The Partridge Family (TV Series) A Partridge by Any Other Name (1971) User Reviews

Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted

[kevinolzak · 7/10 · 12 March 2014]

"A Partridge By Any Other Name" deals with Danny's fears that he was adopted, since the group's latest promoter (Bernard Fox) has all the kids' birth certificates except for Danny's. He checks the hospital records, where the orderly (Jim Connell) finds dates for four Partridge offspring- all but Danny. Despite his mother insisting that he was born 40 miles away from home, Danny decides to go off in search of his real parents, a Mr. and Mrs. M. Young that had a boy on the same date as his birthday. A bittersweet storyline that many adolescents identified with, with Keith granted the best line: "he should know he's a Partridge, I mean, who in their right mind would ever adopt him?" Veteran character actress Renie Riano made her final appearance as the old family neighbor, best remembered as Nancy Drew's maid in the four feature Warners series starring Bonita Granville. The featured song is "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted," composed by Wes Farrell, Mike Appel, and Jim Cretecos, issued as the second single Jan 1971 (two months before this broadcast), peaking at number 6 on the Billboard charts. Along with its B-side "You Are Always on My Mind," both were included on the Feb 1971 LP UP TO DATE (no further tracks on the series were taken from this album). We also hear for the fourth and last time "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" (taken from THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY ALBUM), composed by the same three writers, the exact same footage previously seen in "Mom Drops Out."