I know what some of you are thinking about this week’s “Remake of a Classic.” The Partridge Family? Really? Well, in my opinion a good song is a good song - no matter who does it - and I personally like this one. It’s got drive, it’s a little ballsy, and the playing and vocals are stellar. But, then again, with members of L.A.’s famous Wrecking Crew handling all the instruments, and Jackie (Robin) Ward, Tom and John Bähler, and Ron Hicklin on backing vocals, it’s a winner. That’s right…as hard as it is to believe (note sarcasm) none of The Partridge Family show’s cast played on the record (shocker!); just David Cassidy on lead vocals and Shirley Jones on the backup. Most big U.S. groups in the 60s and early 70s didn’t play on their hits (The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Grass Roots, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap…the list goes on and on), so this was nothing new.

Written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown (both of whom wrote a string of hits for Tony Orlando and Dawn), “I Woke Up in Love This Morning” first appeared on The Partridge Family’s 1971 album, “Sound Magazine”. It reached Number 13 on US Billboard’s Hot 100 and Number 9 on the US Cash Box 100. It reached Number 4 in Canada. Over the years it’s been covered several times, including a 2009 version by Weezer.

My version, for the most part, follows the original…except for on the chorus, where I decided to go heavy (it’s amazing what a Les Paul through a Marshall amp can do). Musically, this was a piece of cake (although the high harmony on the chorus had the vein in my neck bulging out). Overall, a fun tune to do.