In the early 1970s, David Cassidy became a household name as the lead singer of the Partridge Family, a made-for-TV band that achieved success with hits like “I Think I Love You” and “I Woke Up in Love This Morning.” However, there was one song that Cassidy despised—“Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted.” Released as a single in 1971, Cassidy refused to sing it, even threatening to quit the show over the issue.
In his memoir, “C’mon, Get Happy…Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus,” Cassidy admitted his dislike for the song. He found the idea of speaking, instead of singing, in the middle of the song distasteful. Despite his objections, Cassidy was pressured by music producer Wes Farrell to record the track.
Cassidy’s concerns about the commercial nature of the song led to a standoff with producers. Eventually, Cassidy relented and recorded the song, but he still begged them not to release it, feeling embarrassed by the final product.
“Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted” became a hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling over 2 million copies. Despite its success, Cassidy never made peace with the recording, describing it as “one of the worst vocal performances in the history of recording.”
Over time, Cassidy’s feelings toward the song softened. He started performing it at concerts and even joked about the initial awkwardness of the spoken word part. In one of his final shows before his death in 2017, Cassidy admitted that he had grown to enjoy the song, despite his initial reservations.
While Cassidy may have initially disliked “Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted,” the song’s enduring popularity and Cassidy’s eventual change of heart serve as a reminder of the complexities of artistic expression and the evolution of personal taste in the world of music.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.