays other brass instruments such as flugelhorn and trombone...
, Tom Bahler - Trombone: Lou McCreary, George Bohanon
- Saxophone: Bill Perkins, Jackie Kelso, Bob Hardaway
- Percussion: Gary Coleman, Joe PorcaroJoe PorcaroJoseph Porcaro is an American jazz drummer, percussionist and educator....
- Keyboards: Michael OmartianMichael OmartianMichael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
, Larry MuhoberacLarry MuhoberacLarry Muhoberac is an American musician, producer and composer who at various times has also been known as Larry Owens and Larry Gordon.... - Partridge Family vocals by Shirley Jones and David Cassidy
- Background vocals: John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Jackie Ward and Ron Hicklin
Bonus tracks produced by Bones Howe
Bones Howe
Dayton Burr "Bones" Howe is a Grammy-award-winning record producer and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop genre, including most of the hits of The 5th Dimension and The Association, as well as music supervision of several films...
.
Recording dates
July 25, 1973:Money, Money,
I’ll Never Get Over You,
Alone Too Long,
Oh No Not My Baby,
July 26, 1973:
I Wouldn’t Put Nothing Over On You
September 4, 1973:
I Heard You Singing Your Song,
Roller Coaster,
Looking For A Good Time,
How Long Is Too Long
September 5, 1973:
That’s The Way It Is With You,
Where Do We Go From Here