User Reviews

This was definitely a great start for the new season. The new Chris debuted with a smooth transition and things continued on like usual.

"Dora, Dora, Dora" opened the second season, introducing Brian Forster as the new Chris, replacing the departed Jeremy Gelbwaks, and new theme song, a more folky arrangement of "When We're Singin'" (Farrell-Hilderbrand), now titled "Come On Get Happy," new lyrics composed by Danny Janssen. Reuben has promised radio promoter Stillman Kelly (Jack Burns) that the Partridges would back his daughter Dora (Robyn Millan) in a special benefit performance on a local Air Force base. The gorgeous but toneless Dora offers up a vocal that makes every Partridge cringe, except of course for Keith, who gazes at her loveliness and hears what he wants to hear. Shirley tries to explain the problem, and blushes when her son accuses her of giving him 'the facts of life!' Stillman Kelly reveals himself to be part of a vocal group from the 50s that was popular for about three weeks, proudly boasting that he taught his daughter everything he knows (Shirley: "she's more talented than he is!"). It's left up to Reuben to come up with a solution, which actually earns Dora a standing ovation from her all male audience. Too much off key warbling to really enjoy this one, but Jack Burns' rendition of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (sha bop, sha bop) is a comic gem (best remembered as half a comedy team with Avery Schreiber). Robyn Millan had played the 16 year old Vanessa Russell in the actual pilot for THE MONKEES ("Here Come the Monkees"), but was not required to sing. The featured song is the current fourth single, "I Woke Up in Love This Morning," composed by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown, issued July 1971, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard charts (later heard in "A Tale of Two Hamsters"). Along with its B-side "Twenty-Four Hours a Day," both were included on third LP SOUND MAGAZINE, also issued July 1971, peaking on the album charts at number 9.