The Partridge Family – That’ll Be The Day
For a certain generation, the very mention of the Partridge Family conjures a flood of memories—of a time when a colorful, musical family traveled the country in a painted school bus, bringing a brand of wholesome, pop-infused happiness to our living rooms. The show, which premiered in 1970, was an instant phenomenon, turning a fictional band into a real-life musical act that scored legitimate chart success. While the TV series was inspired by the real-life family band The Cowsills, the music of the Partridge Family became a soundtrack for a generation of teenagers and young adults.
Released in 1971, the song “That’ll Be The Day” was a track on the album Up to Date, the group’s second studio album. Unlike some of the other more well-known singles like “I Think I Love You,” this wasn’t a standalone hit, but it was a crucial part of an album that soared to number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The success of Up to Date solidified the Partridge Family’s place in the music world, proving they were more than just a one-hit wonder from a TV show. It’s a testament to the songwriting prowess of Tony Romeo, the composer of this song and also the man behind the legendary hit “I Think I Love You.”
The song itself is a quiet reflection on the promises of love and the cynical, yet hopeful, response to those promises. It’s a beautifully melancholic piece, with David Cassidy‘s earnest vocals providing a soft counterpoint to the song’s themes. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where love’s chains are broken, where unspoken words find their voice, and where two people are together “like the sand and the sea.” The repeated phrase, “That’ll be the day,” isn’t a simple denial but a wistful acknowledgement of how grand and perhaps improbable such a perfect love might be. It’s an older, more mature take on romance than the typical bubblegum pop of the era, and perhaps that’s why it resonates so deeply with those who grew up with it. It speaks to a certain kind of wisdom—that true love is a rare and precious thing, something we can dream of, but something that might, in fact, “never come true.” The production, under the guidance of Wes Farrell, is simple and elegant, allowing the song’s poignant message to take center stage. Cassidy’s voice was even double-tracked and the tape speed was slightly altered to make his voice sound a little lighter and younger, a common studio technique at the time, but it only adds to the song’s ethereal, dream-like quality.
Listening to it today, it’s easy to be transported back to that simpler time. The song is a gentle reminder of the innocence of youth and the complexities of the human heart, wrapped in a melody that feels like a familiar, comforting hug. It’s not about the exuberant highs of a hit single, but about the quiet, emotional honesty that made the Partridge Family more than just a TV show band.