I Think I Love You

"I Think I Love You"
Single by The Partridge Family
from the album The Partridge Family Album
B-side
  • "Somebody Wants to Love You"
  • "To Be Lovers" (Philippines)
ReleasedAugust 22, 1970
Recorded1970
StudioUnited Western (Hollywood)
Genre
Length2:54
LabelBell
Songwriter(s)Tony Romeo
Producer(s)Wes Farrell
The Partridge Family singles chronology
"I Think I Love You"
(1970) 		"Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted"
(1971)
Audio
The Partridge Family – I Think I Love You on YouTube

"I Think I Love You" is a song by Tony Romeo, written as the debut single for fictional musical TV family the Partridge Family. It was released in August 1970, a month prior to the debut of the ABC-TV musical sitcom The Partridge Family starring Shirley Jones and featuring David Cassidy, both of whom appear on the record, with Cassidy as lead vocalist. The single topped Billboard's Hot 100 for three weeks in November and December 1970 and later was certified by NARM as the best-selling single of 1970.[3]

The single also reached number one in Canada on the RPM 100 national Top Singles chart in November 1970,[4] and in 1971 peaked at number one in Australia.

Background and release

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The single, which was produced by Wes Farrell and issued on Bell Records, featured twice on the TV show during the record's seven-week climb to number one on Billboard's Hot 100. Cassidy lip-synched his performance, as he did for all songs throughout the four-year series.[5] As with all of the Partridge Family's studio output, the single features musicians associated with iconic Los Angeles–based session players "the Wrecking Crew": Dennis Budimir, Louie Shelton, Tommy Tedesco, Joe Osborn, Max Bennett, Larry Knechtel, Mike Melvoin, and Hal Blaine.[6][7] And members of overlapping studio groups the Ron Hicklin Singers and the Love Generation – brothers John and Tom Bahler (also spelled Bähler), Ron Hicklin, and Jackie Ward – feature as backing vocalists, as they do on all successive Partridge Family recordings.

Cash Box said of the song that "attractive sound side and material curries favorable attention from all types of pop programmers."[8]

Four million copies of the single release were sold.[9]

The Partridge Family version is used prominently throughout the 2020 DreamWorks Animation film The Croods: A New Age, with a cover version performed by Tenacious D featured during the ending credits.

Personnel

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According to the AFM contract sheet, the following musicians played on the track.[10]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Andy Williams version

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In 1971 American singer Andy Williams released Love Story, an album made up almost entirely of cover versions. His own version of “I Think I Love You” was included on the album. Confusingly, the album was retitled Home Lovin’ Man for its UK release, and an entirely different album with the title “Love Story” made an appearance there.

Voice of the Beehive version

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"I Think I Love You"
Single by Voice of the Beehive
from the album Honey Lingers
B-side"Something About God"
ReleasedSeptember 16, 1991 (1991-09-16)[23]
Length3:14
LabelLondon
Songwriter(s)Tony Romeo
Producer(s)Don Was
Voice of the Beehive singles chronology
"Monsters and Angels"
(1991) 		"I Think I Love You"
(1991) 		"Perfect Place"
(1991)

In 1991, Anglo-American alternative rock band Voice of the Beehive recorded "I Think I Love You" for their second studio album, Honey Lingers (1991). Issued through London Records, it was released as the second single from the album on September 16, 1991, and was produced by Don Was. Their version of the song peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in October 1991. The single also reached number 12 on the Australian Singles Chart in March 1992.

Track listings

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7-inch and cassette single, Australasian CD single[24][25][26]

  1. "I Think I Love You"
  2. "Something About God"

12-inch single[27]

A1. "I Think I Love You" (Orgy mix)
A2. "Say It"
A3. "Don't Call Me Baby"
B1. "VB – Goddess of Love"

CD single[28]

  1. "I Think I Love You" (7-inch)
  2. "I Think I Love You" (Don Was' Guilty Pleasure mix)
  3. "VB – Goddess of Love" (vocal mix)
  4. "Something About God"

Charts

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Chart (1991–1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[29] 12
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[30] 72
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 25

References

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  1. ^ Billboard Staff (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2024. A big-chorus baroque pop hit credited to a fictional singing family based on the Cowsills, with teen heartthrob David Cassidy handing lead vocals.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (January 1, 1997). "Various Artists - Have a Nice Day, Super Hits of the '70s". In Bogdanov, Vladimir; Erlewine, Michael; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Unterberger, Richie; Woodstra, Chris (eds.). AllMusic Guide to Rock. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, Inc. p. 1074.
  3. ^ C'mon, Get Happy...Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus, p. 92
  4. ^ a b "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  5. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "David Cassidy With The Cast Of The Partridge Family On Today Show I in 2010". YouTube. 7 September 2018.
  6. ^ Liner notes from The Partridge Family Album, Razor and Tie Music Corporation, CD, 1993
  7. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  8. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 22, 1970. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  9. ^ Mansour, David (2005). "Partridge Family". From ABBA to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 354. ISBN 0-7407-5118-2. LCCN 2004062782.
  10. ^ "I Think I Love You AFM Contract" (PDF). The Wrecking Crew. American Federation of Musicians. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  12. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-01-09. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Think I Love You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  14. ^ "flavour of new zealand – search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  15. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  16. ^ Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 419. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  17. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  18. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 12/05/70". 24 June 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1972" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  20. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 July 2013.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1971" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – Partridge Family – I Think I Love You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 14, 1991. p. 21.
  24. ^ I Think I Love You (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Voice of the Beehive. London Records. 1991. LON 308, 869526.7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ I Think I Love You (UK cassette single sleeve). Voice of the Beehive. London Records. 1991. LONCS 308, 869526.4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ I Think I Love You (Australasian CD single liner notes). Voice of the Beehive. London Records, Polydor Records. 1991. 869 526-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ I Think I Love You (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Voice of the Beehive. London Records. 1991. LONX 308, 869527.1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ I Think I Love You (UK CD single liner notes). Voice of the Beehive. London Records. 1991. LONCD 308, 869527.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ "Voice of the Beehive – I Think I Love You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  30. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 42. October 19, 1991. p. 41.
  31. ^ "Voice of the Beehive: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
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